GITS Script Reading & Analysis, Week 17: “Michael Clayton” [March 26–30]

Our next selection started with an observation from screenwriter F. Scott Frazier in a response to a GITS reader to the recently published Screenwriters Roundtable:

Hey, definitely check out the script for MICHAEL CLAYTON. I feel like I learned more from that script about how to physically write scenes and get ideas across in a script than in any ten books combined.

That combined with the number of your votes clinched it: Michael Clayton it is for Week 17 of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series.

You may download a copy of the shooting script here.

This gives you the weekend to read the script before we start our analysis. That schedule:

Monday, March 26: General Comments

Tuesday, March 27: Structure

Wednesday, March 28: Characters

Thursday, March 29: Themes

Friday, March 30: Dialogue

Read scripts. Watch movies. Write pages. Three keys to learning the craft of screenwriting. And of those three, I’d say the weak link for most aspiring writers is the first one.

Here is your chance to rectify that!

Read Michael Clayton, written by one of Hollywood’s top screenwriters Tony Gilroy.

One last thing: I’ve started to use these series posts to aggregate interviews with each screenwriter, as well as reviews and analysis of the film in question. So if any of you happen to find a great resource re Gilroy or the movie Michael Clayton, please forward me that information.

Enjoy this fantastic script!

THE USE OF THIS SCRIPT IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

NOTE: Rumor has it that none other than F. Scott Frazier [@screenwritten] will join us throughout next week to help break down and analyze the script, particularly in relation to how it was translated into the movie. So why not do this: Read the script and watch the movie at the same time? Fantastic learning exercise!

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