PROJECT PEARL
WHAT PROJECT PEARL HELPS YOU DETERMINE
Does the project itself need further development, does its presentation need strengthening — or is it ready for the next professional opportunity?
When a project is not selected, the immediate reaction is often to revise it. But without knowing what actually requires attention, another rewrite or a complete restructuring of the package may not be the right next step.
Pilot professional fee: €350
Limited to 5 projects
WHAT IS THE INDEPENDENT PROJECT REVIEW?
Project Pearl is a structured professional diagnostic developed by Sauban Film Productions for film and series projects in development.
The Independent Project Review examines the project and its available presentation materials as a whole.
Depending on the project and materials provided, the review may examine:
concept and premise;
story architecture;
character development and arcs;
series engine and sustainability, where applicable;
audience and positioning;
clarity of the project's proposition;
international positioning;
development stage;
coherence between the creative project and its presentation materials;
strengths and weaknesses of the existing package;
priorities before the project's next professional step.
The purpose is not to generate the largest possible quantity of notes.
The purpose is to identify what matters now.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
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1. Executive Diagnosis
A concise assessment of the project's current position:
principal strengths;
critical issues;
current development priorities;
areas that do not currently justify further intervention.
2. Development Assessment
A structured examination of the relevant creative and development components of the project.
The exact scope depends on whether the project is a feature film, series or another eligible audiovisual format and on the materials available.
3. Project Package Assessment
Where materials are provided, Project Pearl examines the coherence and effectiveness of the existing package, which may include:
logline;
synopsis;
treatment;
series bible;
pitch deck;
creator's note;
producer's note;
development and production information;
financing information;
previously submitted application materials.
4. Priority Action Plan
Recommendations are organised by priority rather than presented as an undifferentiated list of notes.
You will receive:
Critical priorities
Issues that deserve attention before the project's next significant professional step.
Important development priorities
Issues that may materially strengthen the project or package.
Next-stage priorities
Work that becomes relevant later rather than immediately.
5. What Not to Change Without Further Evidence
Non-selection can lead teams to reconsider elements that may not actually be the problem.
Where appropriate, the review identifies elements that should not be changed simply in reaction to a selection outcome without stronger evidence that revision is necessary.
6. Recommended Next Step
The review concludes with a practical assessment of the project's next development priority.
Depending on the project, this may concern further creative development, package strengthening, external validation, partnership development, market preparation or another professional step.
WHAT THIS REVIEW DOES — AND DOES NOT — DO
Project Pearl independently assesses your project.
It does not claim to know why a particular selection committee, fund, broadcaster, market or programme made its decision unless that organisation provided explicit feedback. A non-selection can result from many factors, including factors unrelated to the intrinsic quality of the project. The purpose of the Independent Project Review is therefore not to reconstruct an unknown selection decision.
It is to answer a more useful question:
Given where the project stands today, what deserves attention before its next professional move?
WHO THIS REVIEW IS FOR
The Independent Project Review is intended for producers, creator-producers, writers and project teams with a developed film or series project that has already entered a professional development or submission process.
It may be particularly relevant if:
your project was not selected for a fund, lab, market or pitching programme;
you received little or no actionable feedback;
you are considering another submission;
you are deciding whether the project needs further development;
you are unsure whether to revise the creative material or the presentation package;
you are preparing the project for its next professional opportunity.
MATERIALS
The materials requested will depend on the project.
They may include:
screenplay or pilot;
treatment or series bible;
pitch deck;
synopsis and logline;
creator and producer notes;
previously submitted application materials;
financing/development information where relevant;
feedback received from the programme or organisation, if any.
You do not need to upload confidential project materials through the initial enquiry form. We first review the application and confirm whether the Independent Project Review is appropriate for the project.
PILOT PROFESSIONAL FEE
€350 per project
The current pilot is limited to 5 projects.
The fee covers the review of one current project version and delivery of the Independent Project Review.
Additional services — including rewriting, preparation of new pitch materials, review of subsequent versions, packaging, financing strategy, representation or submission preparation — are not included and may be considered separately where appropriate.
REQUEST A REVIEW
Tell us briefly where the project stands, what happened at its most recent professional submission or selection process, and what decision you are facing now.
We will first determine whether Project Pearl — Independent Project Review is appropriate for your project.
No screenplay or confidential project files are required at this stage.