If readers aren’t grabbed by your story in the first 15 pages, they may not keep reading. Submit the first 15 pages of your script and have a 15-minute story notes call with the executive of your choice. This call will help you create a strong opening/act one to keep readers going until FADE OUT.
Questions? Email terra@roadmapwriters.com
Passion. I could go with "Why this story?" but ultimately I feel that's inherently baked into "This story is so exciting to me for X and Y reasons, and that's why it should be a movie". Knowing your demographic helps, too (I find people kind of forget about this), but it's not necessarily the foot to immediately lead with.
I'll be 100% honest, I don't know that I have a particular interest right now. The field seems at once both wide open and relatively specific re: what is "blowing up right now". Getting any original IP or stories on screen is so difficult, I don't want to necessarily box myself in. I do think I'm always very strong in horror, suspense, thriller, action, and continue to maintain a strong interest as a fan of those genres, but it also can get boring reading those same genres over and over again, so, again, I don't like to box myself in. Something like "YA TV" is probably the opposite of what I personally gravitate to, but I also feel my skillset is "classical" enough that it applies to everything.
I mentioned above, but probably "YA TV" or "half hour comedy" is probably a weak spot for me -- both in terms of what I traditionally watch/pay attention to and have a deep well knowledge of, and my ability to have fingers on the pulse of what is breaking and happening in those spaces.
Obsessed with stories and their tellers since childhood, Garrick Dion has three decades of experience in the Film & Television industry, having started his career as an intern for THE MATRIX producer Joel Silver.
After 10 years as a studio development exec for WB, New Regency and Artisan/Lionsgate, he migrated to “the other side of the desk”, as a screenwriter and story consultant on various projects for WB (including the Nicholas Sparks adaptation A WALK TO REMEMBER), Mandalay, Endgame and the SyFy Channel, before ultimately returning to development/production, albeit this time in the world of “high net worth”, financier-backed independents.
As SVP of Development for Bold Films, he helped produce such successful films as NIGHTCRAWLER, DRIVE, and the Sundance- and Academy Award-winning WHIPLASH, while as Head of Story for Vancouver-based BRON Studios he was the company’s first LA hire, subsequently working on a vast slate including TULLY, THE FRONT RUNNER, and LEAVE NO TRACE, while creating and overseeing in-house genre label The Realm, for which he produced the sci-fi feature PROSPECT and the darkly comic thriller VILLAINS.
A script consultant and independent producer of both visual and audio media — including several Top 10 podcasts for Voyage Media — he is currently based out of Los Angeles.
Garrick Dion went above and beyond. His comments were not only technically sound, but well-rooted in reading “the market.” He was also very personable and overly generous with his time during the [Rewrite Clinic] session. Most importantly, his attention to and recall of detail was truly impressive in each and every case. His notes left me not weighed down with the humdrum thought of reworking structure, but with the true excitement of being able to logically and contemporaneously incorporate them into my work.
~ Bob Winston
A BIG thanks to Garrick Dion for his insightful, informative, and producer-conscious notes on my latest screenplays. After reading two of my scripts and offering detailed feedback, I can with 100% confidence say I have two scripts ready for circulation. He helped me bring my characters to life and lifted my action description off the page. He has tons of industry knowledge and will help you get your script exec-ready. I loved his down-to-earth personality and loyal attention to my career. I can't recommend Garrick enough!
~ Clint Ross, Screenwriter
Garrick helped me get to the heart of my story, to focus on the characters, not the plot, and to help them move the plot forward. That made all the difference. Once I made those changes, I was able to focus on his specific questions, which helped me fine-tune the characterizations and plot points. His knowledge of the industry was invaluable in teaching me what a script needs to sell. As a new screenwriter, living outside of the LA area, I was extremely grateful to learn this. I can’t recommend Garrick highly enough. Any screenwriter would be lucky to work with him.
~ Mary Beth W - Screenwriter
Garrick proved to be worthy of his solid reputation. He had excellent ideas and insights, and we were able to workshop many problem areas of my (admittedly very complex) screenplay. He was generous with his time, thorough with his feedback, and thoughtful with his insights. An excellent experience - I would work with Garrick again in a heartbeat!
~ Kevin M. Jones, Screenwriter
I really appreciate Garrick's feedback. The sessions I had with him were incredibly helpful. He read my material so closely and gave me extremely thoughtful notes that were smart, practical, and usable. I absolutely credit him with helping me raise the level of my script, which was just selected as a finalist for the prestigious Athena List. He's a valuable Roadmap asset.
~ Barbara Nunberg, Screenwriter
After registering, you will receive instructions on how to submit your material in your order confirmation email. After submitting your material, please allow about 3-4 weeks to receive proposed times for scheduling your call with the exec. If you haven't heard from your exec by the 3-4 week mark about scheduling, please email terra@roadmapwriters.com so we know to check in with them on your behalf about their proposed dates/ETA for you.
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Questions? Email terra@roadmapwriters.com
Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your registration for a refund or Roadmap gift card if you have not yet submitted your material for review. However, once your material has been received by Roadmap, your registration cannot be canceled. Having revised material or a desire to retroactively apply a discount or gift card code are not grounds for cancellation, refunds, or gift card credit. Once your material has been submitted, the only acceptable grounds for cancellation and a refund or gift card credit is an unforeseen, ongoing emergency on the part of either the writer or the exec resulting in more than 6 weeks without any scheduling update from the exec via direct contact or Roadmap, or a sudden change in the exec's ongoing availability. In the instance of an irreconcilable scheduling issue, the writer may still receive a written feedback report from the exec. In this case, the writer is not entitled to a refund or gift card credit as the exec has read the submitted material and provided written feedback in lieu of the call.