Monthly Screenplay Table Reads

Voices Off Paper (V.O.P.) is a monthly live screenplay table read workshop that brings Wisconsin writers together with local actors to collaborate, refine their work, and build community. Founded in 2026, V.O.P. addresses a common challenge in regional film markets: talented screenwriters working in isolation, with limited access to collaborative feedback and professional development opportunities.

A table read is a full read-through of a script with the cast, writer(s), and director present—an opportunity to hear the story out loud and identify what's working before moving into production. Table reads help evaluate story flow, character chemistry, and pacing while preventing costly rewrites once filming has begun.

Each month, one locally written script is selected for a live table read at Wisconsin Production Collective's studio in Butler, WI. The writer is present, local actors perform the roles, and the community experiences the script together. Afterward, the group engages in a guided discussion with the writer about what's working in the story and where opportunities for development exist.

V.O.P. creates a shared space for screenwriters and actors to grow their craft, strengthen Wisconsin's independent film community, and push screenplays toward a production-ready state while providing opportunities to local talent.

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How Scripts Are Selected

Voices Off Paper is not a contest or a pitch night. Each month, one script is selected based on its readiness for a table read and how it will play in a room of local creatives. Scripts will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We’re not looking for “perfect” scripts. We’re looking for work that benefits from being heard out loud and discussed with other writers and actors. So what makes a script ready?

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• Completed feature screenplay (80–120 pages)

• Completed one-hour pilot episode

• Two half-hour episodes that equate to 60 pages or more

• Written by Wisconsin-based writer(s)

• Properly formatted (industry-standard format, PDF only)

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Short films may be considered in the future, but for now, please do not submit any short form scripts. That said, please keep writing them. Now accepting submissions via email, VoicesOffPaper@gmail.com.

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Who Are Our Actors?

Voices Off Paper is open to volunteer actors and voice actors across the Southeast Wisconsin area. Whether you come from community theatre, professional performance, acting classes, commercial work, or somewhere in between, this is meant to be an extra space to practice your craft and to meet other creatives.

We recognize that acting is a huge time commitment, especially in markets like Milwaukee, and that time is often the reason talented performers step away from the field. V.O.P. offers a focused 3–4 hour commitment only once a month, designed for actors who want to stay active without taking on a full production.

While V.O.P. will prioritize more experienced performers for lead roles, no level of experience disqualifies you from participating. We want actors at every stage in the room, and we’ll do our best to cast as inclusively as possible.

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Where Does This Take Place?

The newly opened Wisconsin Production Collective studio in Butler, Wisconsin. Details about the location will be sent out each month with the official “call sheet” email.

How to Become a “Script Doctor”

(AKA Not the Writer or the Actor)

Not everyone will have a script ready, and not everyone wants to read parts. If you're a writer, director, or filmmaker who still wants to be involved, this is where the "script doctor" role comes in. A script doctor listens to the full read, takes notes, and provides thoughtful, constructive feedback to the writer afterward, focused on the script itself, not the actors' performances. It's a lot like waiting in the ER: you sit quietly through the read, absorbing everything, and then it's your turn to help diagnose what needs attention.

This role is for people who want to engage with the writing, contribute to the conversation, and sharpen their own storytelling instincts. From experience, listening to others give proper feedback has helped me better identify problems in my own work.

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When Are the Workshops?

​We aim to host our workshop on the last Sunday of every month, barring any conflicts at the studio space.

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The Beat Sheet

This is how a full Voices Off Paper table read will run once the month’s script has been selected by the moderator team.

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Step 1: A date is selected and confirmed. Once a month.

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Step 2: An email is sent to available actors in our system with all open roles listed. It’s very likely that actors will be cast in more than one role.

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Step 3: Crew call. The moderator will start exactly 15 minutes later.

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Step 4: Before the read begins, the writer provides a short list of questions or areas they want the script doctors to focus on. The floor briefly opens for any clarifying questions for the writer.

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Step 5: The live table read begins. There is one intermission and no interruptions during the read.

Step 6: Curtain call for all actors. Actors are free to leave at this point if they do not wish to stay for script doctor feedback. They also don’t need to give feedback.

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Step 7: Moderators guide the feedback portion by calling on each script doctor in turn. Each round of notes is treated like a one-on-one between the script doctor and the writer, while everyone else listens. No interruptions.

Step 8: Final thoughts, announcements, and wrap out.

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Attendance Expectations

Writers are expected to stay for the full session, including feedback. Script doctors should plan to attend the entire read if they intend to give notes. Actors are welcome to stay for feedback, but are free to leave after curtain call. Scripts will be sent to actors ahead of time. Reading in advance is strongly encouraged, but not required.

This room runs on respect. Notes stay focused on the writing, not the actors, and there are no interruptions during reads or feedback. Disagreements are fine, but this isn’t a space for personal digs or debates. Moderators will step in if needed.

If Voices Off Paper chooses not to work with certain individuals, we ask that decision be respected. Creating a safe, comfortable room comes first.

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All future announcements will be posted here on Substack. If you’d like email notifications, please subscribe.

You can also follow Voices Off Paper on Instagram at @VoicesOffPaper for updates.