samuel.x.killer at 2010-02-22 15:01:20:

The haiku alone makes it a post worth reposting - the best description I've ever heard of screenwriting is "visual poetry" and far too often writers think of it as "descriptive prose"

scriptwrecked at 2010-02-22 16:00:40:

I think if you read Blake Synder [sic] AND Tolstoy, you'll be a much better writer.

Ignore Blake Snyder's lighthearted brilliance at your peril.

James at 2010-02-22 18:01:25:

Hey Scott -- slight tangent.

Does it makes sense to hire the same readers to get reports that agents, producers and executives are going to hire? I want to know what those first readers going to say about my script before the market does, and then hopefully fix the problems those readers flag.

And then I'd probably go through that process until I'm getting consistently rave coverage. Then it seems like my baby will be ready to go out into the cruel, tough world and face its fate.

So if this makes sense, where does one find the services of the very same real, live readers who will be passing or pushing your scripts?

j

Scott at 2010-02-22 20:16:05:

@James: There are script readers and there are script readers. I've heard enough stories from students and GITS readers to know that it can be treacherous waters out there. If you're interested in hearing who I feel entirely comfortable recommending, drop me an email:

scottdistillery@gmail.com

Christian H. at 2010-02-22 22:17:38:

This is pretty much what I've found on my three year journey - especially formatting.
I'd even go so far as to say read David Bordwell et al. Even more you have to feed yourself with discourse.

The biggest key is I think to not take it lightly. Theorization and discourse gives you a bag of tricks to reach into when that "revelatory idea" drifts down on wings of residuals AND when the 90% of your work is someone else's idea.

The screenwriter actually "speaks" for all of the characters, so you can't feel like you shouldn't develop your own theses and engage in constructive discourse regarding it. It's hard work and if your brain doesn't explode at least once before you really dive into scripts, you'll be doing draft after draft after draft.

@Scott, I'll definitely look you up about readers. It's not as much a cost thing as it is feeling like they know more than I do.