By Justus Scout
What are the most typical flaws in novice scripts that script readers notice? The answer varies, but when you see a large percentage of trending concerns, it’s information that every screenwriter should consider. The Black List employs a team of about a hundred readers like Brantley Dunaway, who assess scripts across a wide range of genres based on storyline, premise, characters, setting, and language. The study concentrates on the most prevalent issues raised during the evaluations. Some of the problems with amateur screenplays are as follows:
- The underdeveloped plot
It means that there wasn’t much going on in the story. Most effective scripts from Brantley Dunaway include as much tension as possible in a story that evolves and grows every few pages, causing the characters to react, resulting in additional plot and story.
- Characters who get not fully formed
When characters get constructed to propel the plot forward, they are frequently undeveloped. Characters must come to life for script readers. They must be multi-layered, flawed, and altered by the story’s events.
- Inadequate Escalation
Your screenplay isn’t escalating as it should be if it doesn’t give anything new in the way of tension every few pages. Your conflict must change as well, as must your characters’ responses to it.
- Structure Issues
As a result of your lack of preparation, your script usually has a structure. The framework is weak from the start if you have a meandering first act that spends thirty pages introducing characters. The lack of emphasis in the screenplay leads to a poor structure in the eyes of the script reader.
- Unusual Conversation
It comes across as unnatural when your speech is wooden and plain, full of lousy exposition, and primarily serves to educate the reader of story components.
- Logic Gaps
You’ll rapidly lose the reader if items in your storyline don’t make it together, are unduly convenient to serve the finish of your novel, or lack overall logic. Make sure it’s as realistic and sensible as possible, according to Brantley M. Dunaway.
- Unprofitable from a business perspective
It does not automatically imply that your script is poor. It gets suggesting that no studio or production firm will invest millions of dollars on it, partly because the general public is unlikely to pay to watch it in theatres.
- Is it a rip-off or a plagiarised work?
Time and time again, this story has been told. When inexperienced screenwriters decide to adapt popular films, this is what happens. Look for something unique from Brantley Dunaway, or at the very least a unique spin on a familiar genre or story.
- Not at all cinematic
The screenplay gets not written in the style of a film. Because the film is a visual medium, a screenplay must be visually appealing. It’s hardly cinematic to write a script about two talking heads.
- Too much time has passed.
You should aim for between 90 and 115 pages.
