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When Michael gives me a script, I know it's something I have to read. I trust his taste because I know he has a great eye for talent. The fastest way for an unknown to get their work read by someone like me is through him. I heartily recommend the services of Michael Ferris and Script A Wish. I met Michael a few years ago when I was working for Academy Award winning Producer Arnold Kopelson. Michael was not only unusually bright and hard-working, he also found us a writer and brought in a project that sold to New Line Cinema. Michael is good with story, has taste, and I trust his opinion. The best thing about working with Michael is that I know if he wants me to read a script, it will be something of quality. He's a no bullshit guy, and he doesn't waste people's time. Getting notes, for a writer, can be a swift punch to the nuts. Luckily, Michael's got the golden fist. Dead on accurate, his notes might sting a little, but the reward of following them is better than you can even imagine. No one I have ever met has such a wealth of great taste, incredible contacts, and development talent as Michael. Thanks to him, a mere two days after I graduated from film school I had a meeting with executives in Los Angeles, after which they optioned my script. The next day, also thanks to Michael, I was "hip-pocketed" by a very in-demand manager. Put simply, Michael changed my life. The most unrecognized side of Hollywood is that of the development world, where creative minds serve to discover, support, and nurture screenwriters to make a good script great. To do this well it takes an understanding of not only the writer's process, but structure, character, tone, commerciality, and above all the gut instinct to realize what is a movie and what is not. From the moment I started working with Michael I knew he had exactly what it takes to turn 120 pages of paper into gold. The depth of the notes and feedback I received from Script A Wish enabled me to win a national writing award and become a finalist in many other competitions. Michael connected me to some of the most useful names, got my work seen much more than anything I could have done on my own, and polished my script to professional standards. His service is definitely what you need to make your script "Hollywood-ready!" He has an incredible sense of the difficulty of starting a career in professional screenwriting and a true understanding of what it takes to be successful in the field, which together forms into a demystifying and invaluable asset for any aspiring screenwriter. This guy is invaluable! My writing has been elevated at an incredibly rapid pace, and the guidance I received led to meetings with a manager and an executive at Sony. The best decision you'll ever make is to work with Script A Wish! Michael has proven an invaluable part of my rewriting process. Not only is he great with structure, format and grammar, but he also has a really good feel for the flow and tone of a script - making him excellent at suggesting ways to make it better. He's my go-to guy whenever I'm nearing the finish of a first draft! After submitting my reel of spec spots I felt pretty good about my prospects. After a month of silence I started to lose confidence. The next day I got an email from Michael saying he'd gone ahead and distributed my reel to agents at CAA and a bunch of other places. Within a week I got a call from an agent ICM who wanted to meet with me, and it was all thanks to Michael! It is my distinct pleasure to commend Michael as an outstanding teacher, lecturer, and mentor in screenwriting. I am part of the screenwriting faculty at UNCSA, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and have had the pleasure of working with him as an undergraduate student, a successful working professional in the field, and as an outstanding teacher. He has become a wonderful resource for our graduating seniors, and several of our faculty members regularly invite him to give a variety of lectures about how to navigate the world of professional screenwriting and filmmaking.Michael as also compiled several terrific documents on how the industry works, including a very compelling e-book, which we often use in our classes.I know that Michael has a passion for both excellent writing and helping students and aspiring screenwriters find their way into a challenging field. Michael Ferris spoke to my students (all budding filmmakers) at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. I was extremely impressed with his knowledge of the business and creative side of the industry, as were my students (who could not stop talking about him for days!). I highly recommend Michael Ferris as a mentor for understanding how to hone your skills and find a path into the industry. The first thing that caught my attention about Michael was his innate ability to spot the weak points in my writing while also providing solutions in a diplomatic, supportive way. He encourages me to break through boundaries and explore new territory in my work while respecting my vision and allowing me to stay true to my own voice. He is obviously a wealth of knowledge and experience, but manages to deconstruct complex ideas without the slightest hint of condescension. He seems to anticipate my every question and patiently gives thorough answers. His endless encouragement, generosity and attentiveness are both motivational and inspirational; Michael makes me want to do well. I couldn't have asked for more from Michael Ferris! He was very informative, and full of great ideas and creative fixes for our work. He offered me the patience and sensitivity so necessary to filmmakers just starting out. A wonderful, beneficial experience! Michael Ferris provided thorough and insightful feedback with just one filmmaking seminar -- the structure of our feature was radically improved after listening to him!
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