Karen Everett provides insightful, in-depth and compassionate story consulting at any stage of filmmaking. She has also personally trained her already top-notch editors to be story consultants.
In the three lists below, you’ll find specific examples of how we provide editorial perspective on projects in development, production and/or post-production.
If you want written notes (optional but highly recommended), you can receive timecode-specific, actionable feedback directly into your transcript–assuming you’re at rough cut stage.
Story Consultation for Pre-Production
Before the cameras roll, we can help you to:
- Evaluate and refine your documentary concept for timeliness, interest, affordability, visual appeal, etc.
- Trouble-shoot issues related to legal, budget, access, structure
- Identify the film's ideological themes and central narrative theme.
- Help craft an elevator pitch, log line, short synopsis, and one-sheet (a film-industry documentary that explains your film’s concept)
- Structural outline
- Preliminary shot list
- Discuss character transformation
Story Consultation for Production
While you’re shooting, we can help you:
- Evaluate the production values of key footage
- Analysis of structure, starting with the inciting incident and climax scenes
- Examine potential for crafting the four steps of Character Transformation
- Interview tips, including techniques to elicit Protagonist’s Statement of Transformation
- Identify and troubleshoot specific storytelling problems
- Coaching on preparing for Post-production
Story Consultation for Post - Production
We offer two levels of story consulting on cuts: Initial Full Consultation and Follow Up Consultations
Level 1: Initial Full Story Consultation
- Adaptation of screenwriting principles to real-life stories
- Analysis of tone to attract wider audiences
- Stylistic recommendations for improving visual appeal
- Structure character transformation to convey the film’s theme
- Detailed feedback about your specific concerns
- 90-minute recorded, personal phone consultation
- Plan for next steps in editing
- Written notes with timecode-specific comments (optional)
- Edit efficiently, with clear objectives for Assembly Cut, Rough Cuts, Fine Cut and Locked Picture
Level Two: Follow Up Story Consultations (Initial Full Consultation required)
- Assess effectiveness of specific solutions implemented since last consultation
- Specific attention given to remaining areas of concern
- If applicable, give suggestions for rewriting narration and/or title cards
- Recommendations for cutting repetitive or unnecessary material
- Suggestions to improve overall watch-ability
- Ideas for pacing with music and micro-edits
- Recorded, personal phone consultation
- Optional written notes with time-code specific commentary (optional)
Karen’s review energized me! I am back in the flow and happy I opted for the complete critique. The time-coded notes are an invaluable resource. Her feedback is insightful, thorough, and easy to follow. I can see the finish line, and I’m thrilled at how the film is shaping up!