Screenplay Report Cards: A Potentially Helpful Writing Tool

So I came across this in my travels along the information super-highway... It comes from scriptshark.com, a screenwriting resources website. It's basically a score card that bigwigs in Hollywood might give their script readers so they can evaluate a script based on how it might perform as a money-making property. So hey, if you've got a script you wanna sell, just make sure it scores "Solid" or "Excellent" in most of the categories listed.

Now, if you've had a minute to look it over, and you're anything like me, you might, at first anyway, approach this with a hefty dose of cynicism. Like, writing scripts is an art, man... What are we, robots? A script can be anything you want it to be, and shouldn't be judged so coldly, in such a shallow, calculated manner. Especially following such criteria specifically designed to gauge how much cash it brings in at the box-office. Like, that's just dirty, right?

But then I was reminded of Charlie Kaufman in Adaptation. (rent it if you haven't seen it, especially if you're working on a screenplay). In this film. Kaufman, a screenwriter, is portrayed as an "serious artist" with "integrity" who doesn't buy into any traditional script writing theories or ideas, as they tend to be formulaic and dull. But when he finds himself up against the wall, he actually swallows his pride and listens to the advice he's resisted for so long, and it actually helps him finish his script. It's worth doing the same when examining this score card. Oh come on, at least give it a shot...

In this case, yeah sure, you could look at this as further proof that Hollywood is populated by a bunch of greedy sell-outs looking only to make a buck. But really, think back to all the best movies you've seen. All the timeless classics, the popcorn blockbusters, the serious Oscar contenders, the lighthearted romances... All the best scripts would score pretty highly on this form. I mean, what are they really looking for, here?

"The script has a strong structural foundation that serves the story, classic three-act structure or otherwise:"

"Every scene has relevance:"

"The protagonist is sympathetic and/or engages our emotional investment:"

"The visual arena of the script is stimulating:"

I mean, these are all important considerations, no matter what kind of story you're crafting. You've only got an hour and a half or so for your story to play out, so it's important that it's put together in a way that works, that it makes sense, that your characters are somewhat interesting, and that there's always something cool to look at (it's a script for a film, which is a visual medium... kinda helps if you come up with some nice visuals). Even all the stuff that directly relates to marketing (lead role: easy to cast, demographics, etc.) should be considered by ALL screenwriters, regardless if you're making a quiet little indy film set in an elevator or the next Transformers sequel. Determining who your lead is and who your target audience are will go far in informing your writing. It's important that your audience really buys into what's happening onscreen... so, doesn't it make sense to think about who they might be? And if you know you're gonna be short on casting resources, be careful of the kinds of characters you write. Unless you personally know an 800 lb shut-in willing to be in your movie, good luck finding someone to play that role. Instead, just stick to writing characters that you might actually be able to cast with little trouble.

If all writing is just merely re-writing, then this score card can be a helpful tool for you to use when you're working on your 2nd or 3rd draft. Especially if you're new to screenwriting. It, at the very least, is asking the questions you should be thinking about regardless, even if you're convinced that normal story-telling conventions are total bullshit. If you've thrown a curve ball into your script, than at least have a good reason for it. Ask yourself the questions on this form, and answer confidently about each "questionable" or "unorthodox" decision you've made. It won't guarantee that your script will get sold, but it will help you understand what you've written much more clearly, and it will help you to be able to talk about it to people when they ask. And really, until it gets made, that's all you'll have in the way of getting your message across: the script in paper form and any accompanying notes. Just make sure your script ideas are as clear as possible, and that other people get what you're trying to say and why. Using this form will help you achieve that.