Dispatch from The Quest: Emma Millions
Last week as we did here on GITS, the Quest writers focused on the third week of Prep. Today’s dispatch: Emma Millions extols the virtue of reading scripts and watching movies:
This week I have been on a lot of trains. In the UK being on a lot of trains means experiencing severe unfathomable delays due to leaves on the line or rain (FFS!!!), unexpected redirections, extreme frustration and a lot of time wasted. And a lot of those little bottles of wine bought from the buffet cart. However, I have a Kindle loaded up with all the Blacklist scripts. So being on a lot of trains meant reading a LOT of scripts. Good scripts. Clever scripts. Neat and elegant scripts. Well written scripts. No matter whether the subject or genre is your ‘thing’, there’s no denying that all these scripts have something. And are something to aspire to.
I know Scott Myers recommends reading scripts to improve your writing and I can’t reiterate this recommendation enough. I felt like I was getting better and better at writing scripts with every PDF I read. Some gave me specific ideas as to how to do certain things in my script. Some showed me the importance of the things we’ve learnt about on the Quest. But it’s the shear neatness and clarity that impresses most. Nothing is in those scripts that doesn’t need to be. Everything has a purpose. The scenes start and end when they need to, no more, no less. The information and exposition are as minimal as possible. The characters are instant and relatable. And feel real. And the visuals make you feel like you’ve watched all these films on screen. I actually got confused the other day and started telling someone about something that had happened in a film I’d watched and was trying to remember what the movie was and when I’d seen it when I realised it was actually one of the scripts I’d read. Maybe that says more about my memory then anything else — I’m old, I’m forgetful, I get confused — but I think it says something about the script. Something pretty frickin’ awesome.
Watching movies too is so important. I always joke that the main reason I love my job is that I legitimately get to sit around and watch movies and TV. And that I can claim back any expenses incurred in consuming these movies from my tax bill. But it’s true. Watching movies, and reading scripts, is such a huge learning curve. Cabin in the Woods was out on DVD in the UK this week and I’ve watched it over and over. And made all my friends watch it. And bored them with all the reasons why it is such a good movie. And annoyingly pointed out all the clever bits that I didn’t think they would fully understand because they’re not writers. My friends hate me. Especially the one I made watch it twice while I timed where all the major beats came. Sorry, Steve. But just watching it, even though it has not much real apparent relevance to the story I am writing, gave me the idea I needed for a final twist in my script. It inspired me, got my heart racing with excitement and helped get my brain into the right mode for the decisions I needed to make about my major plot points.
So, shit UK public transport, I thank you, for giving me the opportunity to spend hours and hours, as we changed routes through places I’ve never even heard of like Meopham and Blean, reading scripts. And therefore becoming a better writer. Here’s to more leaves on the line this winter. And the ‘wrong kind of rain’. And even ‘there’s a goose on the tracks’ — honestly, a goose! You couldn’t make it up.
Emma is not only reading scripts, she’s reading Black List scripts. Smart decision because they represent concept, style, tone, feel and approach of scripts that are making an impression across Hollywood now. Should we read screenplays from classic movies? Of course! But balance that out with current scripts that sell as specs or make the Black List to stay on top of what is happening currently in acquisition and development circles.
Tomorrow: Another Dispatch from The Quest.
About Emma: British based writer of ‘the funny’. Lover of cats and bad TV. Often found in pyjamas a bit drunk or a bit hungover. Occasionally does burlesque. Twitter: @emmamillions.