Reading 52 scripts in one year
I’m sure you get tired of me yammering at you to read scripts. So I’m happy to let writer Mark Gauthier yammer at you himself. And he has the bona fides to back up his yammering! Read on:
I’ve read them all. You folks know which books I’m talking about, I don’t need to list them here. I’ve got my favourites and so do you. All of them offer incredible advice, tips and Paint By Numbers approach to the craft but there’s one piece of advice very few tell you to do.
Read screenplays.
Just over a year ago, Scott Myers put out a challenge to read 52 screenplays in one year. If I had of known about this simple process years ago, I’d probably be getting my tuxedo dry cleaned, speech written and my mantle dusted this March.
The hardest thing to do as a writer is read other people’s work. I know when I’m in the creative groove it’s the last thing I want to do, my chief focus is to concentrate on the task at hand. I’m not much of a multi-tasker, just ask my wife.
“I don’t want to steal anyone’s ideas” or “It bums me out to read great work” I’ve said this, maybe you have as well.
I love a challenge and so during last year’s Oscar race, I set out on a quest to read as much of the Oscar scripts as I could. Scott’s challenge set the wheels in motion.
Since my son came along, my wife and I found it harder and harder to get out to the films so reading the scripts was a great substitute.
What have I learned by reading 52 screenplays in one year?
Not every Oscar nominated script is a great script.
There’s only one William Goldman and only one Quentin Tarantino, don’t try to copy them.
If you haven’t read anything by Shane Black, close the script you’re working on and read a script by him.
If you need help with dialogue, check out the Coen brothers.
White Space is everything. If your eyes can’t glance down the page maybe you’re reading a novel instead of a screenplay. Check out Lincoln for a great example.
110 pages is long enough. I got bored if it was longer, then again Tarantino and Goldman are the exceptions.
When they say the first ten pages are the most crucial, they’re not messing with your mind. Every single screenplay, the first ten were the most important. Yes, even Lincoln.
A valuable lesson I learned during this challenge is that sometimes, the film you see compared to the script you read is not always the better version. Dallas Buyer’s Club and Captain Phillips are good examples of that. The script had a lot more in it than the film.
It should take about 45 minutes to read a well structured script. Have a coffee and enjoy the moment when the kids are asleep.
As I continue to develop my writing techniques, I’ve incorporated script reading into my routine. If I’m not working on a scene or outline then I’m reading a screenplay and constantly learning almost to the point of habit. Besides, it’s the best kind of procrastination. You won’t feel guilty either.
A great quote from Stephen King, “If you don’t read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” He’s right.
So is Scott when he encourages visitors of Go Into The Story to read screenplays. It’s the best advice anyone has ever given. Sure, he’s said, “Get the damn thing done.” But I say, “Just read the damn script.”
Now that I’ve said all this, I bet you’re wondering what my favourite script of the year is?
The next one.
Thank you Scott for giving me the kick in the pants!
— Mark
To reinforce this point, here are several links to provide you the encouragement and resources to make reading scripts a part of your process.
PDF Script Downloads — Free and Legal (currently over 80 award winning movies screenplays dating from 2009)
For those interested, here is the entire list of scripts Mark read last year:
1. Amour
2. Django Unchained
3. Flight
4. Silver Linings Playbook
5. Moonrise Kingdom
6. Lincoln
7. Beasts of a Southern Wild
8. Argo
9. Life of Pi
10. The Master
11. Toy Story
12. Take Shelter
13. A Place Beyond The Pines
14. A Perfect World
15. The Descendants
16. The Social Network
17. Monster’s Ball
18. The Way Way Back
19. American Beauty
20. Zero Dark Thirty
21. My Week With Marilyn
22. Savages
23. Rush
24. Hereafter
25. The Butler
26. Nebraska
27. Dallas Buyer’s Club
28. Margin Call
29. Gravity
30. The Wolf of Wall Street
31. Saving Mr. Banks
32. Hyde Park On The Hudson
33. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
34. 12 Years A Slave
35. Mud
36. Before Midnight
37. The Departed
38. Captain Phillips
39. Rocky
40. Fruitvale Station
41. The Shawshank Redemption
42. The Insider
43. Rust and Bone
44. Space Cowboys
45. The Life of David Gale
46. Enough Said
47. August: Osage County
48. Philomena
49. All Is Lost
50. Wadjda
51. The Artist
52. Ted
Mark notes: “They’re scripts that are easily searchable and most Are For Your Consideration.”
Thanks, Mark, for sharing your experiences. I’m certain you’re a better writer for it!
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