A standardized evaluation format
Coverage is a specific document format used throughout the industry to evaluate scripts consistently: typically a logline, a synopsis of the story as written, an evaluative section covering story, structure, character, and dialogue, and a final recommendation. Its value comes from that consistency.
What coverage includes
A typical coverage report covers:
- • Logline — a one- or two-sentence summary of the story
- • Synopsis — a compressed retelling of the plot as it currently exists
- • Comments — analysis of strengths and weaknesses
- • Recommendation — a standard verdict: pass, consider, or recommend
What coverage doesn't do
Coverage evaluates a script; it doesn't change it. There's no rewriting, editing, or line-level correction involved. Writers who want changes made need a different service afterward: editing, rewriting, or doctoring, depending on scope.
Why the honesty matters
Coverage is most useful when it doesn't soften its verdict. A report that's encouraging but vague doesn't help a writer figure out what to fix. Good coverage states its assessment plainly and ties it to specific, identifiable moments in the script.