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PRAISE FOR JAMES P. MERCURIO
For
references, please contact recurring
clients Michael
Lent or Jim
Cirile.
"After
I hired Jim for his Professional Script
Analysis, I was amazed that his comments
went deeper than books and college
courses. I watched his DVDs,
and then asked him how I could better
myself as a screenwriter. After
he revealed he had a set of teaching
paradigms which functioned as a course,
I committed to flying across the country
for a week-long intensive training
session. Having been world-class
in another field, I know it when I
see it: Jim's mentoring is world-class."
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—Wayne Chiang
1999 StarCraft World Champion |
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"Jim
Mercurio provides concise, comprehensive
instruction and challenges writers
to develop their craft and take their
writing to the next level."
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| “Had Jim Mercurio
been one of the consultants
I reviewed when I
did my 'Analyzing
the Analysts' article
for Creative
Screenwriting
magazine, he would
have walked away with
top honors… More
than any other analyst
I've ever used, Jim
gives USEFUL and incisive
comments. Further,
Jim proposes solutions
for every problem
he finds, many of
which were right on
the money. I rewrote
my last screenplay
utilizing almost every
one of Jim's notes,
and the script went
from "pass"
to "wow!"
in under a week. You
can't do better than
this guy.” |
— Jim
Cirile
(multi-produced
WGA screenwriter)
Los Angeles, CA |
| “I'm a newcomer.
I don't want to feel
good. I need to be
challenged. Jim challenged
me and my writing
in a very constructive
way. If you are a
talented writer who
wants to become the
best writer possible
with the best script
possible and you are
willing to walk the
extra mile, Jim is
the one who can help
you get there. He
did it for me." |
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—Mirco
Betz
(Sold script Peace
of Light to
Roland Emmerich/Centropolis)
Los Angeles, CA
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| “Jim Mercurio
is a crucial part
of my development
process. He is a rare
blend of storytelling
intuition and an analytical
mind. So Jim always
understands both the
big and little picture
of where I'm trying
to go with each project
and helps me get there.
That's why I consult
with him for both
studio assignments
and specs.” |
— Michael
Lent
(Lent has worked
on the feature films Hellseeker
for Miramax/Dimension
and
13 at Universal. His book Breakfast
With Sharks
was published by Random House)
Los Angeles, CA
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| “I
can't recommend Jim enough. Twice
now he has nailed beautifully the problems
I was having with my story, but couldn't
put my finger on. With the first
story, I incorporated his suggestions and
my screenplay was optioned within the week. If
you've got a 'polished' screenplay that
isn't selling, stop beating your head against
the wall and contact this guy.” |
—David Hodel
(Writer/Producer) |
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“I have been
going over your notes
like the Dead Sea
Scrolls. You got
me nailed.... Can't
find much, strike
that, ANYTHING I disagree
with.” |
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—Lawrence
Tassel
Boston, MA
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| “Jim’s
feedback was invaluable.
His knowledge of film
genre, theory, formulas
and structure is exceptional.
After working with
Jim, my script was
optioned by an Academy
Award-nominated director.” |
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—Pam
Bassuk
Burbank, CA
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| “All I can
say is WOW. Jim really
spent a lot of time
and did his homework.
His attention to detail
was astounding…
he almost knew my
script better than
I did.” |
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—Mike
McCarty
(Sold treatment
for Junk
to Dimension Films)
Los Angeles, CA
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“I am not new to script consultants. For the last eight years I have worked with them on and off to get my scripts off the ground, to overcome the usual obstacles of the second act and then finally, to get them to a marketable state ready to submit to the industry. A long and sometimes tedious process, not to mention an expensive one.
I would also enter those competitions which offered feedback, to see how I might best tweak or drastically change the script, based on the Reader's perspective. This ultimately served just to further confuse the issue...
...And then I found Jim Mercurio.
I had the privilege of attending Jim's Killer Screenwriting class in LA in 2008. This was not just a class. It was a reconditioning of my creative mind. It was, for me, as well as the others who attended, a life changing experience.
That course in itself would have been enough to change my writing for the better, forever.
But I was in a time crunch. I had applied what Jim's class had taught me, but I didn't have the luxury of more time to come up with the much-needed major fixes... and I couldn't take the chance of submitting a less-than-fabulous-script to the 15 production companies and agents who had requested the script at a Pitchfest. Time was running out...
...And Jim saved me.
He took an ambitious, challenging drama that most had said was "perfect for a novel" (the kiss of death for a screenwriter) and he helped me turn it into a 112 page screenplay which I am finally proud of.
He not only guided me through the process, he did it quickly and after hours to help me meet my deadline.
As a script consultant, Jim miraculously gets the best out of you....not by only finding the problems, but by kindly, gently helping you find the solutions.
He doesn't criticize, he nurtures. He doesn't tell you WHAT to write, but he throws out a thought and suddenly you know HOW to write. He hints at the best fix allowing you to add your unique style and flavor to achieve the best result.
The man's a genius.
If you're undecided whether you need a script consultant, CALL ME! (321) 223-7256. You'll find Jim's the best thing you can do for your writing, for yourself, for your future.”
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—Jill Wallace
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| “Jim Mercurio is such an indescribable force, so it's hard to summarize. He's a stickler for understanding structure, beats and sequence turning points, but he's a totally open creative thinker and worker. A phenomenal brainstormer, Jim has the ability to look at things in totally different, but workable ways. He really believes in helping his students write the script that is inside of them. When the process has been completed, the writer has the script he/she set out to write; only it's much, much better.
Relentless comes to mind, when I think of Jim and his process, because he's such a perfectionist and demands the most out of every word, character, sequence, action and description. On my last script, we worked all day and all night, mostly via e-mail, and on the phone, but sometimes in person. "In person" with Jim is really fun, crazy and productive because it's so creative and collaborative.
I learned so many things from Jim that I didn't know that I didn't know and he taught me to really "see" films. In his heart he's a director, and I really think that helps in the way that he looks at every scene, because he's so visual and hilarious when he blocks out the scenes or reads lines.
Jim truly cares about making sure that every word works. I can't count how many times he said, "You're almost there." But when the process was finally over and he blessed the script, there's was such a huge feeling of elation and accomplishment, that it made it all worth it.”
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—Jan Stanton
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