When you first start writing a script, it seems like the sky’s the limit. You want your ideas to explode on the page, your inspiration to guide your creative genius and for the words to flow in an organic process where your Oscar-winning film idea sizzles so hot that your screenplay looks like it was found in a treasure chest.
You need this enthusiasm and energy to fuel your fire, so hold onto it. Maybe try to convert it into energy at a slower rate so that it can sustain you on the days when you’re struggling to find the necessary inspiration to keep your head held high. You never want to get so confident that you look down your nose but you definitely want to keep working with heart and soul, so that you can deliver the most when it comes to capturing one-of-a-kind characters into your rollercoaster of a film. It doesn’t have to be that exciting, but at least keep it compelling!
Before you shoot your “spec script” out to would-be collaborators, agents and producers… you do need to remember one thing. Hundreds of thousands of screenwriters have reached the heady space and precipice you find yourself on. That giddy moment when you believe your script has what it takes to set the world alight, to rewrite the entertainment industry and revolutionise the idea of what constitutes cinema.
Take a step outside of yourself because you need to get a reality check. No, we’re not talking about the fact that so few scripts actually get turned into movies. We’re talking about something that actually impedes some scripts from even getting read. Yes, that pesky thing called formatting. Much like you have lamented your English teacher for trying to tell you that your interpretation of a poem by ee cummings was way off the mark and marks, so are the rules when it comes to screenplay formatting! Boo-sucks.
There’s etiquette and a whole lot of ridiculously technical mumbo jumbo to consider. That’s why it helps to have professional services like reviewmyscript.com to assist you with getting it just right. As much as it’s useful to have a script consultancy to cross the ts and dot the is, you need to do some of this annoying stuff along the way to ensure your script is not only readable for that person who’s got the power to greenlight your wildest dreams but all the other folk who factor into the film-making process.
It’s about putting your best foot forward. Just like submitting a CV for a job, you’re trying to make a professional first impression. These evaluators see thousands of scripts and annoying errors in formatting or even spelling can scream off the page and send your script into the waste paper basket. Sounds harsh, but these people are pushed for time and have to make snap judgements.
Getting your screenplay into the right hands is also about maintaining clarity. The screenwriting process is all about efficiency and this feeds into the proper structure, spacing and standard format to enable the reader to free flow through your intended vision. This flow is inhibited by poor formatting or inconsistencies when it comes to a script. Aim to keep it concise so that you win over the reader who invariably becomes your champion if they like what they see and read.
Another reason to focus on formatting is that it’s a language of its own. Multiple collaborators have to come together to make your vision a reality and adapt your script to screen. So it helps to streamline this film-making process by speaking a common language to ensure that directors, crew and cast can understand your idea for optimal translation.
You need to convey your mastery of the form, which is why simple things like formatting need to be taken seriously. The screenplay is essentially a blueprint, a full expression of how you see the film playing out in your mind. This process is what it takes to ensure what ends up on screen isn’t a far cry from what went into your creative process. So, make sure people have a clear and professional representation of your film idea so that you can get more eyes on the script and that the idea is effectively translated for the team who can in turn make sure it comes close to what you dreamed up from the start.