What Is a Script Reader and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As a script reader, your primary duties are to read, review, and provide coverage analysis and detailed notes of scripts. Typically, when a writer sends an agent or a studio a new screenplay, it is first screened by a script reader. Your responsibilities are to assess whether the script may be a viable film option for the agent or producer. You may choose to reject the screenplay or send the script to the agent or producer. If you work at an agency, the ultimate goal is either for the agent to sign the screenwriter and sell the script, or for the agent to attach their own talent to the screenplay and persuade a producer or studio to make the film. At a studio, the producer advocates for the script rather than the agent.

To become a script reader, you typically need a high school diploma or GED certificate. Beyond that, there are few formal qualifications for the entry-level position, although having an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject may improve your job opportunities. Beneficial fields of study include English literature, theater, and film studies. In addition to educational qualifications, you must have exceptional written communication and critical thinking skills, as well as knowledge of the film industry, script formatting, and film production.