British Comedy Guide

Remote Online Table Read Service

Spotter

We can organise and record a reading of your script by trained actors

The table reads are organised and produced by Adrienne Aiken, a writer/producer with many years’ experience in broadcast audio and music production. She has worked in various film production roles on many shorts and a feature and has also been a Quarterfinalist herself as a screenwriter in the Screencraft 2020 Comedy Competition.

We will:

  • Find up to 4 actors that we specifically cast for your script's characters. (Actors can cover more than one part in an audio-only production and voice it differently, and we always look for those who are dextrous enough to read with different voicings. But more can be arranged, see * below)
  • Sort out legal stuff: NDA and actor release forms
  • Organise/coordinate suitable days/times with actors
  • Communicate character traits and any script issues
  • Moderate/direct the remote online session
  • Narrate the scene headers and action lines
  • Record the remote online session
  • Email you a link to the result
  • Include a report of comments from myself and the actors

You can ‘attend’ live or not – it’s your choice.

From £250*

*This is the fixed price package, which includes all of the above and scripts of up to 90 (approx) pages. For longer scripts, or extra services, click on Custom Package to get a quote.

WHY HAVE A TABLE READ OF YOUR SCRIPT?

Once there is a refined, completed draft, hearing it read out aloud will focus the scriptwriter (or whoever has a vested interest in the script’s development) on the following aspects within the script even further:

  • Dialogue strength and flow
  • Writing technique
  • Character strengths and consistency
  • Scene strength, length and validity
  • Story flow
  • Sniff out any plot holes
  • Help you get out of writer’s block

Actors bring the characters to life and highlight what works and what could be improved upon to allow a script to reach its greatest potential. Plus it feels good to hear it as a living, breathing thing!

To hear examples, please go to: spotter.world/table-read

Don't be daunted/scared – actors are lovely people and table reads are great fun and will really bring your script to life.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Fixed Price Package

As per the listing on the main Services page.

We will do all as listed in the About this Service on the main Services page (and below) and you get a full read-through of your script read by actors, with pick-ups (re-takes). (We create an actor shortlist for you to choose from.)

Just book for the fixed price of £250! No hidden extras.

BOOK YOUR TABLE READ HERE, NOW and let's bring your script alive!

If you need anything not included on the list:

  • more actors
  • editing
  • additional SFX, Foley, music

or if your script is longer than 90 pages, just click on the Custom Package and let us know what you need and we'll get you a great quote.

£250 Buy Now

Custom Package

This is where you can add extras to the standard package

We will do all as listed in the About this Service on the main Services page (and below) plus what extras do you need?

  • More actors?
    • As mentioned, actors can cover more than one part in an audio-only production and voice it differently, but we will seek out and find however many you need and create an actor shortlist for you to choose from
  • Editing, Mixing?
    • When you add this, it includes 1-2 complete read-throughs to choose takes from, plus pick-ups (re-takes)
  • SFX, Foley, music?
    • We source - or create(!) the sounds to really bring your recording alive, making it more like a radio-play, then find music to compliment it (Useful as an audio showcase piece for pitching or as part of a transmedia campaign!)
  • Recording on Pro-quality Wav Files?
    • Instead of Zoom, we record all actors AT SOURCE onto high-resolution wav files. This, means no dropouts or 'Daleking' and brings the sound quality up to a far higher professional standard. Don't worry, this isn't a hugely expensive add-on, but it does cost a little more than the standard Zoom option
  • Additional services: proofreading etc.?

Just let us know, or if you have any questions and we will email back a quote (or maybe also some questions for you if we need to know more, to ensure we get you the best price)

Price on application

Some other options to consider looking at before a script reading include:

  • Proofreading: Grammar, spelling, misused words - pointing out errors that you can then change (Bad grammar can make reading out loud difficult and sound stiff)
  • Proofreading Plus: As above, but going through and making the actual changes
  • Copy-Editing: Correcting the use of English language and expression – making suggestions for a better flow
  • Proof-Editing: A combination of the all above (most popular)
  • Basic Script Coverage: Addressing your concepts, strengths/weaknesses in script content (plot, structure, dialogue, form etc.) and more (basic level is not as in-depth as a full script consultancy and is therefore less expensive than a full service, but bolts onto any of these other options to give you feedback on the points mentioned above)
  • Script Doctoring: Making actual re-draft suggestions, above and beyond purely correcting procedures. (This is a far more creative input.)
  • Screenplay to Radio Play Adaptations: This will point out areas that will need to be changed from the original visual incarnation of the script that you can then amend, or we can do it for you.

Please click on the custom package and ask for a quote if you require any of these additional services to tighten up the script before your table read.

FAQ

Only 4 actors? Actors will cover several parts – but if you need more, or wish to have a specific style narrator, we can accommodate that too, but there will be an additional small fee to source them. Click on Custom Package to get a quote to include more actors.

Will it be edited? Not in the fixed cost package, but you'll get the recordings to do what you want with them. Editing is a lengthy process and hones the timing right down, takes out any noises, coughs etc. and it's then mixed to even out the sound It can even include adding SFX, Foley and music for a more radio-play-style recording. (Useful as an audio showcase piece for pitching or as part of a transmedia campaign!) Click on Custom Package to get a quote to include editing and mixing.

Will my script recording have SFX, Foley and music? Not in the fixed cost package. As with editing, this is a hugely time-consuming process to source or create the right sound effects etc. and music for your script. Click on Custom Package to get a quote to include SFX, Foley and music

What if I don't want the scene headers and action lines read out? No problem, we will do your table read without it! Just make sure it works, because it sounds like you may want it to sound more like a radio script recording, which is fine, as long as the scenes and actions all speak for themselves as this is usually accommodated with some specially adapted dialogue and/or SFX and Foley.

How good can the quality be with an online recording? I'm sure by now, you've heard how it sounds with all the lockdown specially adapted TV interviews and meetings taking place via Zoom, it's definitely good enough for you to hear your script read aloud and get a great idea of all the strengths and weaknesses, but if you want even better quality, you need to go for an edited option. With the editing option, we also EQ and mix the individual actors to help improve the sound quality and we even had the Pro option that records everything on broadcast quality files. Click on Custom Package to include editing and mixing.

I've seen this kind of service for less, why is yours more expensive? The main reason is the time we spend sourcing actors. We specifically cast for your characters, whereas some table read organisers will have a small group of actors they call on for all their table reads in order to keep costs down, which is fine, but if you're passionate about your script and want to hear your characters actually sound like they do in your head, that is what we try and achieve with bespoke casting. But it takes time to find them.

If money is tight and you're not that fussed about voicing and acting abilities, you can always get a bunch of mates to read it. That will still get it read out aloud.

 

TESTIMONIALS

From Barbara Vonau  -  Screenwriter of “Clap!”

I met Adrienne Aiken when I needed to arrange table read for my Masters Project (a 30-minute TV comedy pilot), which I did in conjunction with Raindance Film School/De Montfort University Leicester in February 2020.

Adrienne was prompt to reply and a very effective communicator throughout. She always kept me abreast of any issues regarding putting the advent out to the actors, selecting finding a suitable actor for each role, gathering other information and setting up the actual table read with recordings.

Her approach was thoroughly professional, always transparent and her attention to detail helped to avoid any unnecessary costs and time delays. Her recordings were of very good quality and thoroughly suitable for referencing for my MP project in my MA report.

Her organisational skills and industry knowledge helped me to get the most appropriate table read and recordings for my specific purposes.

 

From Ian Cox - Screenwriter of “Playing Woodstock”

We first met at the London Screenwriters Festival and discussed the screenplay I was working on. Adrienne’s company became involved and worked with me on screenplay development to the point where it was ready to be prepared for a recorded table read. Her professional, imaginative and enthusiastic input really helped me and it was clear that she “got it” in terms of the heart of the story.

The preparation for the table read entailed careful selection of actors and venue. We worked together on this, but I very much relied on Adrienne’s experience and understanding of what was needed.

The day of the read went extremely well with Adrienne’s affable but assertive style ensuring that we got what was needed. The recording is now being edited by Adrienne with great suggestions about changes and improvements. We are working towards a completed recording that can be used to pitch the screenplay. Adrienne has been central to the ongoing progression of this project. Without her, I would probably have given up but now we are moving to a piece of work capable of being used or adapted for screen, radio or even stage.

I would recommend Adrienne and her company and will certainly use her on my next project.

This service is provided by Spotter.

Whilst British Comedy Guide lists this Service, it is acting as a designated sales agent for Spotter ('Provider') and neither runs the Service nor has any other control over nor has any other control over it. Accordingly, it cannot be held responsible for them in any way, shape or form. British Comedy Guide processes payment on the Provider's behalf and all prices include a service charge, itemised separately on your invoice. Please feed back to BCG if you feel a Service is inappropriate. When booking a Course or Service, or joining a waiting/notification list, your name and email address will be shared with the Provider, who may contact you about this and/or future offers. Your payment details are not shared.