The Horribly Embarrassing First Script

We all have one, even me. Especially me. I have my first script locked in a vault in Arizona, cryogenically frozen, only to be rejoined with me in death as we are both shot into space, far, far into another galaxy. Please don’t let the aliens discover the two of us and think my script is representative of the human race! I’m embarrassed in advance!

Whoa. This is brings up so many horribly uncomfortable feelings. But I digress.

Let’s put things into perspective: Completing a script is a huge accomplishment, no matter how sucky it is. “Writing IS rewriting.” You’ve probably heard that before. After that very first, snowy-white draft is done, it’s really only just begun…

After you finish your VERY first script:

• Don’t worry about the page count. It’s not important now.
• Put the script away; reread it in a few days or weeks.
• Get some reads from a handful of respected peers.
• Organize your notes by element and make a rewrite plan.

When you get feedback, try to break down the comments by element:

Main Idea (premise): Did it seem original or remind them too much of another movie. Did they “get it?”

Character: Was your reader able to identify the main character? Did they relate to this character? Did they see this character change over the course of the story?

Antagonist: Was your reader able to identify the antagonist? Can they articulate the antagonist’s motivation after having read the script? Was the antagonist formidable and interesting enough? Did they truly think the main character might not be able to face this antagonist down?

Pacing and narrative: Did the script move along at a steady pace or did the pages feel very descriptive with not much going on? Did the story continue to spool out at a steady rate? Did the reader get bored or lost?

Set-up: Was it effective? Did the reader understand, early in the script, what the over-arching conflict was?

Resolution: Was it resolution satisfying? Did the reader feel that the ending made sense and that there was closure and change for the main character? Did the ending satisfy?

New screenwriters need to be very forgiving of a first script and consider it a valuable learning experience. Here’s a little truism: All first scripts are terrible. That’s okay, this is the process. Don’t judge yourself too harshly and don’t let others do that either. Your next script will be better. And so will the one after that. Trust me.