I love rewriting other people's scripts... About seven years ago, I discovered I like rewriting existing scripts [for money] more than I like writing original pieces. As this is a part of the industry that doesn't get a lot of attention, I'd like to unpack why I love this work. My approach to doctoring a script has always been based on the premise that the script doesn't need fixing, what it needs is for someone to clearly see the hidden potential of what's already on the page. This is something I learned from my years of script analysis, the creative answers the writer and producer are looking for are almost always already in the existing script. Often hidden in a seemingly innocuous action or line of dialogue. Most of the time, the script fixes itself. I suspect that this one factor is what differentiates the way I work from the approach of a lot of producers, where their gut instinct is to add in new or different ideas instead of exploring what's already there. The thinking seems to be that if you find the right patch, you can cover over the flaw. In my experience, it's usually more productive to pull solutions from the text. In fact, the best approach is to discard as much clutter as you can from the pure heart of the story. Just in the same way that good dialogue is discovered by crossing out the clutter that surrounds it, the same its true of most cinematic stories. They're sculpted from the existing material rather than fixed. And I think that's why I love rewriting, because it's a job that requires me to see the best of what's on the page. To see past the mess to the clarity hidden underneath.
I miss those days when someone would just let me do a once over on their screenplay. Right there with you. There's something very pleasing about it.
Agreed. It’s not helpful to me when someone starts giving me notes on a screenplay as they go before reading the whole to get a feel for my overall intent.
I'm right with you on this. There's something about coming into a project that has none of my ego built into it and figuring out the solutions as a newcomer to the writer's world is always a delight!
I’d love to hear more about how you got into script doctoring! Sent a connection request hoping we can chat sometime.
Any projects we would know?
I just ordered your book on plot!
Cutting and refining can be as powerful as writing new parts. Letting the true story shine through by clearing space for it, and understanding what is under there. A friend was struggling with a scene with her script once, the second half of an argument. When I suggested she cut all the dialogue in that particular scene then the story could come through clearer.
In total agreement. I always wrote specs until I was hired to do a re-write. I fell in love with it and quite enjoyed being told how much better the script was. Plus, no one has ever paid me for a spec script yet - but I am working on it. (wink, wink).
Being slightly outside the work often makes the whole picture clearer.
That's a rare talent.