By: Sarah Chaisson-Warner
In this comprehensive 3-part article series, you will hear from several of our coverage analysts - Cressida, Michelle, Sam, Ron, Andrew, and Alex - as they weigh in and answer common questions about coverage services, as well as hear from some writers who have found success utilizing Shore Scripts coverage.
In part one, we focused on what coverage is and how coverage can help you. In part two, our coverage analysts offer their thoughts on what makes for a compelling script and common challenges writers face. (Coming soon - part three, in which we share the stories of writers who have used Shore Scripts’ coverage services and discovered how invaluable it is to get professional notes on their screenplay.)
So let’s dive in to Part Two -
What Makes For A Compelling Script
Coverage is one of the most effective tools available to writers looking to write their best possible script. While individual tastes may vary by genre or approach among readers, there are several core elements of a compelling script.
1 - Complex and Compelling Characters
Building characters who resonate with audiences and have a clear goal is critical for writing a successful script. “For me what usually makes for a solidly written script are well developed, complex and compelling characters. After over 100 years of film and television, it's difficult to come up with a series of plot points that absolutely no one has seen or heard of before. In other words, your story will inevitably wind up resembling something someone somewhere at some point has already done. However if your characters are complex it's easy to become involved in the story even if some of the plot points feel familiar,” says Ron.
The first 10 pages are typically where a writer has the opportunity to introduce the protagonist, establish what makes them unique, and what their goal is.
“Then the rest of the script needs to push that character to their limits and show me real change through their character development arc; so that the character we end up with in the final scene would never have become this person had they not been on this journey. I’m also a huge fan of set-ups with pay-offs that happen much later; the things that feel random in the first half of the script, but become intrinsic to the story later on. These things show me that a writer is thinking about the craft of the entire story,” says Cressida.
Alex agrees - “If we love the characters, we're in. If we love the concept, design, genre, but don't care about characters, we're out. If you follow a character's point of view above all else, you should always find yourself in a place that feels authentic and emotive.”
2 - A Thematic and Emotional Core
A solid script introduces a thematic and emotional core, and “explores it from as many angles as it can in the page space available, and then concludes in a cohesive manner,” says Sam.
“The most compelling stories feel like fresh takes on what’s come before and grip us with interesting and relatable characters, unexpected plot developments, and often stay with us long after we’ve finished reading them.”
3 - Strong, Distinctive Dialogue
What your characters say, and how they say it, is just as important as the journey they go on. A unique premise is absolutely a must, and characters that grip us are critical, but, “For me, that weight is usually placed on the dialogue and whether the writer has a distinct voice while telling their story. As readers - with all the scripts we read - we can immediately tell if the characters will sound like every other screenplay we've picked up that day,” Sam suggests.
What Are Some of the Most Common Story Mistakes and Pitfalls?
Among the thousands of scripts our readers have read and provided coverage for, there are often a variety of common story mistakes writers at all levels struggle with.
1 - Plot structure
Michelle cautions writers about including scenes that have little ability to contribute to character arcs or plot momentum. “Sometimes writers forget that structure is more often than not bound together with character arcs - unless it’s the type of story franchise, like action or superhero movies, which don’t always need characters to arc. Examining the structure on two levels - outer plot and inner arc - is necessary to ensure that the interplay works to create the kind of ebb and flow that’s expected of whichever genre the story is situated within.”
2 - Stiff or Expository Dialogue
Ron often sees characters who “lay everything out via long stretches of dialogue. Doing this too often causes me to become passive and disengaged. I don't need to get involved since I know that, sooner or later, one or more of the characters will explain everything anyway.”
3 - Lack of detail (and conversely, too much detail!)
Many scripts struggle to balance just the right amount of detail to include. Should I describe exactly what the character is wearing? How much should I tell the reader about the setting the character is walking into? Michelle offers advice to writers trying to strike the right balance -
“Overwritten or heavily directed scripts with lengthy scenes/page count are always tough to read. The best scripts ebb and flow, with pacey scenes that contribute to the forward momentum. Common issues like formatting, style and structure/pacing concerns can really stand in the way of the reader’s ability to immerse themselves in the story and appreciate the themes.”
Similarly, Alex suggests that writers consider “clarity” and “specificity” when conveying ideas “All too often, ideas are not conveyed on the page, so specificity is key. This is especially true with formatting. For example, I might read an opening scene that looks something like this:
EXT. STREET
Sam walks down the street.
“As the reader, we don't know whether the scene is a Day scene or Night scene. Sam could be a five-year-old girl or a seventy-five-year-old man. The street could be a chilly street in Helsinki or a balmy street in Alabama. The writer may know these details, but we don't, and we must.”
4 - Relying on tropes
Tropes are often used to help audiences feel a particular way about a character, but their use can easily backfire. Cressida has seen her fair share of tropes. “Most of the time, using tropes just makes people feel bored. For example, I read a lot of scripts where the protagonist shows love to an animal in the first few pages, presumably to show us that they’re a good person. But it’s not original - quite literally save the cat! Show us the character doing something that is unique to them, and that will hook us in more.”
Take The Next Step
Shore Scripts offers a variety of coverage options to meet your needs. Whether you’re looking for condensed or comprehensive feedback for your Feature, TV Pilot, or Short, you will receive actionable feedback from experienced writers who want to help you succeed!
At Shore Scripts, we offer three, six, and ten page coverage services, as well as two-page coverage for treatments and two-page coverage for the first ten pages of your script. Turnaround is typically two to five days, so you don’t have to wait ages before getting your feedback.
There’s also an added bonus to our coverage service - Verve has partnered with Shore Scripts to provide industry-focused coverage on the top screenplays submitted to our coverage service.
Verve is one of the biggest talent agencies in the world, repping A-List writers and talent. With the writer’s prior permission, the Verve team will review and write industry-focused notes on one script per month. Their notes will then be sent back to the chosen writer, offering you an invaluable insight into how the industry evaluates your story, helping you not only grow as a writer but learn more about how to navigate the film and TV industry. The Shore team will choose the project to be sent to Verve each month.
Consider joining the hundreds of other writers who have improved their script and strengthened their story through our coverage service. Still have questions? Email Patty, our Coverage Services Manager, and she can help!
Next up: Stay tuned for part three of our series on coverage, where we focus on the writer’s perspective - how to best utilize feedback and how coverage has helped writers like you take their script to the next level.
