Screenwriting can be a lonely endeavor. Often it's just you and the page. That awful, dreaded blank page. Day after day you struggle with words, trying to arrange them into coherent sentences while ignoring that voice in your head telling you to turn back, give up, or go for coffee. Yes, nothing feels quite as good as writing those final two words: FADE OUT. But the feeling is fleeting and quickly overshadowed by the thought of what to do next.
With a book, a short story, or even a magazine article, once it's in print, it's finished. A screenplay, on the other hand is a work in progress right up until the cameras roll. And even then it probably still needs some work. You could be rewriting this thing for years. So how do you know when it's good enough to show to the people who count (actors, directors, producers, agents)?
Harvard Square Scriptwriters (HSSW) has been answering this question for close to 20 years. Founded in Cambridge Massachusetts, this group meets at Longfellow Hall in Harvard Square on Monday nights. HSSW offers much to the struggling writer in the form of industry contacts, moral support, and friendship (if you're serious about writing, you may not have much time for a social life), but it's main resource is the weekly review sessions.
These sessions give the writer an opportunity to put his or her script before a group of peers for feedback. The review process is set up to give writers useful and constructive input on their work. Since procrastination is one of the writer's worst enemies, even the schedule is an important tool because it sets an artificial deadline for the screenplay's completion.
What is the story in a short verbal paragraph? Get used to this
question. If you plan on pitching your story to anyone other than your friends and family members, you better be able to sum up your story in a few sentences.
Why did you choose to write this story? This gives reviewers a perspective on the writer's passion and inspiration for the story. It's useful to know why the story is important to the writer.
What is the theme? That's right, at the heart of most interesting stories is some type of overriding theme. As Scott likes to remind us, THE TERMINATOR was a story about "love". You may agree or not, but it makes the point.
What is the commercial genre? Producers and investors actually expect to get their money back on a film. If you can't explain the target market for your story, you're in trouble.
What do you want to get out of the review? If there's something specific you want help on, here's your chance to let people know.
With these questions out of the way Scott opens it up to clarification questions. Then it's on to positive feedback. Everyone in the group must highlight what they liked most about the script. This review is meant to be a constructive exercise, and every screenplay has something redeeming to highlight.
We take a moment to discuss formatting issues, because even the most brilliant script won't be read if it's not formatted correctly. This leads into an open discussion on what's not working well on the page, and ideas on how to improve it.
The session wraps up with what Scott likes to call "Crazy Idea Time". This is a creative exercise to come up with off-the-wall ideas for the script, which helps lighten the mood. It's then time to hit a local watering hole for a much deserved celebration drink for the writer's accomplishment of completing a screenplay.
Whether you're a seasoned pro, or a first time screenwriter, constructive feedback from your peers is an invaluable tool in rewriting your screenplay. Nothing says "amateur" like sending a screenplay to a producer before it's ready. You only get one chance to impress, so you better do it right the first time. HSSW is the most valuable 90 minutes a writer can spend on his or her script.
As the writer, you must have an open mind, and take copious notes. It may take some time to digest all of the feedback into an action plan, but you'll know the strengths and weaknesses of your script.
The world of screenwriting is a difficult one. The odds are stacked against you, so it's comforting to have a community of fellow writers who share your dreams and ambitions. Whether it's completing a feature length script, making the finals of a screenwriting competition, or getting your work produced, having supportive friends who understand the struggle makes all the difference.
Harvard Square Scriptwriters website is www.hssw.info, and you can contact Scott Anderson via his email address at swanderson@hssw.info.