My mission is to help YOU find your voice on the page to create tight, fast-paced screenplays that deliver an emotional punch.
A great screenplay compels me to turn the page to see what happens next.
A lackluster screenplay has me turning pages to see if anything is going to happen.
A great screenplay is an electrifying experience every bit as memorable as watching a fantastic film.
Slogging through a lackluster screenplay, however, is about as fun as reading an Apple service agreement.
I struggle just to get through a poorly written screenplay, still wondering what it’s about, namely: Who is the protagonist? What do they want? What are they willing to do to get it? What’s stopping them?
Don’t think of a screenplay as a blueprint. The line producer isn’t your audience. The cinema audience isn’t your audience.
The reader is your audience — whether they be an exec, an actor, a financier, an agent, or an assistant. If they love the read, they ‘will become its champion.
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. We also explore how it’s told. Is it readable? Does it express a unique voice?
In my opinion, of course.
However, my opinions are well thought out and based upon many years of training and industry experience. I take pains to explain my reasoning. You may not 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.
By the close of our session, you ought to have a powerful map to dive into your next draft.
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.
OUR SESSION
We schedule the consultation up front. I typically require 1-2 weeks to prep, depending upon my schedule and current workload.
Consultations last about 2-hours (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 2026 rate is $740 | $490 for subsequent drafts.
At the conclusion of the consult, I’ll email you a pdf of your script with any line notes I’ve made during the read. Please feel free to email me afterward with any follow-up questions.
To get started:
Email: paul@story-driven.ltd
or Text: 310-600-4688
*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 