Finalist question #4 (part 2): Do you get feedback on first drafts? If not, how far along until you seek feedback? Did you give your finalist script to someone for “one last” look or seal of approval? How did you know that the script was “ready”? I do typically get feedback on a first draft, unless I know there are things Id like to go back and fix before sending it out. Im fortunate enough to have a close, supportive friend group of talented writers, and theyll be the ones who see the first draft. When I received a collective response of Yes, this one, this is it, I knew I had something special. Thats what youre looking for, because friends, well they dont hold any punches. We typically do not seek feedback on first drafts, since we can already detect the major problems that need fixing. It’s not until after the second draft that we send the script out to our small network of screenwriter friends, mentors and industry professionals for notes. Specifically regarding the finalist script, we went through two drafts and a polish before submitting to the competition. We felt it was ready when it received “recommend” coverage from a reputable lit management company. I thrive on constructive criticism, so I get feedback from trusted friends and colleagues in the business on all my early drafts to help me decide how to address the rewrites. Knowing a script is ready is a combination of garnering the right reactions from those who have read it and a gut feeling that Im satisfied with its quality. Yes, feedback is essential, on first drafts and at pretty much every step along the way. Its impossible to be sufficiently objective about your own writing. I didnt actually believe that my script was ready when I submitted it to the Nicholl competition, I just wrote up until the submission deadline and when the deadline arrived I sent it in. I tend to do a draft zero, which for me is literally setting it down on the page and then I go through it, work on it a bit, smooth out the wrinkles and then, yes, I usually send that out as a first draft. I might send it to my agent and perhaps two other people I trust. Those people are usually from the same pool- a couple of truly incredible fellow writers (who incidentally write very different stuff to me) and one producer friend I have who’s fantastic at story. At such an early stage, however, I make it clear that I’m looking for gut reactions and general feedback rather than intricate notes. As long as I’m feeling fairly confident, I like to get it in front of people as soon as possible. As for whether my finalist script was ready, I wasn’t 100% sure, but I did get to a point where I felt proud to show it to people. The feedback I was getting also started to get less specific. At the end of the day, I think you never stop getting notes, no one’s going to turn around and say, “Wow, what a perfect script!” and then stop talking, so it’s important to make sure people have read it and you’ve addressed the things that you know in the depths of your soul aren’t quite working, but at the same time, you have to make sure it remains the heart-felt film you wanted to write at its core.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:00:00 +0000
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