I'm reading Sorkin's The Social Network, the 2009 rough draft, mind you, and it's phenomenal.

He breaks alot of essential "rules" of screenwriting, and it still flows so effortlessly and beautifully. Bang on, a true work of art.

I just keep thinking I'll never be this good.

One only needs to watch a single episode from the first four seasons of The West Wing to understand what a genius the man is.

Could you email me over a copy of this?

Would love to give it a read.

Quoted from Andrew Could you email me over a copy of this? Would love to give it a read.

emailed.

You don't need to be him, or as good as him, fionaman - you just need to be YOU...

Cause you're smart enough, good enough and by gosh....people like you...

SNL-06

Shawn.....><

I sat down with the script and read through it while watching the film.
The draft posted here came in at 162 pages.
The film, sans credits, runs about 113 minutes.
Yet, the dialog trims in the film are virtually negligible.
Sorkin manages to average about a page and a half per minute of film.
I'd say about 7% of the final cut differed from the script draft.
However, that 7% was replaced with either rewritten or improvised dialog.
I also thought it was interesting that Fincher threw out all of Sorkin's music cues.
I do like the timeless quality of the movie's score, go Trent Reznor.
Makes you wonder if the Broadway musical of Fight Club he wants to do might work. =p

E.D.

Cheers Murph.

I read through this the other day, it's amazing. I was really surprised how the opening scene completely transfers to the film, I thought there was some improv going on there, that must have taken a gazillion takes, kudos to Eisenberg on that one. I just started getting into his series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, I'd be interested in reading the pilot episode screenplay, the shows amazing, I'm bummed to know that I'm watching something that only lasts a season though. Either way Sorkin's dialogue makes me question my life its so good

Quoted from kev I read through this the other day, it's amazing. I was really surprised how the opening scene completely transfers to the film, I thought there was some improv going on there, that must have taken a gazillion takes, kudos to Eisenberg on that one. I just started getting into his series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, I'd be interested in reading the pilot episode screenplay, the shows amazing, I'm bummed to know that I'm watching something that only lasts a season though. Either way Sorkin's dialogue makes me question my life its so good

Interesting you should mention that, he was interviewed on the Mark Kermode podcast a while ago and a listener asked about Studio 60 (which I loved btw). He said it was his own fault it was cancelled, the main reason being it was bad writing! He said he made far too many writing mistakes for the show to work. Which I found really weird.

Another interesting thing he said about writing the Social Network, was that he wasted a lot of time trying to write the dialog as though it was 19 year old kids speaking it. Then realised that it was a stupid thing to do, he just wrote it in his own voice and took it for granted that  young actors would speak his words the way they do anyway.

Really! I'll have to look that up, that's weird he blames himself for the cancellation of Studio 60 though, I thought the writing surpassed any shows writing, well.. ever. I always thought it was cancelled because it was just too smart for TV, it seems like it has a legit following though. I'll have to look that podcast up

I have shared the episode in question here...

https://files.me.com/gary.murphy/aj5jun

Worth listening to for any fan of Sorkin or the Social Network, the only unfortunate thing is that he couldn't stay long.

Quoted from ajr You don't need to be him, or as good as him, fionaman - you just need to be YOU...

Thanks for the encouragement, and I agree. Every writer has a different voice.

I blame the whiskey and coke for the original post. I, like most people, get kind of emotional when I'm drunk.  :'(

Quoted from fionaman I blame the whiskey and coke

Coca Cola?

Yes, I'm not that depraved (yet)

Quoted from fionaman Yes, I'm not that depraved (yet)

Lol.

It may not be a bad thing, allegedly Sorkin was high on crack while working on the West Wing (I say allegedly to be safe, but he appears to have admitted it often enough).

Pretty amazing feat to write 87 episodes of one of the best drama series ever, single handed and in four years. I doubt anyone could do that sober!

Well, drugs have led to some of the greatest artistic creations in history. Wonder what Joss Whedon was smoking when he came up with the idea for Buffy.

I fully agree, fionaman. Normally I finish a screenplay in 2-3 sittings (with a few days of procrastination between each sitting) but I couldn't stop reading this one. I couldn't even be bothered to make a cup of coffee.

It's PHENOMENAL.

BTW, you shouldn't doubt yourself or feel discouraged. The most epic, beautiful and effortless screenplays are the best "teachers" of the craft, right?

;)

Quoted from fionaman I'm reading Sorkin's The Social Network, the 2009 rough draft, mind you, and it's phenomenal. He breaks alot of essential "rules" of screenwriting, and it still flows so effortlessly and beautifully. Bang on, a true work of art. I just keep thinking I'll never be this good.

Yes, could I also have a copy please? :) I would love to read it.

Some people think screenwriting is easy. Well it is, but to do it well is harder than any other form of writing. You need to be very smart and incredibilly patient with the process. I love the social network BTW.