Select Page

Trainees Example Studio Coverage

“There is tragic irony running throughout the script, with Paul being buried in a coffin and gradually being forced to accept that his life is over…” Extracts from a script report by our trainee Daniela Piper-Vegh, based on a reading of the script BURIED: CLICK HERE to read the script!

 To see the full industry-standard format we use for Studio Coverage, either commission your own (CLICK HERE) based on the script you submit, or purchase The Confidential Studio Manual to get the inside track on how the industry will really assess and process your script (CLICK HERE)!

TITLE: BURIED                                              LOCALE: Iraq

AUTHOR: Chris Sparling          SETTING: Iraq/US

WRITER A CLIENT?: N/A                          PERIOD: 2006

GENRE:                 PRIMARY: Thriller

SECONDARY: War

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

PAUL CONROY (M/ approx. 37) American truck driver in Iraq who finds himself buried alive.

JABIR (M/ approx. 30s-50s) Iraqi man who holds Paul ransom for money.

DAN BRENNER (M/ approx. 30s -50s) Commander of the Hostage working group in Iraq, who tries to help free Paul.


LOGLINE: An American truck driver in Iraq has to try and negotiate for his life, after he is buried alive following an ambush.

COMMENTS:

The script has very strong visual potential inciting a visceral reaction from the audience. Seeing the story in such a confined setting allows the audience to align with the main character, making them also feel claustrophobic. There is a clear protagonist and antagonist, with both of these character’s goals being evident from early on. The opening of the story is compelling and enticing, immediately drawing the audience in with mystery and intrigue. There is a clear sense of the stakes, with the audience desperately fearing for Paul’s life. There is also a clear time limit, with Paul’s only chance of survival, the cellphone, having only a certain amount of battery left. There is tragic irony running throughout the script, with Paul being buried in a coffin and gradually being forced to accept that his life is over. The final twist of Dan’s team digging up the wrong coffin is extremely moving and devastating. Not only does it feel like such a horrible mistake, but it also confirms that Dan was lying all along, pretending that there was ever any hope.

While the initial balance between action and dialogue is skewed, the balance starts to even out due to the cellphone conversations. The exposition is handled very cleverly, as the audience finds out everything that they need to know about the character and his situation from within the confinement of the coffin. Although most of the struggle stems from the situational conflict, there is also very strong emotional conflict and even inter-personal conflict through the phone calls. The audience is able to empathize with Paul, at the same time as understanding that both the protagonist and antagonist are ordinary people caught up in the complex political conflict between the US and Iraq. The script has strong commercial potential due to the uniquely powerful situational conflict. Paul’s desperation to survive prevents the setting from feeling stagnant. The script has the potential to be a sub-genre breakthrough.

 To see the full industry-standard format we use for Studio Coverage, either commission your own (CLICK HERE) based on the script you submit, or purchase The Confidential Studio Manual to get the inside track on how the industry will really assess and process your script (CLICK HERE)!

Sign In

Register

Reset Password

Please enter your username or email address, you will receive a link to create a new password via email.