Script Coverage Template — What Readers Use

By Steven EllisApril 2, 2026

Quick answer

A standard script coverage template contains seven sections: header information (title, writer, genre, page count, reader name), logline, synopsis, ratings grid scoring premise through marketability, comments analyzing strengths and weaknesses, and a final recommendation. Studios customize details, but this structure is universal across the industry.

The Header Section

Every coverage template begins with administrative data. The header captures the script title, writer name, genre classification, format (feature, pilot, limited series), page count, draft date, the reader's name, and the date coverage was completed. Some studios include additional fields like the submission source (which agent or manager sent the material) and whether the script is based on existing intellectual property. The header serves a filing function. Studios maintain databases of covered material, and the header ensures a script can be retrieved years later. If you are writing coverage for a production company, never skip the header. It is the institutional memory of the development process.

Logline and Synopsis Format

The logline is a one-to-two sentence premise summary written in present tense. It identifies the protagonist, the inciting incident, and the central dramatic question. Strong loglines imply stakes without stating them. The synopsis is a one-page (roughly 300-500 word) narrative summary of the entire story, including the ending. Unlike a marketing synopsis, coverage synopses do not withhold the resolution. The reader must demonstrate they understood the full narrative arc. Write the synopsis in present tense, tracking the protagonist's journey chronologically. Include major turning points and the climax. Executives use the synopsis to quickly understand what the movie is without reading 110 pages.

The Ratings Grid

The ratings grid provides a snapshot evaluation across multiple craft dimensions. Common categories include Premise/Concept, Plot/Structure, Dialogue, Character, Pacing/Momentum, Theme, and Marketability. Studios use different scales. Some use Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor. Others use numerical scores from 1-10. A few use letter grades. The ratings grid is the first thing most executives look at after the recommendation. A script might receive a Consider overall but have an Excellent rating for dialogue, signaling a writer worth tracking even if this particular project is not a match. Readers should rate categories independently. A script can have brilliant dialogue and terrible structure. The grid should reflect that nuance.

The Comments Section

Comments are the analytical engine of coverage. This section typically runs 300-800 words and breaks into strengths and areas for improvement. Strong comments identify specific scenes, character moments, and structural choices rather than making vague generalizations. Instead of writing that the dialogue is weak, a skilled reader cites the specific scene where two characters speak in identical voices and explains why differentiation matters. Comments should address the script on its own terms. Evaluate a horror script by horror conventions, not literary drama standards. The best coverage comments teach the executive something about why the script works or fails, not merely that it does.

The Recommendation

The recommendation is the binary output of coverage: Pass, Consider, or Recommend. Pass means the script does not warrant further development attention. Consider means the script has notable strengths but significant weaknesses, or the writer shows talent worth tracking. Recommend means the executive should read this script immediately. At most studios, fewer than 5% of scripts receive a Recommend. A Consider with enthusiastic comments can be nearly as powerful. Some companies add modifiers like Consider with Reservations or Strong Consider to create a more granular scale. The recommendation should be consistent with the comments and ratings. A Recommend with mediocre ratings undermines your credibility as a reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a standard coverage template everyone uses?

The structure is universal: header, logline, synopsis, ratings, comments, recommendation. But studios customize the details. CAA's template differs from Warner Bros. which differs from A24. The analytical framework is consistent even if the formatting varies.

Should I include the ending in the synopsis?

Yes, always. Coverage synopses include the full story including the resolution. This is not a marketing document. The reader must demonstrate they understood the complete narrative arc. Withholding the ending is a mark of an amateur reader.

How long should the comments section be?

Professional comments typically run 300-800 words. Shorter risks being superficial. Longer risks burying the key insights. Studio readers aim for precision over length. Every sentence should contribute a specific observation.

Can I use a coverage template for my writing group?

Absolutely. Using a structured template forces more rigorous feedback than freeform notes. It makes your writing group function more like a professional development team and less like a social gathering.

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