There is one great way to improve. It's the same advice writers have been getting for years. If you want to be a better writer, you need to read, read, read.
Point your web browser to The Internet Movie Script Database (http://www.imsdb.com) and choose three scripts. Any three scripts that you want. If so much choice is mind boggling, leaving so much room to indecision, may I suggest the following?
Now you'll notice that all of these are drafts. Yes, even the professionals write draft after draft after draft. And if you want to see one film that ended up radically different from the original idea, they you might be interested to view the original Back to the Future script. It's shocking. Shocking, I say.
Now you don't need to read the entire pages. Just read the first five to ten pages. Don't let me stop you though - if you feel as if you need / want to read it all, then that's exactly what you'll do!
Once you've looked through the scripts, I want you to answer the following questions, for each script.
- What is the title / URL (link) for your script?
- What information appears on the first page / top of the script?
- How is the script formatted? Specifically how is dialogue different from stage directions, and location information?
- Is the dialogue believable? Is it something you could imagine transpiring in a real conversation? Is it something that sounds believable coming from a fictional conversation?
- Do characters talk in long drawn out soliloquies, or do they mostly have short, chopped, lines?
- How much attention is paid to stage directions? Does the script include most movements, or is it predominantly focused on the talking?
- What type of actions are expressed through the stage directions?
- How often does the location change / is every room mentioned, or are the only differences between different interior / exterior locations?
- Do the stage directions take into account the potential budget of the film, or are they written for a 'best case scenario'?
- Would you be able to film this movie using the script provided?
When you have finished these ten questions for the three scripts you chose, please remember to submit them.
Now, using that information you've just gained - or already knew, and - of course - had implemented from the beginning, you can tighten up your script. Get to it.
Filming to begin shortly.
