Kara Mauer - Job Description FINAL

     This summer, I have received an incredible opportunity to intern with an executive producer at Vandal/Apocalyptic Entertainment. They are a film production company specializing in producing and creating new films and comedy remakes. Screenwriters looking to pitch a script will send their story to the company's producers, who in turn get the final decision on whether or not they will pick it up. My job as an intern is to make the first pass on brand new scripts from writers.

   My first job as an intern is to read through a script and perform script coverage on the story. "Coverage" is a term that describes basic script notes. It is helpful for executives because all they have to do is read the interns' work. Executives receive hundreds of scripts a day, and they do not have time to read through all of them and form an opinion. That is where I come in. I read a script, and then I create my own personal logline. A "logline" is a one or two-sentence synopsis of a movie, giving you a basic idea of the story. For example, the logline for The Godfather is: "The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son." Another example from Jurassic Park is: "During a preview tour, a theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok." These examples give you the story's basic idea and encapsulate the essence of what you are about to watch.

   

     After I create my logline based on the story, I write a synopsis of the story. A synopsis summarizes the story that explains the beginning, middle, and end, including story arcs and the climax. The synopsis is extremely important for script coverage because you are relaying the story's events, which helps the executive decide whether or not they would like to read it. Imagine being a writer, putting all of your efforts into a script, and working on it for months. You want people to read your work and be impressed while also understanding your vision. A poorly written synopsis in a piece of coverage can cause an executive to overlook the script, even if it has excellent elements. For example, a script could have a great setup with characters that you find interesting. However, if there is very little followthrough, it denounces the story. Sometimes the writer can fix that kind of mixup with a simple rewrite. It is crucial to put thought into a synopsis to make it as accurate as possible.

   

     The last part of script coverage comes from your own opinions. It is my job to create a detailed list of my thoughts about everything. The point of this part is to think critically about the material and make a decision on whether or not you believe that the studio could potentially develop this script into a movie. A lot of thinking goes into coverage opinions because you are evaluating the characters and dialogue and plot and theme. For example, when Disney and Pixar create movies, they always include a life lesson or a theme that children can easily follow. This is essential when creating a kids' movie. Similarly, in all types of films, a strong theme makes the story that much stronger. If a script is missing one, then the audience will have a hard time interpreting why the studio made the movie in the first place.

   

     Aside from script coverage, I also perform script notes. The difference between the two is that script notes are in-depth detail, including play-by-play of the story. I break down Act 1, 2, and 3 and explain what works and what necessarily doesn't work. A script is only sent to the "script note" phase once they pass through coverage. If executives give a script the green light, they head into development, where script notes begin. My job is to break down the piece and talk about each part separately. For example, a script rarely ever has every aspect perfect. Most of the time, they either have terrific dialogue but lack character. Or, they could have good characters, but the plot is hard to follow or does not have a good story arc. These notes go to the writer and give them ideas about where they can change certain factors.

   

     The last task that I do at my internship is participate in development meetings. Imagine watching a salesperson try and market a well-known product to a customer where the customer knows a ton about the product and its competitors. That is how it feels during a development meeting. After script notes are through, you meet back with the writer, and you try and pitch them your ideas. Often, it is easiest to objectively pitch your ideas from a producer's perspective, letting them know what is considered "shootable" and what is not. If you approach it as a producer and not a writer, there is more chance for them to take the ideas into account. I enjoy meeting with writers because there is a different kind of creativity that comes from putting your heart and soul into a story.

   

     This internship has been super influential, and I have learned so many tactics to produce movies. I cannot wait to continue.

READABILITY STATISTICS:

Readability score: 63

Reader has at least an 8th-grade education

13-14 years old