Writing a screenplay isn’t like writing a book. With a book, you write it, then the reader reads it. Your magic straight to their brain. Of course, they fill in some of the details from their own life, so every reader’s experience is slightly different, but on the whole, it’s a relationship between you and them, and you never have to meet them.
Writing a screenplay is a collaborative process. You write a fantastic screenplay, and then you give it to a producer, have it worked over by other writers, interpreted by directors and actors, even by costume and set designers.
You are not an island.
So start off that way. Read your screenplay aloud. More importantly, get friends and family to read through the script at a table reading. Listen for natural rhythms. People speak differently to the way they do in your head. People rarely express their feelings with words. Film is a visual medium. Don’t rely too much on your dialogue.
“Dialogue can be a weapon to get your message across.” – Harold Pinter.
Working with a producer is a lot like dating. You have to be with someone who understands you and understands your vision. You have to be able to take criticism from them. Be open to what others are saying. As writers, we are a bit precious. We have a tendency to be defensive. Be able to listen.
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