Getting a reader job
I’m heading to LA to begin the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA and would love to get a day job as a reader if possible. Where do you start looking for reader jobs being offered and what gets you hired as such?
–Angel
Fabens, Texas
For those unfamiliar with Hollywood parlance, a reader is someone who writes coverage on a screenplay — essentially a summary of the plot, along with a short critique of the the script’s characters, narrative, dialogue and structure. Along with answering phones and working in the mailroom, being a reader is one of the classic first jobs in the film industry.
In order to get hired as a paid reader, you need samples and references. The best way to get these is to intern somewhere. Pretty much any small production company would be fine for this. There are a few ways to find one:
When you get to Los Angeles, pick up a copy of Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. In the classifieds section, you’ll find ads for “readers wanted.” Some of those are scams; some are real. You just have to meet with them to figure it out. (Trust your gut.)
Since you’re going to be at UCLA, check the bulletin boards in the film school. There will likely be some “interns wanted” flyers there.
The classic resource is the UTA job list, which is published every week and lists every assistant-level job open in Hollywood. Technically, you’re not supposed to get it unless you’re on the official distribution list, and if you call UTA, they’ll deny it exists. But if you’re already working one internship, chances are someone else in the office gets the UTA list, and if you ask nicely they’ll let you see it. A sample listing from this week would be:
Feature film production company with Academy Award-winning Producer needs one more intern. Candidate must have experience writing coverage and should be a student or recent graduate. In addition to assisting with daily office management, our interns take on the role of story analysts, evaluating our current projects. Must be available to start immediately and be present in the office at least two days a week. Unpaid. Please fax cover letter and resume to 310-555-5555 5/14
The goal with this first, unpaid reader job is to get experience, a recommendation, and stack of 10-15 good examples of coverage. You can have multiple internships at the same time, and you don’t need to stay with one for very long — not more than a few months. Everyone leaves; you won’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Take your good sample coverage and look for a paid job. The same resources listed above are good places to start looking, but hopefully you’ve made some contacts by now who can help you as well. Many of the more interesting jobs are never listed.
Articles
July 22nd, 2004 at 9:18 am
Hello
i would like to receive the uta job list every week at my email adress Thanks a lot bene
July 22nd, 2004 at 9:57 am
Um, just so everyone’s clear — that’s not going to happen, bene, unless some random reader with access to the list decides to take pity on you and forward it.
People are willing to help you, as long as you are clearly working to help yourself. Just posting your name isn’t going to open the industry floodgates.
September 22nd, 2004 at 2:40 pm
John,
Very interesting. I am doing what you suggested–working as an intern at two places at the same time, one a studio and one a production company. I write coverage for both, and I am really enjoying the experience. However, I am in New York, because its close to my hometown. Both companies are prestigious–one is a major actor’s production company, the other is one of the largest studios. However, I dont really see jobs opening up at either–the production company is small and stable, and the studio deals mostly with book scouting over here. So, I am waiting for a producer’s assistant opening, and considering applying to some of the major agencies. Ultimately, I want to be a producer. I love writing, and I spend much of my time sweating over the FDraft on my laptop, but I also enjoy development, the interaction, the game. Is it suicide to try and start as an assistant in NY? Would it be a waste of my time to find an assistant job here? I know its going to be harder than it would be in LA. Basically, should I head down the runway at JFK, chase down a flight to LA, and hop on the wing?
September 30th, 2004 at 2:45 am
John,
I was wondering if it’s possible for you to tell me what agency Freddie Highmore is represented by.
Thank you, Jessi
October 9th, 2004 at 2:28 pm
John, I’m a Creative Writing major, senior Undergrad student in Michigan and I’m wondering if you could please let me know the best way to apply for internships in the areas of screenwriting and coverage. I’m going to graduate in April and I’d love to be able to get some quality experience in the field. I’ve been searching the web and sending cover letters and resumes to places but It’s hard to tell which places are legit. Any advice you can give me will be truly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Dan
January 12th, 2005 at 1:16 am
You GUYS!!!
Give me a break! Well, two of you give me a break, the rest, you’re all right.
Don’t post to John asking him to do homework you’re more than capable of doing yourself. He’d probably have to do the same thing you would to find out who represents so-and-so or get you the UTA list anyway. So get off your asses and do it yourself. No one in Hollywood will give you a hand out. At best they give you a shot, but you’re always the one to make something of it or not. If you need such help with the basics then you’re not cut out for Hollywood. Take it from me, I’m here and just starting out and I can tell you that you really have to work for every little bit you get. Don’t abuse others with silly requests. Geeez.
Abe Vionas
January 12th, 2005 at 2:31 pm
Dear Readers, Abe is correct. First a suggestion, if you live in L.A. (the only way to be taken seriously) AFI has a great reader class. It not only is clear instruction on the profession but it also pushes home the many unique challenges that writing for the screen demands. This website is a source of great infomation please do not abuse it. Don’t fool yourself, screenwriting is hard work. Count on no one helping you. I have been working on bringing my craft to a professional level for (3) years and can tell you it is hard. It is very difficult to get a reader job and in the begining it is non paying position. Color yourself lucky if you can land one. Consider yourself even luckier that you have been drawn to profession (screenwriting) that if done right, can touch a audience where it counts. In the heart.
March 31st, 2005 at 4:35 pm
Hi. I am new to L.A. and I would LOVE to start receiving the UTA job list. I’m desperately looking for a job in the entertainment industry and I understand that this is a GREAT way to find those kinds of jobs. Thanks -LEE
March 31st, 2005 at 5:24 pm
Wow.
March 31st, 2005 at 6:10 pm
Hi,
I live in Davenport Iowa. Can you get me a job as a Director fo development at a major studio? Also, please send me Tom Hanks cell phone number. I’ve also heard that it’s good to have experience as a reader. Can you tell me what this is? Thanks!
March 31st, 2005 at 11:35 pm
Just ran across this website. Glad you guys are willing to disperse your industry insight, and, blatant sarcasm. Good luck in Beijing. If you don’t have Tom Hanks’ number, I’d settle for Colin Hanks’ =^) Side note from one novice to the others: If you can use the internet to leave a comment, perhaps you could go to a job website like entertainmentcareers.net as well… leave UTA for another day.
June 4th, 2005 at 9:44 am
Hi, I just moved to LA and I would love to receive a copy of the UTA List. Because I need to start working, and I want to work in the Entertainment Industry. Can any one send me the UTA LIST? I am very interested in getting on the mailing list.I would be very grateful. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!! Shibhan
June 4th, 2005 at 9:48 am
Hi, I just moved to LA and I heard the UTA list has the best job offers. I want to work in the Entertainment Industry, and I would love to get on the UTA mailing list. I would be very grateful to you! Thank you for your kindness and generosity!! Shiobhan
June 4th, 2005 at 8:44 pm
Okay, you UTA beggers:
Go take a screenwriting class through UCLA’s Professional Program and you’ll be put on the UTA email list.
Summer classes are still enrollling through June 5th, and next Fall is accepting applications. If you can’t find the website, QUIT NOW.
Seriously, if you’re bugging generous professionals like John about this, you need to take a class anyway to learn how to put your best foot forward. Everything you want in LA takes patience, work, and an investment of money. So get started, and plan on putting in YEARS.
June 24th, 2005 at 10:50 am
God bless you John for trying to help out.
As for you up and comer’s - After 10 years in indsutry in LA, I would eat each and every one of you for breakfast if you asked me questions like this. You should be exhausting every other single possible avenue… twice… to get info yourself. You want to write a screenplay? Then get to LA or NY (not as lucrative and entirely different vibe but not a bad place to cut your teeth), find the funds to take McKee’s Story Seminar or some screenwriting classes at AFI or UCLA, get a low paying, long hour job copying scripts in the mailroom somewhere or shuttling coffee for a producer or any kind of production job and listen to each and everything someone in a position above you says and file it for a later date. Network like mad and make friends with everyone without becoming the guy or girl who makes people hate them when they enter a room because all do it weed info from them instead of listening. Get street smarts and common sense and stay singularly focused on your goal. If you are waiting for more than this info from someone, you are never going to make in Hollywood. I have seen many come and go and the ones who make it are the ones who practice their craft without fail and never waiver from their chosen profession. John is giving you some fantastic advice. Take it to heart and DO IT.
June 25th, 2005 at 7:51 am
Totally agree, vet. As for the UTA list, if you look hard enough online, you will find it, not that you need it.
July 5th, 2005 at 3:15 pm
such negativity and animosity towards those eager, as many veterans once were, is fruitless. if you are confident in your abilities, you will feel no need to crassly attempt to break ones spirit. that kind of negativity will always be returned to you. and sometimes with interest…
July 13th, 2005 at 12:10 am
yeah, i get the UTA list almost weekly.
pretyt cool, except for the fact i’m in chicago.
so i’m sure it’ll do me more good when i make that trek to LA.
alot more difficult to make it here, but i’m trying.
September 29th, 2005 at 4:49 pm
Hello John, I understand you got your masters at USC in film production. I’m currently looking for a good MFA program in screenwriting and there are alot of schools that offer it. I’ve done the research in to what schools offer what so I’m not asking for you to do that for me. Just wanted to know how you felt, looking back, about USC’s program and if you ever heard about any similar programs that rivaled USC.
December 22nd, 2005 at 3:50 pm
To the person going to UCLA - just and FYI - you will be getting the UTA job list
January 18th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
anonymous tip: do a coverage for free. if it’s good you’ll do more. win/win or lose/lose, either way you pay your dues
January 24th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Hello, Mr. August–
I hope this blog is still active, and that you get my letter. I’m at Sundance this week…too bad I don’t know where you are; I’d buy you dinner for five minutes of your time.
My daughter is a SAG actor with several small credits to her name. She was big in NYC, but has been in Los Angeles for over two years, without a single role. (Though she has done several charity events.) Joining SAG took her out-of-the-running for any of the non-union film/television roles, and after two years of sending out her headshot and resume to every agency on the SAG list, she still can’t even get an appointment to interview with an agent! Without representation, she’s worse than zits.
She’s pounding the pavement every day while struggling with a day job as a paralegal just to pay the rent on her tiny, shared apartment. She’s studying acting for film with a terrific instructor (he coached Barbra) and she auditioned for Juilliard’s acting program last year, and was number four. Unfortunately, they only had three spots, and nobody dropped out. (She’s gearing up to try again.)
She owes a fortune in student loans from her undergrad, and Juilliard, if she makes it this time, will be even more costly.
She’s beautiful. She’s very good. She can even sing. (Full lyric soprano MSM ‘04) She won’t sleep with anyone, and doesn’t “know” anyone big enough to give her a leg up on how to receive this UTA job list thing.
Any suggestions? I try to help her where I can (after years of trying to talk her into another career–she’d have been a great doctor, and it would have been cheaper and faster) by going online and sorting through acting jobs on the free lists (and even a few paying ones we can’t afford, that offer nothing.) What else can I do? She won’t take her clothes off, but she’s open to any television role. Nothing is beneath her. She’d do a soap opera, a commercial, or children’s programming. If ANYONE would give her an old-fashioned “screen test” I know she’d be working as much as Kate Hudson (who everyone says she resembles) or Kate Winslet (whose acting style she has). Her SAG status seems to have been more of a curse than a blessing as she soldiers-on in Los Angeles.
Thank you, John. I would appreciate hearing any ideas you might have.
Sincerely,
Kj
November 1st, 2007 at 10:20 am
KJ, Tell your daughter to do as many student films as she possibly can. Trust me, there are plenty of USC, UCLA, and AFI students doing them. They usually don’t pay more than free meals, which should be a blessing to a struggling actor. This will allow her to build an impressive reel beyond her three tiny roles from New York. After she has ten or fifteen roles under her belt, she should find someone who can edit it into something than can be viewed in three minutes by casting agents or talent agencies. In the meantime, she needs to audition for EVERYTHING. Sometimes young actors are under the impression that they can pick and choose. No way. One last thing: It’s never a good idea to peddle oneself as resembling another actor. Why would major Hollywood director want KJ’s daughter, who resembles Kate Hudson and acts like Kate Winslet when they can get Kate Hudson or Kate Winslet and have a major star in their picture? KJ’s daughter isn’t going to put asses in the seats. The two Kate’s are. Hollywood like’s personalities, you know? Who else acts like Johnny Depp? Who else acts like Kate Winslet? Who else acts like John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, Russel Crowe, Billy Bob Thorton? Nobody. That’s why they’re famous.
Good luck, Mick