Joe Rodriguez, a veteran stage, screen, and commercial actor based in St. Louis, Mo., volunteers regularly for CinemaSpoke, a program sponsored by the St. Louis Film Office and similar to programs across the USA. As a gift to the screenwriter, CinemaSpoke provides a table read of an entire screenplay, so the writer hears the dialogue and the actors' interpretation of the story. But Rodriguez, a SAG member, also participates in backers readings that are designed to find funding for independent films, and he took time from his busy schedule to discuss those with Screenplayers readers. A "backers reading" is basically just like CinemaSpoke. I've participated in readings for stage plays (often the way a new play starts on the road to production off/off and off Broadway) and screenplays (usually for independents). Potential "backers" - or money people - are invited to the reading to hear the story and, if they like it, hopefully they'll put money into the project. Sometimes the actors that will be in the finished project participate in the reading. Sometimes just a few of the actors that will be in the end project participate, with the other parts read by any actors available. Or the entire read cast consists of any actors available for the read, and casting will occur if the project gets off the ground. In addition to hearing the script, often the hopeful production team will give the backers a prospectus of sorts with the bios and credits of the production team, including all people that are already connected with the project, i.e. writer, director, and any cast members if any roles have been handed out. The prospectus often includes a short, one-page synopsis of the story and sometimes a narrative as to why the production team feels the project will be a success. In addition, the prospectus may contain details about the proposed budget and how any profits will be divided, minimum investment required and any other fringe benefits that the backer may expect. I've never been in a backers reading that was videotaped. However, years ago I was involved with a stage producer looking for backers for a revival of "Hair." He had the show cast, and they performed specific scenes and musical numbers for potential backers. Of course, if you approach a major studio or producer about a film project - if lucky - you would get a meeting with a studio exec or producer and have a minute or two to "pitch" your idea. It would be a short speech about the concept of the film or a very, very short synopsis. So the backers reading is one way to find funding for an independent film or stage play.