What works. What doesn’t.
A screenplay offers the reader one of two experiences. Delight or frustration.
A great screenplay delights. It compels me to turn the page and see what happens next.
A poorly structured screenplay is a slog. I struggle through it for what feels like hours, still stuck in act one, still wondering what it’s about. It’s tedious. It’s boring. It inspires revenge fantasies.
It doesn’t matter the genre. Even a slow burn reels me in.
A screenplay must delight if you want it to be made into a movie. And that’s the endgame, right? I’ll put it to you this way: if your goal in writing a screenplay is not getting it made into a movie, I’m not the best person to help you.
I’m here to help you get your screenplay made into a film.
I’ve read multitudes of scripts, written dozens, optioned and sold several, and even gotten a couple made. I also teach an online 3-course certificate program in screenwriting for Tbe University of Washington.
My consultation digs into your screenplay’s story structure, dramatic question, character development, pacing, and dialogue.
What works. What doesn’t. In my opinion, of course, but my opinions are well thought out and based upon many years of training and experience. And I take tremendous pains to explain my reasoning. You may not ultimately agree with every note I offer, but you will understand why I offered it.
While I present my feedback, we collaborate to figure out solutions you’re confident serve your story and creative vision. Once we’re finished, you ought to have a powerful map to dive into your next draft.
I’m a working screenwriter with produced feature credits and several projects on assignment and in development. In 2009, I completed an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA, where I studied under Lew Hunter, Hal Ackerman, Linda Voorhees, Tim Albaugh, Dan Pyne, Richard Walter, and Howard Suber, among others.
Beyond my training and experience, I have a passion for helping other writers refine their voices on the page to create tight, fast-paced screenplays that deliver an emotional punch. I want you to get your movie made.
your screenplay
- Should be between 80-120 pages (12pt Courier, standard margins, regular spacing), standard screenplay format. Most producers prefer scripts to be under 100 pages. Shorter is better. For scripts over 120 pages, please add $3/page, though I’d prefer you edit. Don’t mess with the margins or spacing. It will slow down the read of your screenplay).
- Please include all your contact information on the title page.
- Send me a PDF of your screenplay, logline, synopsis, and your specific questions and concerns about your script.)
Why do I need your logline and synopsis? Because typically you’ll need to submit them with every screenplay submission. So they must be gripping as well. Where we will focus on your screenplay, I will also offer feedback on your logline and synopsis if you send them along with your script.
THE CONSULTATION
We schedule the consultation up front. I typically require a week to prep, depending upon my schedule and current workload.
All consultations last 1-hour (but please allow for more time) and happen over Zoom, the phone, or in-person, if you happen to live near Denver. I must receive payment to start reading.
My 2025 rate is $447
At the conclusion of the consult, I’ll email you any notes I’ve taken to prepare. Please feel free to email me afterward with any follow-up questions.
If you need to reschedule your consultation, please give at least a 24-hour notice. Cancellations less than 24 hours or no-show appointments can be rescheduled for a non-negotiable $50 fee.
*If you would like to me to consult on an ongoing basis, send me a message with a brief description of what you have in mind.
**If you want to hire me to write or rewrite a screenplay, please contact my manager, Michael Keyes, at Against the Grain.
Story-Driven | Home of Screenwriter Paul Taegel 