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This is a site where I can chew through the challenges and dilemmas of screenwriting. It is hoped I will post some of my writing, share ideas with others and gain insight into how to improve and how to get published.

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20 Screenplay Marketability "Musts"

20 Screenplay Marketability “Musts”

20 Yeses Qualify You for Round 2

  1. Is the concept fresh and unique or presented in a fresh way?
  2. Is there foreshadowing conflict?
  3. Is there a clearly defined protagonist?
  4. Does the protagonist have a clear goal or problem?
  5. Is the antagonist introduced early and is he/she/it a worthy adversary?
  6. Are the characters three-dimensional?
  7. Is the narrative (action) concise, descriptive, visual, and does it tell the story?
  8. Are the scene transitions smooth?
  9. Are the speeches short? (no talking heads or numerous phone calls)
  10. Does the dialogue ring true and true to the characters?
  11. Is this story a page-turner?
  12. Has this script been checked for typos, homophone confusion and spelling errors?
  13. Is the cast of characters manageable in size?
  14. Have CAMERA directions been kept to a bare minimum?
  15. Has the writer written only what can be seen or heard?
  16. Is the formatting up to industry standard?
  17. Have these pages evoked some kind of emotion?
  18. Have adverbs and words like (about, a little, a bit) been avoided
  19. Is the story focused, clear-cut and logical?
  20. Does the writer have an original voice or style?

Taken from 2020 contest


[ 03:50 ] [ 2006-May-26 ] [ Post Comment ]

check before you post

Interesting reading.
You are a teacher, but I notice a typo (something you yourself said to check for) and an anachronistic use of seventeenth-century English which is only associated with the American model of the language.
When I check my American published book of grammar it states that '...although the word is occasionally heard in certain parts of the United States, the past tense of get is got, and should not be written gotten..'.

[ Anonymous ] [ 09:41 ] [ 2006-Jul-11 ] [ Link ]

What does it really take to succeed?

A fresh and unique concept? Three-dimensional characters? Probably 90 percent of all Hollywood movies would fail your test for marketability. Which leads me to wonder... what really brings success in the film industry?

[ Anonymous ] [ 11:17 ] [ 2006-Jul-14 ] [ Link ]

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