Hi – I’m Matthew Cooper and I’ve been a script writer for hire and UK script consultant for over 25 years.
The BBC OPEN CALL – waiting for feedback
When you’re a new writer, waiting for feedback – from anyone is a nightmare. When you enter a script writing competition, you tend to start checking the website daily – only a few days after the comps deadline has passed – in the vain hope that someone has read your script – and instantly recognised your genius, and has decided to bin every other entry except yours and hand you – the rich and famous – Hollywood /Netflix contract, with first class tickets to the BAFTAs / Oscars and of course, to the set where you script will be instantly shot – without delay.
Had that dream? Are you checking the BBC Writers website every day or checking in to the portal see if your entry still reads: In Progress?
The BBC Open Call – gets between 4,000 and 7,000 entries every single year – and it narrows those writers down to 10 or maybe 11 winners, who will be developed, developed means – taken on to do trial eps of a show like Casualty or EastEnders. Where, hopefully, you still start your journey as a scriptwriter – and build up credits.
It’s only natural to be nervous, when you’ve written something, and put so much effort into it – that waiting on someone (unseen) behind the magic curtain to read your script and give feedback or worse ‘judgement’ on your work – it sounds like a nightmare of uncertainty – is your writing bad ?– is it good? But not good enough? – will you ever know exactly what the reader thought?
Readers do a ten page sift usually – you can, as a reader, tell if a script will work in ten pages (in fact, an experienced reader can usually tell in the first four or five pages if a script WON’T work – sometimes on page one). New writers tend to make the same mistakes. And a huge amount of scripts entered in the OPEN CALL– have probably already been binned – and those writers who are patiently waiting for feedback, don’t know that they have already been eliminated from the competition by the initial sift. It sounds awful doesn’t it – and it IS.
Yes, it sounds unfair, and it is, because that’s the way the business works. In the UK there are less than 300 working pro scriptwriters – and a lot of those guys are out of work since the cancelation of Doctors and River City and the reduction of episodes on shows like Casualty and Hollyoaks.
SCRIPT FEEDBACK AND SCRIPT REPORTS
So, if your script hasn’t made it – what feedback would you ever get? Why was your script not selected? Why did your horse fall at the first hurdle? And why do you have to wait until May 2026 or June 2026 or even god forbid July or August 2026– to find you’ve NOT made it?
TV writing is the MOST competitive freelance job in the UK – there are so few people making a living at it, and there are only very very limited opportunities – even for experienced pros – so new writers, are starting at the bottom of Everest – and what you need when you go up at mountain is a decent guide – if you’re looking for that – I’m your Sherpa.
I’ve written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award-winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and I’ve been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a scriptwriter.
I’ve done high profile rewrites on released and studio backed feature films and TV (often uncredited) in my time, I’ve also sold original screenplays to Miramax and Universal Pictures. Here’s a link to some of my credits on the IMdB – and my video showreel is below.
One of the services I offer – for new writers is my script coverage script coverage service which is one of the busiest script report and feedback services in the UK, and my script reports are the most comprehensive on the market – my average script report is over 30 pages long – and filled with specific notes, feedback, lessons and career advice (see my video below on the business aspects of scriptwriting for a real insight into how the business works for screenwriters).
So, if you are waiting for feedback from BBC Writers and BBC OPEN CALL is on your mind– and the uncertainty is quite naturally killing you – send you script to me and you’ll get an honest assessment – and you’ll also get advice (where possible) to specifically help you improve your script – and lessons on the areas where I think you need help. Writers I’ve worked with have gone on to win, or finish in the top tables of major screenwriting competitions in the UK and the USA.
It’s not expensive either
· £80 for a TV script (up to 65 pages)
· £120 for a feature film script (up to 125 pages)
At least after a report from me, you’ll have a better idea of what a reader would make of your work.
You can contact me on – matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk and you can trust me, I’m Doctor, well a Script Doctor at least.
ABOUT MATTHEW COOPER – UK SCRIPT WRITER FOR HIRE
Hi – I’m Matthew Cooper and I’ve been a script writer for hire and UK script consultant for over 25 years.
I’ve written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award-winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and I’ve been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a script writer.
I’ve done high profile rewrites on released and studio backed feature films and TV (often uncredited) in my time, I’ve also sold original screenplays to Miramax and Universal Pictures. Here’s a link to some of my credits on the IMdB
I’ve worked on feature films, TV series, web series and as a director I’ve made six micro budget features films, including ‘At The Mountains Of Madness’ which hit the screens in 2021 and ‘H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth’ which was released in 2024 and is free to view on his YouTube here: https://youtu.be/AEfaYEsx7pM
And I also wrote and directed the hit comedy feature film SOBER, which was shot in nine days for a total budget of £7,000 and cleared 10,000 YouTube views in 2 days! Sober stars Dean Smith (Last Tango in Halifax / Still Open All Hours) and Tom Gibbons (Funny Cow / The Archers) which made a big splash when it released in 2025 – you can view the comedy film here for free – https://youtu.be/Dx3yq03z6Mc
Matthew is also a hugely busy early adopter of AI VIDEO and you can hire him as an AI VIDEO DIRECTOR FOR HIRE – and check out his AI VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY.
YOU CAN CONTACT MAT ON – matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk