Why read scripts?

Tomorrow we move into Week 6 of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. The featured script: Pan’s Labyrinth, your selection for the Fantasy genre. You may access the script here.

Why this series? Because reading scripts is an essential part of your growth as a screenwriter.

Why read scripts? Oh, let’s see…

To immerse yourself in the world of screenwriting.

To experience great stories in screenplay form.

To see how different writers write.

To be exposed to a variety of writing styles.

To break down stories into its structural components (i.e., acts, sequences, plot points, scenes).

To learn how writers work with and tweak screenplay format.

To assess the way writers handle scene transitions.

To study how writers use subtext.

To get a feel for the way different characters sound in dialogue.

To ponder themes and track how writers manage them in their stories.

To note the subtleties of scene construction.

To grasp the importance of pace and narrative drive.

To analyze why each script works — or doesn’t — within its genre.

To hear each script’s unique narrative voice.

To be inspired by the brilliance of others.

The wonderful thing is the more scripts you read, the more you get out of the process for you not only learn things from each script individually, you also have a Gestalt experience whereby you start to ‘get’ things on an intuitive level. That can translate into a more natural feel for your writing.

Here’s the thing: At this point in my writing life, I probably don’t have to be reading a script a week (especially when my work as a teacher, consultant, mentor and writer has me reading so many script pages every day), but I agreed to do the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series for three reasons:

* The idea for the series arose from the GITS community and I wanted to honor that desire.

* I can always learn something about the craft and reading scripts is a great way to do that.

* Perhaps I can be an example to others to do this essential act of learning the craft, week in, week out, persistence in action.

Therefore I encourage you to participate. I pledge to continue the series through the end of this year, then we’ll see where we are. If you have suggestions how to make the format and/or process better or more helpful to your needs and the needs of others, I’m all virtual ears.

See you tomorrow for Pan’s Labyrinth.

Note: Later this week, I’ll be taking suggestions for genres or types of scripts you’d like to read in November and December (e.g., romantic comedy, classic movies, indie film), so be thinking about what you’d like to read.

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