Excellent! This is what I've been trying to get members to do for a couple of years: read successful pro scripts. You won't look at rules quite the same way again. Try to look at several pro spec scripts a week. That was why I started the Scriptshadow thread, to nudge people away from obsessing over title page format and asides.

And to be clear...I am NOT saying writing doesn't matter. To the contrary, I am saying the goal is to use the most effective writing technique possible. Where the "rules" get in the way of what's effective, you have to bend them.

I read Nightcrawlers a while back and I think it's successful because the story is pretty unique. And I completely(and respectfully) disagree with Mo on knowing the main character's back story. That's a potentially dangerous trap we writers all fall into, thinking we always need back story.

The purpose behind back story is to flesh out a character...giving us a sense of why a person is who he is helps us know who he is. But the main thing is to know who he is, and there are other ways to do that. Often it's hard to do this without some back story, but ideally you can. In Nightcrawler we get a very memorable sense of who this guy is just by his actions. Back story is really exposition, no matter how interesting we make it, so if we can do without it can be an advantage.'

Enjoy the read!

Quoted from KevinLenihan Excellent! This is what I've been trying to get members to do for a couple of years: read successful pro scripts.

What? This is a new concept? I've been reading and downloading pro scripts for ages - doesn't every writer? I mean, so much of it is now right at your fingertips. Years ago you wouldn't have been able to read half the stuff you can now - it's an essential writer's tool imo, that and watching film and good tv.

Can definitely see where you're coming from, Kev. Was I the only one who wanted Lou to crash and burn?

The Scriptshadow thread seems to be dead nowadays, which is a shame. I think a new thread could be started where peeps could discuss pro scripts? Instead of creating a new thread for every new script. I've read a few interesting ones that I think are very deserving of reads or discussions.

Quoted from nawazm11 Can definitely see where you're coming from, Kev. Was I the only one who wanted Lou to crash and burn?

No you weren't the only one, and (SPOILERS) I think that was why the ending fell flat for me. This guy didn't deserve a positive conclusion to his story, IMO.

Spoilers start around here.

Very much so, Toby. I wanted his arrogance and precision to be his undoing. Almost realizing in the end that "wow, that maybe I'm not that perfect".

LC, you are correct, it is essential. And while it's not necessarily new around here, it could still help a lot of people to make this part of their process. A lot of the comments we saw in the OWC give evidence to the fact that people are just not reading pro scripts. Scripts that are called "novelistic" or filled with "asides" would not be considered so in the pro world, which does in fact use some of this to the story's advantage.

Can someone e-mail the script over to me... if they have the time.  Thanks.

Glancing over it now... on page 3 and I love the writing already.

Quoted from Guest Glancing over it now... on page 3 and I love the writing already.

Yeah it moves very quickly. I like it as well. I'm on page 50. It's going to be an interesting film, because the script makes me even feel uncomfortable, because of the environment.

Neighbor, please check messages.

Quoted from KevinLenihan Neighbor, please check messages.

What do you mean? I checked my PMs and email and nothing new there.

Read the script - Yeah, it's bold and a fast read, but I'm just not digging it.

It's a very good lesson in how to craft a character driven script and I get what Dan Gilroy is going for with Lou's character, but all that exposition and information spewing dialogue, that is meant to shape Lou's character, just doesn't work for me.

There's a nod towards Asperger's, but it also seem as if it's trying too hard to copy the News Room.

By page 50, what has actually happened if you boil it down. A guy has picked up a camera and is making a living from it . . .  okay.

Quoted from KevinLenihan Excellent! This is what I've been trying to get members to do for a couple of years: read successful pro scripts. You won't look at rules quite the same way again. Try to look at several pro spec scripts a week. That was why I started the Scriptshadow thread, to nudge people away from obsessing over title page format and asides.

Wow. What a great idea. Someone should talk Don into hosting some pro scripts on this site.       

I'm very interested in reading this as well if someone could PM me the link.  Thanks a bunch!  

Quoted from Eoin Read the script - Yeah, it's bold and a fast read, but I'm just not digging it. It's a very good lesson in how to craft a character driven script and I get what Dan Gilroy is going for with Lou's character, but all that exposition and information spewing dialogue, that is meant to shape Lou's character, just doesn't work for me. There's a nod towards Asperger's, but it also seem as if it's trying too hard to copy the News Room. By page 50, what has actually happened if you boil it down. A guy has picked up a camera and is making a living from it . . .  okay.

I liked it just because I found it so easy to read. Even though not much happens, I still found it interesting. I found the dialogue kind of funny for that reason. It was so ridiculous, almost reminded me of American Psycho (both the novel and the film).

And I definitely don't think Lou has Asperger's (I don't remember if they mentioned it in the script) but I am pretty well versed with Asperger's and even though Lou does show some of the symptoms (very organized, and the way he speaks), I definitely would not say he has it.

He fits more of the DARK TRIAD symptoms: Narcissism, Machiavellian-ism and psychopathy.  Due to his seemingly non attachment to other people and non responsiveness to horrible things, his manipulation and his entitlement and dominance in social interactions.

The dialogue was way over the top - even for the character traits you ascribed to him, Lou talks like a robot. He regurgitates accumulated information. He has an intense fascination and preoccupation with a particular subject. He can't form meaningful relationships or interactions with people.

Lou himself tells Nina at dinner how he sees their 'relationship'.

Rick tells Lou, he doesn't understand people.

It wasn't mentioned in the script that he has Asperger's, neither does it mention that he is a sociopath, but we can infer from what is shown, that it is possible he may have Aspergers, or at least that's the way I read it.

The theme of the script is a little too thin for me, or one that we have seen in other guises 'what we see on the news is manipluated'. Okay, great.

Once we see Lou wearing the watch, we know later on where this is going with his news coverage, extreme town and that's exactly where it goes.

Sure, it's an easy read, but not a very satisfying story IMO. Lou's hurdles are skipped over all too easily. Yes, there is some form of conflict, but mainly because Lou has leverage over other characters, who feel threatened by him. The conflict should be both ways. The only outcome is, Lou achieves his goal - so what? The story reminded me of The World's Fastest Indian - a 'nice' but ultimately very unsatisfying film.