Wrote · 2002
Point of Origin
Wrote the HBO film starring Ray Liotta and John Leguizamo, based on a true story.
Script consultant Better than coverage Career advice
The studio executive behind Pretty Woman, Face/Off and Days of Thunder will read your script.
I won't just tell you “what's wrong” with your script, I will offer concrete solutions and ideas on how to fix it. It's what I've been doing for thirty years. Plus, I'm a working writer, so I speak your language.
- WGA Member 30 Years
- WGA Award nominee
- Professor of Screenwriting, Chapman University
$1 billion+ in box office and gross revenue from films developed or written by Tabak.
The experience
The track record
Developed · Disney
Pretty Woman
Developed the script 3000, which became Pretty Woman, and coached Julia Roberts on her audition.
Bought & developed
Face/Off
Bought the screenplay when every other studio had passed and developed the project.
Developed the project
Days of Thunder
Developed the project for producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer at Paramount.
Wrote & produced · 2023
The Other Zoey
Recently wrote and produced The Other Zoey for Amazon, a number one rom-com hit.
Matt hired and worked with hundreds of writers and directors, including…
DirectorWriter
- J.J. AbramsWriter · DirectorStar Wars: The Force Awakens, Lost
- Ang LeeDirectorCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain
- Brian HelgelandWriterL.A. Confidential, Mystic River
- Jeph LoebWriter · ProducerDaredevil, Commando
- Tony ScottDirectorTop Gun, Crimson Tide
- Andrew Kevin WalkerWriterSe7en, Sleepy Hollow
- Jonathan HensleighWriterArmageddon
- Sidney LumetDirector12 Angry Men, Network
…and many others.
A script doctor for major studios, Tabak now makes house calls over Zoom.One-on-one conversation designed to get your script to the next level.
The who
He has worn many hats in the business.
Writer, director and producer. Former studio executive. Film school professor.
- 150+projects developed
- 2,000+scripts read
- 25+screenplays and pilots written
The executive
Worked for Touchstone/Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros. and Jerry Bruckheimer. Developed over 150 projects. Read over 2,000 scripts.
As a studio executive, gave such good notes on a project that Jeffrey Katzenberg wanted him to rewrite the script.
The writer
WGA Member 30 YearsHas written over 25 screenplays and pilots, in all genres from rom-coms to psychological thrillers to historical epics and biopics.
Adapted Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov for Francis Coppola and Sony Pictures.
The professor
Teaches screenwriting and producing at Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, ranked No. 4 among the nation's top film schools.
He coaches the next generation of writers and producers every week, the same way he'll work with you.
Working with Matt has been a godsend. He has an extraordinary ability to communicate in a concise and meaningful manner ideas that elevate your material way beyond your expectations. Without his notes, I would not have found representation.
Produced credits as writer
2023The Other ZoeyWriter, producer
2016Manson's Lost GirlsWriter
2012666 Park AvenueWriter, 1 episode
2004Plain TruthTeleplay
2003Every Breath You TakeWriter, director
2003The Stranger Beside Me WGA Award nomineeTeleplay
2002Point of OriginWriter
2002ObsessedWriter
2000Auggie Rose (Beyond Suspicion)Writer, director
1994The InvestigatorWriter, director
The nitty gritty
Screenplay notes & rates
Every service includes a live conversation by Zoom or phone.
Better than coverage
Coverage is a quick synopsis and boilerplate notes from a reader you'll never meet. Tabak reads every page himself. No readers, no assistants, no AI. It's a one-on-one conversation where he walks you through exactly what isn't working and gives you real creative solutions.
Quick hit
Start hereLogline & idea punch‑up
$175
Send me your logline and in a 30-minute phone call or Zoom I will assess its viability and give suggestions. A low-commitment way to see how we work together.
- Viability check
- Sharper logline
- Next steps
Before you write
Treatment analysis
$350
Comprehensive reading of your treatment, then a live call by phone or Zoom to talk it through and bounce ideas around.
- Detailed analysis
- Ideas
- Constructive criticism
Over 10 pages? Contact me for a quote.
Get treatment notesTelevision
TV pilot notes
$400
Comprehensive reading of your draft, then a live call by phone or Zoom. Better than coverage: talk it through and bounce ideas off a former studio executive.
- Detailed analysis
- Ideas
- Constructive criticism
Over 65 pages? Contact me for a quote.
Get pilot notesFeature film
Most requestedScreenplay notes
$600
Comprehensive reading of your draft, then a live call by phone or Zoom. Better than coverage: talk it through and bounce ideas off a former studio executive.
- Detailed analysis
- Ideas
- Constructive criticism
Over 120 pages? Contact me for a quote.
Get feature notes
The business side
Legal, financial, production & career help
$200an hour
Help with a contract, a question about a producer's offer, or the financial and legal intricacies of the business.
Get career adviceHandwritten notes are not a part of these services unless requested. For longer scripts, pilots or treatments, please contact me for a quote.
Stories from the trenches
The idea
18 types of movie ideas, and the engine that drives each one
Fish out of water, the underdog, the con, the night that goes completely wrong: 18 proven engines, with examples.
Structure
The Art of Dramatic Writing: what Egri gets right about premise, and where he’s overrated
The one-sentence premise test, why your ending is already in it, and where the method breaks down.
Coverage & notes
Script coverage, from the side of the desk that reads it
What's in a coverage report, what pass, consider and recommend really mean, and why I give mine on a live call.
Questions
Straight answers to what writers ask most, from the craft to the contract.
Don't see your question?
Ask me directlyStruggling to get your next draft to another level?
That's exactly what screenplay and TV pilot notes are for: a comprehensive reading of your draft, then a live call of up to two hours with detailed analysis, ideas, and concrete solutions on how to fix it. See screenplay notes and rates.
Notes from friends and Reddit not elevating your material?
Friends are kind and strangers online are guessing. I read over 2,000 scripts as a studio executive and know what makes a buyer say yes, and as a working writer I know how to get the fix onto the page. See screenplay notes and rates.
Is your idea worth pursuing, and how do you tweak it?
Start with a logline and idea punch-up: a 30-minute call where I assess the idea's viability and give suggestions. If you already have a treatment, treatment analysis goes deeper before you commit months to a draft. See rates.
Can you help with a contract?
Yes. As a former Wall Street transactional attorney, I've advised numerous writers, directors and producers on deal making and contracts. Legal, financial, production and career help is $200 an hour. It's business guidance from experience, not legal representation.
Have a question about a producer's offer?
Book an hour of legal, financial, production and career help. You'll get my read, as a former studio executive, on what the offer means, what's standard, and what to push on. $200 an hour.
Want help understanding the financial and legal side of the business?
I've seen the business from the studio, the writer's chair and the deal table. An hour of career help covers options, financing, packaging, representation and how deals actually get made. See rates.
Will you introduce me to agents, managers or producers?
No. I have plenty of industry relationships, but this service isn't about access. It's about story, character and craft. I don't pass scripts along, make introductions or promise representation, a sale or a meeting. Truly solid, compelling writing gets noticed on its own merits; I'm not a manager or an agent, and I'm not the vehicle for that. What you get is a better script, and a better storyteller.
Do I get written notes?
No. Handwritten notes are not a part of these services. The core of every service is the live call: verbal script coverage, where we can dig into your questions in real time. You're welcome to record it. Why I give coverage verbally.
Do you use AI to read scripts?
No. I read every page myself and don't use AI to read, summarize or evaluate your script. No readers, no assistants, no AI.
How long does it take?
It depends on the length of the material and my schedule. You'll get a firm date for your notes call when you book.
Can I just send you my script?
Please don't. Start with a short inquiry. If we're a fit, you'll accept the submission release and book the service, and then you send your material. It protects both of us.
Is my script kept confidential?
Yes. I don't share or pitch your material to anyone without your written permission, and you keep all rights to it. The terms are set out in the submission release you accept before sending pages.
Is contract help the same as legal representation?
No. I draw on my experience as a former Wall Street transactional attorney and studio executive, but this is business guidance, not legal representation, and it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice on your specific situation, hire a licensed entertainment attorney.
The contact
Ready to get started?
For more info and to get started, please contact me. Tell me a little about your project and I'll reply within a couple of business days about fit and timing. Please don't attach or paste script pages here; those come after you've accepted the submission release.
Or email [email protected]