Guide for Screenwriters on Revising a Screenplay
How to Improve, Draft & Edit a Film Script to Perfection
Jun 1, 2009
Writing screenplay of between 90 to 120 pages long is a magnificent achievement. It is very likely however that the screenplay will require editing and polishing. But how does the screenwriter go about doing this?
Screenplay Critique
Once the first draft is completed and underlined with “Fade Out”, the scriptwriter might be tempted to go back to the beginning and read it through. This is not always a good idea. Whilst the creation is fresh in the writer’s mind and has become an integral part of the writer’s life, an objective judgement will be compromised. Errors will become invisible and gaps in the plot could be missed. Sending it off before a proper redraft will result in a rejection letter from the agency. The best thing to do is to put the screenplay away for at least three weeks and begin another project.
First Draft to the Final Draft of Screenwriting
Once the screenwriter has had adequate space from the script, it is time to retrieve it from its hiding place and to take a look. But not before clearing the diary of all duties. It must be a day for nothing more than making a cup of tea and reading undisturbed. The beauty of reading a screenplay is that, unlike a novel, the action unfolds almost in real time, as though watching the movie. Reading it in its entirety is important in order to get an idea of the script’s timing and how it might work as a film.
Making a Critical Assessment
The first read of a first draft will be at times exhilarating and at others despairing. It is inevitable that some pages will shine more than others but the important thing is the objective view. Identifying a problem means something can be done about it. Missing the problem altogether means the problem will remain. Make notes of anything that needs improvement. Maybe the dialogue comes across as stilted, a plot twist is obscure or the climax of the screenplay comes too quickly.
Being a Script Doctor
The following will help with the subsequent drafts of the screenplay.
- Address the story arc within the three-act structure of the screenplay in order to ensure it has been used effectively.
- Ensure there is sufficient tension and contrast between the characters themselves and their motives.
- Too many/superfluous characters can rob the focus from the story. Around seven main characters is ideal.
- Too much/wordy dialogue.
- Pile on the subtext. The subtext is the difference between what is overt and the understated.
- Are the characters believable?
- Does the dialogue successfully emulate natural speech?
- Does one scene irresistibly lead to the next, sometimes with unforeseen consequences?
- Cut flat scenes, stereotypes, hackneyed phrases, irrelevances, contrivances, repetitions, predictable plot twists, cut, cut and cut again. This will serve to get back to the essentials of the script for rebuilding. It will also streamline and tighten the plot.
Feedback from a Script Consultant
Once these points have been addressed, the screenwriter might seek feedback. This can be daunting, but it is necessary for acquiring a hardened skin. Family members and friends are not an ideal choice, for their opinion might be tainted by fear of hurting feelings. For a fee, an editorial consultancy will offer professional feedback. If unresolved doubts remain, the writer might consider putting the script away for a further three weeks or so. Some screenwriters redraft their screenplays several times before submitting it to a film agent.
Advice for Creative Screenwriting
The writer does not have to act upon a particular feedback if their gut feeling indicates otherwise. Conflicting opinions can occur, and this requires careful consideration. A consensus opinion between people can seldom be argued with. But in the end, the last call remains with the scriptwriter. The writer can keep redrafting over and over, but it is important to know when to stop. No piece of work is perfect. But a close proximity is required. This marks the next, very important step for the scriptwriter: sending the screenplay to a film agency.
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