How it works
Getting started
Signing up is easy. You choose between two types of accounts; "Reader/Writer" or "Reader Only". Your personal details will be hidden as Firstlook works on the basis of anonymous peer assessment.
Upload your script
As "Reader/Writer" you must upload one of your own scripts before you are recognised as a writer. Once you have a title in the "Queue" you can access scripts available for assessment from the "Active List".
Acceptable format
Currently Firstlook only accepts scripts formatted and saved as Celtx and Final Draft 8 files. This restriction is necessary to guarantee the security of your script. Other formats will follow.
Additional assessments
As a "Reader Only" you have access to scripts stored in the "Library". The assessment process of scripts from the two lists is identical. As a "Reader Only" your assessments are appraised but you do not earn points.
Script registration
The script registration process is guided predominantly by choices made from dropdown lists. The more accurate information you give, the better assessment your will receive.
Anonymity
All assessments are done anonymously. Although the application blanks out any information you might have left behind that identifies you as the writer, please before uploading the script remove title page, your name and any contact details.
Request a script
Search your preferred platform, genre, length and format. Read the logline and press the "Request" button. You choose between "Regular" and "Comprehensive" assessments. You earn and learn more, the more you write.
Additional information
After uploading you can add information about your script to the "Script Page". Producers, Agents, Directors and Broadcasters will see this information in the future version of Firstlook.
Script check
The application checks your script according to chosen platform. If your script falls outside the allowable margins of word count and number of pages the upload will not succeed.
Assessment process
The guided assessment minimises the subjective evaluation of scripts. The bespoke strand of forms contains a plethora of uniformly generated topics and focus points relevant to the script's genre, platform, length and format.
Feedback
Writers will receive three comprehensive or a combination of regular and comprehensive assessments before a script is moved to the "Library" or "Archive". After each assessment writers can appraise the assessor's feedback within 48 hours.
Scoring
The average of the detailed scoring determines how a script will fare in the future version of Firstlook when Producers, Agents, Directors and Broadcasters will be searching for scripts from new writers.