I am a screenwriter, script doctor, judge of contests and I do a lot of script polishing. I have read and judged for a few companies and contests and know that at least for contests, we get submissions from all over the world, from all types of people - at all types of professional levels.
And it shows.
A company, whether it be an agency, a production company or even a contest, gets a slew of submissions. A SLEW. And they go into a huge stack. Now obviously your script has to be original, fresh, well written and entertaining, but you would be amazed at the tiny little things that can turn a reader off, stick your script at the bottom of the pile, or even, in some instances, stop your chances before page 2.
We get scripts with wild, strange cover art, drawings and accompanying photos. For the most part, they can be interesting, but more often than not, point out that this is not the work of a professional who is confident that their work can stand on its own merits. I recommend not doing any of this unless it seems really professional and needed.
Titles can draw me to pick up a particular script or not. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw - one reader may hate a certain genre and reach for the comedy over the western. That's just luck. I love a title that makes me smile, think and definitely - one that gives me a hint of what the script will be about either thematically or plot-wise. It makes me angry when the title states something cool and then doesn't deliver on it. Put thought into your title - it's the first impression.
And that's just the cover.
Some scripts are too long or too short. Most screenplays are between 90-120 pages. I have to admit, if I'm getting paid to read either way, I'll happily grab the shorter ones first. But the ones that are too short - telling me a feature is 64 pages (and not an amazing animated film) makes me a little concerned. While a 150 page screenplay already closes off my mind. Now if it's "Dances With Wolves," then the work will win me over, but you better be damn sure you need every page, line and scene and that it's riveting. Because that long page count is going to work against you.
For me personally, typos, grammar and spelling mistakes kill it. How can I take a script seriously if the writer didn't? How can you assume I'll send it up to a big producer if you seem lacking in basic skills? And if there are way too many, as I have seen, it completely loses and confuses me. There are some scripts that I had to struggle with because the mistakes were so overwhelming.
And that is the key.
Do not make your reader struggle.
Professional, edited, simple, clean, tight and fun.
There are many more elements I can tell you that will make your script stand out, but at least for now, these are "The Don'ts."
They may seem elementary, but then why do we keep getting scripts with the above-mentioned issues? And it kills me because I know you have worked your tail off and put your heart into this- so why turn someone off in the very beginning?
Be a professional.
It helps when submitting to professionals.
Good luck, y'all.
Beverly Neufeld
script-whisperer.com
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