You’ve finished your screenplay!
Congratulations, you’re now officially one of the 20-ish% of people who set out to write a screenplay and actually completed one. That fact alone means you deserve a hefty pat on the back, a large slice of cake, and a well-deserved cup of tea (or whatever wets your whistle). Finishing a script is no mean task, and you’re right to celebrate.
But after the giddy sugar and caffeine high has depleted, then what?
Send it off to the first agent or manager you find on google?
Enter it into a ream of esteemed screenwriting contests?
Get professional coverage to help take your script to the next level?
No.
Please don’t do any of these!
While it can be tempting to run before you can walk, what you’ve got is the first draft. And by its nature, most first drafts are awful. That’s not a reflection on your commitment, passion, or even your writing ability. Fact is, a first draft isn’t referred to as a vomit draft for no reason. You have essentially carved out the form of your sculpture, now you need to keep chiseling away at it, refining the details, and bringing it closer to life.
‘But, how can I do that? You said not to get professional feedback?’, I hear you say.
And I stick by that. You should only be seeking coverage when you’ve gone through the rewrite process yourself and the script is as great as you can possibly make it. If you get feedback before you’ve even tried, then a lot of the notes are probably going to be telling you exactly what I’m about to tell you here!
Even if you’ve started the rewrite process and are already a few drafts in, here are 7 top tips on how to analyze your own screenplay and more importantly, how to improve it.
TAKE SOME TIME AWAY FROM THE SCRIPT
This isn’t possible for everyone, especially if you’re working to a deadline, but coming back to your script after a month, six months, or even a year, with fresh eyes will help you find lots of immediate errors not least because your writing has very likely improved since then. If you’re too close to a project, it can be hard to look at it objectively, so go work on another script, read other screenplays, or watch movies and get inspired.
THE BEAT SHEET REWRITE
It’s best to do this from memory and without referring to your screenplay. If you can’t recall the pivotal moments in your story, make a note, as this likely means they’re weak or underdeveloped, plus if you can’t remember them, will the audience?
This is a mish-mash of well-known story beats. So each one may not occur in your script, but if you do find one that’s missing, seriously consider whether adding it in now would help improve the story.
Opening Image: What visual do you use to grab the audience straight away?
Hook: This isn’t the same as the inciting incident, but something needs to occur in the first few pages (ideally, the first!) that grabs the reader and leaves them wanting more.
Theme Stated: Often stated by a minor character, a visual, or during a conversation where one character is pro-theme, and the other is anti-theme.
Setup: This is introducing the Main Character’s (MC) ‘normal world’. It establishes the rules of the world, the tone, and reveals character flaws or weaknesses.
Inciting Incident: What happens to disrupt the MC’s ‘normal world’ and forces them into a new one?
Refusal of the Call: Your MC doesn’t like change, they’re resistant to it. Here’s where you show how unwilling they are to take up whatever difficult challenge lies ahead.
Debate: Through debate, the MC accepts the call to action, and starts to make preparations and plans.
Turning Point 1: The Break into Act 2 is where something happens to pivot the MC’s plans 180 degrees and takes them into a new direction
Focal Point 1: The B-story subplot. A minor failure occurs, but the MC can still walk away if they want to.
Fun & Games: The MC reacts in the same old manner to new complications, so usually fails.
Midpoint: This is the point of no Return for the MC. They no longer have the option of turning back.
Bad Guys Close In: Rising stakes, more obstacles, bigger problems.
Focal Point 2: B-story progression. The MC is learning/growing/getting stronger.
Rock Bottom: A huge failure occurs. We can’t see the MC winning from here.
Dark Night of the Soul: A new hope arises, moral support, and more resolve to carry on.
Turning Point 2: Break into Act 3. A major setback or moment of truth.
Final Battle: Win or lose everything here.
Resolution: The problem is solved.
End Twist: The greatest obstacle of all.
Closing Image: This should be a mirror image of your opening image in some manner that shows progression or change.
Why are you writing all of these beats out again? Because in a first draft, some of these plot points may be missing, lack emotional drama, are forgettable or are weak. Story beats need to be strong and clear on the page. They help drive the plot forward. If they’re not, then they’re potential cuts or need more work.
Read the full article here.