story consulting

Shuchi works as a story consultant on narrative and documentary projects.

Shuchi’s feature script, GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS, won numerous accolades, including the Aide aux Cinémas du Monde and Sørfond grants, the ARTEKino Prize, and funding from Région Île de France. The film premiered at Sundance and was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards.

Shuchi is experienced at crafting pitches, look books, and advancing projects through film markets. GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS won multiple awards at the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Shuchi also produced short film HONOLULU by director Maya Tanaka, and together they pitched and won the Tribeca x Chanel Through Her Lens grant.

Shuchi’s documentary credits include story producing the Emmy-nominated BEING MARY TYLER MOORE, which premiered at SXSW. Shuchi also story produced the vérité series WE ARE: THE BROOKLYN SAINTS for Netflix directed by Rudy Valdez, and WYATT CENAC’S PROBLEM AREAS for HBO, where one of her episodes was nominated for a GLAAD Award.

Shuchi facilitates writing workshops, has taught at The New School, and has been a guest lecturer at CalArts, Harvard, VCFA, Rutgers, BU, and more. She has been a mentor at the Gograha Film Lab in Nepal, a work-in-progress panel reviewer for Untitled Filmmaker Org, and a guest mentor at the QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab. Check if Shuchi is currently teaching a workshop here.

After Shuchi reads and analyzes your script, you’ll have a 90 minute call to go over her feedback on story, structure, character arcs, strengthening stakes, deepening the themes, adding subtext and more. She will also suggest fixes and help brainstorm solutions to specific issues. (Note: if your script is longer than 120 pages, there will be an additional fee).
For films in post-production, Shuchi will watch the cut and make detailed notes followed by a 90-120 minute call.
Fee: $750
Shuchi will read and analyze your short film script for story, thematic, structural, and character issues and possible fixes. You’ll have a 60 minute call to discuss her feedback and possible solutions. For films that arin pre-production, you can also discuss casting, visual language, rehearsal ideas and other directorial choices.
Fee: $475
For regular and sustained support, it is also an option to meet for 60 min calls weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
4 hr package (no pre-read): $650
You will meet 4 times over a course of 2-6 months to support your writing practice, troubleshoot blocks, discuss creative challenges, career questions, and more.
4 hr package (with pre-read): $1200
For sustained support on a project, you can meet 4 times over a course of 2-6 months so Shuchi can offer feedback on new pages, and most pressing story, structure, thematic, character, or other challenges. You can send up to 20 new script pages (or 5 prose pages) before each call.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Shuchi is one of the most insightful, brilliant filmmakers I know and her feedback was invaluable in the script revision and post-production process of “The Feeling That the Time For Doing Something Has Passed” as well as for previous films. After her notes, I have come away with new ideas to try and energized by her fresh perspective/out of the box thinking. Having been in workshops (Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective, Berlinale Script Station) with her for years, I have seen over and over how transformative her feedback is for so many projects.

JOANNA ARNOW | Director, THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED (Cannes, TIFF)

Shuchi (Talati) is a great friend and a brilliant script consultant. I have known her for seven years, and whether I need help with brainstorming, outlining, rewriting, or polishing my script, Shuchi has been there for me. She knows how to craft compelling stories with strong characters and engaging dialogue. She is also frank and constructive in her feedback. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything but offers solutions to fix the problems.

DEEPAK RAUNIYAR | Director, POOJA SIR (Venice), FOUR NIGHTS (Berlinale)

“Shuchi gives the BEST feedback. Like really the best, actionable notes relayed in a clear, kind, and supportive way. It’s obvious that she’s focused on helping you figure out the best way to realize your vision and guiding you on that journey. After a short conversation, I can clearly see what a sequence needs to do and am actually excited to jump back into the edit to make those changes. These conversations have been vital to my work and breathed new life into projects.”

JEREMY LEVINE | Director, THE PANOLA PROJECT (Sundance)

“Shuchi Talati’s feedback has transformed my film projects through her brilliant and thoughtful analyses of plot, structure, character, pacing and more. Her ability to ask the right questions, to encourage experimentation, and to see the forest through the trees is unparalleled. The energy and love that Shuchi brings to creative problem-solving is a gift, a delight, and a necessity.”

story consulting