Screenwriting : Industry Score on Coverfly? by Desireé Winns

You might want to read this last topic thread about Coverfly.

https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/RED-LIST-on-Coverfly

Simple explanation - The more you enter "approved" contests through Coverfly, the higher your score. Depending on which contest, you get more or less points. Good feedback can give you a few points. Placing or winning can get you even more points.

Example - The most points you'd get in one shot is 200 for entering and winning something like the Nichols. Entering a non-preferred contest and not placing would get you around 75 points. A great score is over 500. Get it?

Even if you are not that great a writer, the more you pay, the more you rate. I've used it to enter a few contests just to see what happened. Ive gotten rating ranging between 90 and 145. And my top one made the finals.

But in the end, I don't see this site really helping you all that much. Yes, you could enter the same script in ten contests and get a decent score but is it a good script or just a money maker for them? And will they really help you get it sold once you reach that magical high score? Think hard before spending your money.

Great link Bill. Coverfly is doing an AMA in r/screenwriting right now!

Yeah, pay absolutely no attention to Coverfly Scores. It's essentially a way for you to feel like you need to continue paying for competitions more and more so that your score increases. My suggestion is that you should try and enter contests that offer feedback so that you can continue to improve your writing and hopefully get more exposure.

Jess Waters Thanks! I applied to a competition with feedback, so I will be getting notes on my writing. I was just wondering about the Industry Score thing because I wasn't really expecting it. I got a 94 for my "first" score and I wasn't sure what it meant- I wanted to know if this was a good, bad or decent score, and if it might affect the competition I applied to.

Yeah, so that's the whole game, the score depends on which competition it is and it continues to build with the more competitions you submit to. Those scores are completely separate from the competitions themselves and won't affect how you do in them!

Desireé, do read the thread Bill posted above—it has great commentary. Coverfly is concerning. It really has nothing to do with screenwriting. It offers nothing of substance. It's arbitrary. It's all smoke and mirrors.

Coverfly's "wisdom of the crowds" approach has something to offer statistically, but I don't believe there's any market for their scores amongst industry pros. For better or worse the pros really just want to hear your story. I actually do better with my pitches when I skip mentioning my contest placements and simply focus on story. (I still enter contests, but mostly for the fun of it and/or to get a little feedback.)

Again, these "statistics" are arbitrary. It doesn't really translate to actual meaning or any tactical, real-world action. You gotta actually work at networking and meet real people, make connections. Be yourself. Put yourself out there. Placing or winning competitions may help, sure, but they typically do not advance a career --again, that's really up to you. And, sure, there are those rare cases indeed... but most industry folks that I've met could care less about these competitions. Sure, if you place, that's great! It's a validation. It's a way to gauge your work. Top judges who choose winners out of finalists are industry people, but that's typically it. You may receive interest but it quickly dissipates. The hard truth is that so many scripts are circulating within the industry itself, by repped writers, scripts being placed on desks, etc, it's highly unlikely that "industry pros" would pay any attention to something like Coverfly, let alone have the time. Just look at one of those humbling, daunting pictures of thousands of scripts stacked high from the floor on up in an agent's or exec's office. Everyone wants a shortcut to "success," a way in, sure. But it's often through real relationships and real-world connections that are truly helpful. Well, that and hard work. :)

I've just posted on the Red List thread. Just to add here, I have used WeScreenplay for quite a while now as I have always found their coverage excellent. It seems, because of this, that I am on Coverfly by default now.

No problems with this at all in principle. I seem to have a very high score...fine. In the end though all I want is good, honest and informed coverage to help me craft my story well. I hope to continue getting that in the future, and I hope Coverfly doesn't in anyway hinder or affect that.

I have entered my screenplay in quite a few contests globally. So far it's been doing quite well really. However, none of the contests under the Coverfly banner have 'selected' my script apart from the Diverse Voices contest last year which got into the SF's. All the others have given me the dreaded 'not selected'....cheers.

Whatever your thoughts on the contest scene, I feel very proud of the achievements so far...but I realise that in the end it's just a game really. I do feel every contest won or 'done well in' is evidence in my favour though.

I also don't buy the 'our contest is more worthy and important that your contest' caper. I am honoured and delighted by anyone who enjoys and awards my work....big or small.

I agree Dan, as I said I use WeScreenplay for their (usually) very good coverage. In the end the Coverfly score doesn't bother me as all I want is good readers for my work.

I am...usually. Though it can bewildering when you get 2 utterly and completely different reads of the same script...one pass...one recommend. However, that's the way of it and it's made me a better writer.

Dan, I am considering that as my current project is a tv series which is quite ambitious in scope. As I live in the UK I'm kind of looking for someone based here or in Europe. Thanks for your best wishes as well! :D