How to write a script report, and why it’s good for your writing
16 Saturday Nov 2013
Check out this excellent article by the always excellent Lucy V. Hay. Right on the money. I’d add three things, if you’re writing the report for your own benefit, to improve your writing.
1 – Genre – did the script do anything for you emotionally (which is what genre is all about)? Did it make you laugh, shudder, etc?
2 – How did the writer get away with it? All scripts have to get over crucial issues, whether it’s a potential plot hole or a challenging theme. How did he/she do it?
3. (And this is the big-headed one) How would you have done it differently? Might have been better, might have been worse. Maybe you’d have ducked a big challenge (and can learn from that) or maybe you’d have tried to stick out for a darker ending…
Oh, one last thing, don’t just read good scripts, read bad ones too!! Most producers read too many bad scripts and don’t realise how good a screenplay can be, but most writers (if they read scripts at all) read only the good ones.
They don’t realise just how bad most scripts are. If they did, they’d work much harder at getting their own work sold and made. Go do some reading.
3 Comments
April 7, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Hello Charles,
your post is really helpful! thank you very much
I’m writing my Happy Valley script report at the moment, I’m bit confused about my logline. Is there any way or website i should have a look?
For the 3rd point, Im wondering where should i place this section? the end of my script report? Thank you
Kind Regards
Xiaoxi
April 7, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Hi Xiaoxi
Thank you – I’m very pleased you liked the post.
The best way to find your log line is to find the following:
1. The protagonist’s main story goal – this is the primary thing she wants to achieve by the end of the story. It should be something real (ie not inside her head).
2. The protagonist’s main flaw – this is the personal inner problem she must deal with to achieve her goal. This is a weakness or flaw she has to change in order to complete her character journey.
The strongest way to construct the log line then goes like this:
It’s about a (flawed) (protagonist) who wants to achieve (outer goal) but has to (change).
For example: Tootsie:
It’s about a talented but difficult actor who can only get work on a TV show by pretending to be a woman – and must learn to mellow if he is to succeed.
I hope this helps.
Charles
April 7, 2016 at 5:31 pm
As for the third question: If I understood you correctly, you’re asking where the log line goes in your report. I’d put it somewhere near the top, after the title and writer’s name.
If I’ve misunderstood your question, please ask me again.
C