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SCRIPTS AREN'T WRITTEN,
THEY'RE REWRITTEN
Of course, you've heard that a thousand times, but you have to know that it's true. I won't even send my agent a script to look at until it's been through at least five drafts. Most major motion pictures go through 25-30 drafts before they hit the sound stage, according to top writers I've spoken to. I did 27 drafts of a movie for television before we rolled. I'm not saying you're going to need to do that, so you can pick yourself up off the floor. But rewrites are written into most contracts, even when you sell a spec script, so you just have to face facts: No script is ever ready with just one draft.
If you're writing a spec, you don't want to show it to anyone until it's in the best condition it could possibly be. You want to put everything you know into it. You want it to be the best example of your skill as a writer, and you want it to have the most impact it can have. That's really why you'll want to rewrite your script.
Even if you're paid to do the rewrite, per your contract, you're going to want to do several drafts before you turn it in, just to make sure you've dealt with all the producer's notes and done the best you could so that you don't lose control of the script.
Writers in Los Angeles and New York have writers' groups that help them guide their rewrites. But if you're not in those cities, or you don't know any writers yet, who can you turn to? Now, you can turn to this site, home of the Rewrite Mentor. Here you will find:
- Information on publications, especially REWRITE (A Step by Step Guide to Strengthen Structure, Characters, and Drama in Your Screenplay);
- News about screenwriting workshops, including one in Tuscany this year! (It's sold out, but you can sign up for the waiting list.)
- Ask the Mentor, where, at no charge, you can ask a question about your screenplay.
- Links to The Writers Store, a specialty store that serves the needs of screewriters.
If you want more personal attention, that's available, too. The Rewrite Mentor will read your script, write a report, and consult with you by telephone or Skype for an hour so you can get started on your next draft.
So who is the Rewrite Mentor? Have a look at veteran film and television writer and film school professor Paul Chitlik's credits and bio and find out. Cruise the site. Ask a question. Procrastinate as long as possible, then get started on a rewrite that can take your script to the next level. |
