SCRIPTGNOSTIC
CONSULTANCY FOR PRODUCERS AND WRITERS
Simon Bosanquet, producer, Generator Entertainment - Onegin, Ripley's Game, Whole Lotta Sole:
“As a Producer, I find serious and well-informed script analysis and reporting invaluable when developing any film project and Steve Brookes is a master of this craft.”
Michael Lennox, director of A Patch of Fog, Derry Girls:
"I’ve been working with Steve since I began my career in filmmaking from Shorts to my first feature and the journey with him has been invaluable. Steve gives you objectivity and utter honesty. He has the great balance between asking the hard questions and forcing you to be clear in your own intentions as a filmmaker. His optimism and easy-going going nature is priceless."
Brendan Mullin, Six Mile Hill Productions, producer and co-writer of Bad Day For the Cut:
"I cannot recommend Steve enough. He is an excellent script editor, clearly passionate about cinematic storytelling, and always on hand with thorough, concise and encouraging notes that help pave the way for doing your best work. He not only has a top-notch understanding of the craft of screenwriting, but more importantly, understands how writers work too."
Eoin O’Callaghan, Creative Director, Big Fish Films, producer Five Minutes of Heaven, The Truth Commissioner:
"Steve will, if required, give advice on how to restructure, improve dialogue and re-shape a piece of work, but, crucially, he has the gift of pointing to a range of sensible solutions within a variety of genres without attempting to impose his own particular tastes or world-view. He is good in one to one sessions with writers, or in a group scenario where added members of a film-making team are involved. I commend him without hesitation."
Brendan J Byrne, producer Maze, Jump:
“I have worked with Steve Brookes on a number of occasions now, benefitting from his invaluable guidance as he helped steer two feature films I produced from script to screen. His preparation is excellent. He ends up knowing the script better than you and his attention to detail is impressive. I’ve always enjoyed working with him, despite the sometimes harsh news he needs to share with you to successfully get through the many difficult phases of script development, but I could not recommend him highly enough to anyone considering such a journey."
Pearse Elliott, writer, and director, writer of Pulling Moves, Man About Dog, The Mighty Celt:
"I have worked with Steve Brookes on three different projects and found him extremely proficient in
all aspects of script development. Steve brings an incisive and insightful clarity to scripts and has proved an excellent ally in ameliorating the story the writer wishes to tell. I would thoroughly recommend him."
Katy Jackson, producer, Zoo, The Last Rifleman:
"I have worked with Steve Brookes on a number of projects over the past 10 years. He is extraordinarily intuitive and incisive and always succeeds in providing an atmosphere of open minded collaboration. He motivates the writer to do the best job possible and to truly realise the potential in the script, bearing in mind budgetary and production limitations. I would not hesitate to whole-heartedly recommend Steve and would always choose to work with him on any of our future projects."
Hole in the Wall Gang, Belfast (Damon Quinn, Michael McDowell, Tim McGarry) performers, producers and writers and directors of TV comedy shows and screen dramas:
"Steve Brookes is an excellent script consultant because he not only challenges your script he also makes useful suggestions. Any criticism is constructive and any advice is definitely worth taking on board. Your script will invariably be improved by getting Steve to give his expert opinion."
Ciaran O'Connor, producer, New Decade TV, director Trafficked, producer, Secret Peacemaker:
"Steve has always been a pleasure to work with. Where a script needs attention, whether it's story, character or plot, Steve always suggests some thoughtful and insightful solutions. Importantly, I also feel that our films are getting the benefit of his years of experience of getting great scripts to screen."
Ronan Blaney, writer of BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated film, Boogaloo and Graham and A Good Woman Is Hard To Find:
“Steve always clarified for me what a script should do. He always asked perceptive questions. I always went away from our sessions with a clearer sense of what I needed to do if I was write a better screenplay”
Richard Crawford, novelist and screenwriter, The Abduction Club, The Morrigan:
"As a screenwriter working on feature film projects I've had the pleasure of meeting with Steve during the development of a variety of projects over more than a decade. He is one of the few people working on story development who is capable of quickly and effectively adjusting their approach to suit the project and the people involved, with a view to deriving maximum benefit for the story. It is rare to come away from a meeting with Steve without some new insight into the story and, possibly just as important, a renewed store of energy for the next tranche of work."
Chris Baugh, co-writer, and director of Bad Day For the Cut:
"We have been working with Steve since our earliest short films right up to our first feature BAD DAY FOR THE CUT. His insight, notes and suggestions have always been an incredibly useful part of our filmmaking process and served to strengthen every project we have worked on together."
Terry Loane, writer and director, Mickeybo and Me, At Water's Edge:
"Steve has an encyclopedic knowledge of film, and his approach to script editing is consistently thorough and considered, and always valuable. He asks the hard questions that a writer needs to answer. And he's a joy to work with."
Colin McIvor, writer and director of Zoo:
"My experience as a writer working with Steve on a number of projects has always been positive and enlightening. At times frank, his balanced mix of analytical and instinctual approach always makes our sessions stimulating and all with one goal ... delivering the best screenplay possible."
Lisa Marie Russo, producer Fly Film, London - Hockney, The Spirit of '45, Swandown, The Deep Blue Sea:
"The script is the dream. Writers breathe life into an idea, often with the support of great script editors. Steve Brookes is one of those people - insightful, decisive, and sensitive. He's there to help your dream come true."
Michael Kuhn, producer Being John Malkovich, The Duchess, Florence Foster Jenkins:
"Steve Brookes understands how to get the best out of writers and their scripts. He has made a serious contribution to the quality of feature films produced in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years. I would recommend him to any producer in need of a script consultant."
Colin Bateman, novelist and screenwriter - Divorcing Jack, Murphy's Law, The Journey, Driven:
'Great insight and advice and unfailingly helpful - he knows scripts inside out - Steve really helped to push our two films, The Journey and Driven through to production....'
Chris Martin, producer, Good Vibrations:
"Steve has been script consultant and script editor on several of my productions from short film to award winning feature films. His drive and insight to get the best engaging story for the audience coupled with his ability to create creative relationships with writers and directors really reaps rewards."
Andrew Reid, Head of Production, Northern Ireland Screen:
"Steve has been a great asset to Northern Ireland Screen. He has been a wonderful ambassador for Northern Ireland writing talent; helped us find, nurture and shepherd new and emerging writers; but most of all brought skills, knowledge, experience and energy to every single project. Undoubtedly the screen writing sector in Northern Ireland is richer for the years he’s dedicated to it. He has had a profound impact on our work, raised the bar and we are extremely grateful for it."