Table Readings …
I went to a table reading session last Wednesday. There were about 10 people there, no one who actually sold a screenplay to Hollywood - at least I don’t think so - that would have been a nice brain to pick. We read each others script pages and critiqued them. The comments were constructive for me and I took what I felt I could use and discarded the rest. That’s how it should be - you are the writer and you should write “your way”. There is no exact format to follow - nothing written in stone. If you took a look at many scripts that were huge hit movies - you would see format sometimes flies out the window. If the concept and idea is good - it’s good no matter if you capitalize the wrong words or have too many … dot, dot, dots or even exclamation points! I will try to write correctly though - it’s the perfectionism in me.
I’m trying to make every table reading and bring current things I’m writing (nothing earth shattering). One thing I did notice is that when the screenplays are read - many people cannot grasp them. I’m wondering if that is common … or maybe … the intense concentration of trying make sure your read your character has anything to do with it. It’s a question I’d like to find the answer to because many people just didn’t grasp the ideas presented. I know that I was more interested in making sure I didn’t flubb my character than actually listening to the screenplay.
That’s all for now …
I will sell a screenplay to Hollywood!!!