"Money flows TO the writer"
Aww, c'mon. Check out the article where Yog expounded that principle. (
http://www.sff.net/people/yog/). He wasn't arguing that writers shouldn't be paying for paper & computers, or professional services like accountants.
He was talking about 'publishers' asking for money so people can become a 'published' author.
There
can be good sense in paying for someone a review of a script - but there is definitely good sense in getting a peer review first - or instead of.
The debate as to whether these services are useful will go on long after we have all returned to dust. If I want someone to spend 4 hours of their life helping
me with
my work - I can get a friend to do it for nothing, or pay a stranger. That's the way it is with fixing a leaky tap, moving house or painting a room. But the fact that a plumber offers to fix my leaky tap for $80, when I can get a friend to do it for free doesn't make the plumber a scammer.
As mentioned on another thread, Nancy Hendrickson created a ranking of 24 script analysts in the Vol 10 No 2 issue of Creative Screenwriting.
Details are here:
http://scriptsales.com/boards/showthread.php?t=7443
The results (in terms of 'Bang for your Buck') are interesting.
Lisa Cory charged $600 - and was 'not recommended'. Michael Ray Brown & Howard Allen charged about $350 - and were 'highly recommended'.
Just like getting a plumber - it's a good idea to ask around for recommendations....
Mac