It's beneficial if you understand how to tell a story first. All the gurus who write the "how to" screenwriting books are good at breaking down the components of a script, yet how come they were never able to write a great one themselves if they know all the parts? Part of it comes from something you can't do just because you read about it or saw it done in another script. You have to be able tell a good compelling story with good writing first and foremost I think.

Well...I do exactly the way you're talking about. Maybe the only thing I've overlooked was subplots. But yes, reading a script I'm considering the story as a whole, the scenes and their purpose, the way they are linked together, dialogue, plot points I e II (yes, I've read Syd Field's "screenplay" as well), the dramatic premise, the "situation" and the character's dramatic need...all at the same time !

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