That Which Cuts Deep - Print Topic

Hi Leegion. I like the look of this one mate... but I don't feel that you go through your scripts on another draft before handing them over. There is a typo on the first page and awkward sentences... like this:

Code

The gun goes off. A bullet rips through David’s shoulder, sends him on a tailspin to the ground.

sends him on a tailspin? Why not... A bullet rips through David's shoulder, tailspinning him to the floor.

The way you've written it, disrupts flow and really takes me out of the read.

I like the sound of this one... however I feel cheated that you aren't putting in your best efforts. These scripts are nowhere near finished. Polish them to a standard where there are no typo's. Especially in the first 10. Also make sure every single sentence flows properly.

I may still read this one... as it does interest me and you write well. I just want to see your best. If you really put the effort into one script, I bet it would be amazing.

Hey Dustin,

Celtx didn't save it properly (must've closed the program before it finalized the PDF). There's some dialogue errors as well, further inward, and a few typos spread across it, which I fixed.

I only just realized this isn't the right one upon opening the file.

Please bear with me while I fix this.

Here's the edited version:
https://app.box.com/s/oq38gprbgs1rwf7tmiq6

Box is a bit weird when it comes to things, everything looks double-spaced (???), so you may wish to download it for a true representation.

Apologies for uploading the wrong version. I was unaware.

-Lee

Early on Tony says that Chris is like a son to him but who is Chris??? Is this supposed to be Jensen from the sound of it and you forgot to change the name in dialogue? Does Jensen go by two different names?

Now Sean at the docks is talking to a Chris. Who is Chris?

Ten pages in and I'm lost. The beginning with the funeral and chase scene is exciting. The idea that Jensen killed David is a very unexpected hook that got my attention right away. But after page two I'm not sure whats going on. There is a lot of pitter patter chatter between a bunch of characters that doesn't seem to move the story. You set the bar high early with and the script quickly deflates after. There is a lot going on and I would venture to say its a bit overwritten. Lots of small unimportant details take me out of the script. For example you spend about 3 pages of your first 10 pages detailing Becky's ordeal with her car. Is that really what you want to do while trying to hook the reader?

The set up in the first 10 is great but after that you wander. My two cents.

Hey Cam,

"Chris" is Jensen.  He uses it as an alias, since he's an undercover CIA Agent, he can't very well use his own name, or it'll trace back to his family.  Jensen also goes by the name "Adam" in a later scene.  He has 3 names, 1 that the reader knows (character), one that the mob knows (Chris) and one Amy (his handler) calls him (Adam).

Becky's ordeal with the car sets up the meeting with Jensen.  He can't contact her directly, so he uses indirect means to grab her attention.  Impounded Car = Jensen can meet her without raising too many questions or suspicion.

So, yeah.  If you understand that, you'll get why I wrote it that way.

Hey Lee,

Just wanted to provide my input on the whole Chris is Jenson, Chris is Adam, Chris is whoever.
I think you should keep Chris as Chris throughout to prevent confusion such as this.
Other characters may refer to him as another name but he just nods, or whatnot, then we get the point. No need to rename a character that is not really a different character, if you know what I mean.

That said, I ain't even read it so maybe you did a great job with it. Haha. Will have to check this out.

* Although, Superman and Clark Kent springs to mind so... who knows?

Hey Scoob,

He's always Jensen in action lines/character headings. His name never changes. People just call him "Chris" or "Adam". To the reader, he's always Jensen.

Also, the update is the actual version of this, if you plan on reading it.

-Lee

Cool.

I downloaded the file from the top of the page. Interesting opening, killed by the next five or so pages. Might just be me, I want a constant thrill when I read something. If not, down it goes.

I'll restart from the dropbox version.

*May have sounded abrupt, I just meant I will read it with care. Not meant egotistically.

Pg1: I'd change the scene heading when the guy crashes inside the room to the APARTMENT - ROOM
As of now, it's still the same as the original heading minus the word BLOCK.
Basically, bad rushed description.

David tries the window but cannot open it.

How about making this more dramatic.
How do we see this happening?

What do you do to open a window. You use something. What happens if this equipment fails to work? You are in the shiz. This happens here. Why David cannot open it as of now, I have no idea. You are not giving me a visual. You are telling me. This should be a tension moment, right? Let's see it.

Before anyone says it, No, I'm not sayin' every fucking time you mention a window escape you need to describe the frickin' decor. But this is a tension filled moment. It could, probably should, be intense instead of a rushed job.
This scene is a rushed job.

Despite that, the scene works. It's a one page scene that does the job. I don't like it, but I like that it works.

We cut to the grave, and I'm going to bed.

Just say it sucks, Scoob, lol.

I've got one more script on the table.  If it doesn't work, I'm going back to novels.

I'm not touching this (Deep) again.  It fails every time.

No,no, Lee!!!
No mate, please, Don't give up. My message has been misunderstood, I'm sorry. In no way am I saying you are shit.

I'm not saying that at all.

I am just being honest as I read. I am sorry, I could have put my points across more delicately but we're only on page one and you can handle a little negativity. Come on dude. Sort it out, mate.

You're gonna have to if you want to succeed in this game. Scriptwriting or novel writing. You're gonna feel destroyed at several points. Name of the game, I'm afraid.

I've read ONE PAGE.
I'm offering advise to make it better. It's probably brilliant as it is. You don't have to take my advise, man! It's just my thoughts. But I'm not gonna lie and tell you a load of shit. I think the first page works. It could be better.

I have no evil intentions to destroy other writers! I want you to do well, man. Just man up and learn. You have potential to be a great writer, don't rush it.

It's fine, man.

I take the criticism, but I've also been seeing flaws in my scripts lately that have really been getting to me before I even submit them.

I'm not sure why, but lately, everything seems "blurred", if you catch my drift.

All my protagonists feel the same, antagonists too, stories are similar - I can't seem to find the spark I had with my novel, when everything clicked.

The feedback helps. But it's my own personal feeling towards them in general that dethrones my interest for this style of storytelling.

You're rushing it.
I was the same. I still do it now. Try to do everything in one go.

Seriously, take some time away from here. Take three of your best scripts. Read them on PDF on Ipad, away from where you write. Read them line for line.

Make notes on paper.

Don't rush your ideas or think "someone is gonna get there before me". The odds are impossible , haha.

You have time on your side, don't rush perfection.

The hardest thing is to enjoy the rewriting/editing process. We all have to do it!
You're gonna be a great writer, now conquer the "dismal" realms of rewriting and editing.
:)

Thanks, Malc.

And you're right on the money with the "rushing" part. I did rush this one, because a producer contacted me about it (Clay - New Trick Flicks), so I just did it quickly.

I am working on another, it's in the WiP section. 24 pages at the minute after a good month. I have 50 in another draft after 3 months, but it got lost in expository hell.

Quoted from Scoob

I agree with this entirely... I am the same.

The real work is in the rewrites and they hurt... sometimes they really, really hurt. But that's what a real writer is... perfection comes over time. As I'm saying this, I'm also telling myself... as I'm posting here right now rather than tackling a rewrite on an epic. Epics are hard, more characters, thicker plotline, but the pay-offs are greater if it sells. Real headache on the rewrites though. So with that, I'm going to tuck into mine.

I've rewrote this like 7 times, lol.  It was Maverick, then there were 4 versions of Deep, followed by a 6th draft that I never finished, then this.

Not saying it doesn't work.  Just saying, it needs something extra, and I don't know what that is right now.  I'm thinking "low-budget" for it, hence the slow crawl.

Gonna leave this on the fence for a bit, see if I can magic something.  Maybe Rewrite Fracture finally, who knows.

I'm writing an epic at the minute too, Dustin.  Been on it a while.  Check the WiP section for more information on it.

I'm also in the early stages of planning the sequel to my EPIC novel, Age of Shadows 2.  Thinking of adapting Book 1 into a script too.

418-pages into 120 or less... I've got a lot to cut out, HAHA.

Rewrites don't always make things better. Plus a rewrite is still a first draft that needs polishing. Look through for typo's, overwriting, etc. Every single sentence, every line of dialogue. Break your script into sections and analyse the pHuck out of it. Forget the story, concentrate on the writing.

Also 120 pages is OK for an epic, you could probably get away with a few more... but there are assholes with their supposed rules on specific page counts that are annoying. Personally, I don't listen to them.

Epics are a hard sell for an unsigned writer. Might wanna set your sights a little lower, Lee, till you make that first sell. Then you can go balls out.

Just sayin'...

Quoted from NickSedario

Epics are a hard sell for an unsigned writer. Might wanna set your sights a little lower, Lee, till you make that first sell. Then you can go balls out.

Just sayin'...

Horseman's epic, but it's very low-budget. I imagine the only thing that might cost a lot would be Death's customized Harley.

But yeah, going ultra-low for my first one (like $200,000 - $500,000). Decaying World, Bleak Falls and this are in that category.

Depends on how I'm feeling really.

Quoted from DustinBowcot

I went at 145 pages once.  But these days, I try to keep everything under 120 as a specific rule for my own storytelling, otherwise I tend to babble a lot.

The last 2 scripts I've penned were 93 and 107 pages in length.  Maybe I could tidy Deep up a little, bring it down to 85 - 90 pages.

Now I'm babbling again, lol.  One script at a time, Lee, focus.

I've asked Don to remove this and all of my other scripts.  This is because I have flooded the site and wish to take some time away, to rethink my stories and work harder on them.

I could crank out 1 script every 2 weeks all the time, and that's the problem.  I crank 1 out per 2 weeks, which is far too much, far too often.

I don't take my time, and that's about to change.

-----------------------

I've made up my mind on what script has the best chance of making it, and "TWCD/Maverick" is that script.

Every comment from the threads has been archived in a Word document, so I know what's wrong and what needs changing/boosting.

Thanks everyone for reading, even if they've looked bad, but that's about to change.

-Lee

EDIT:  I've asked Don not to remove this or Decaying World.

Started the revision, pain in the backside, but it has to be done. Just read "Unforgettable" "The Devil's Jokebook" and "Deep Cover"... now I know how to write scripts again...

Back in the saddle!

Quoted from Leegion

Glad to hear it. I had to make the same decision. Work one script at a time till they are professional and flawless, then try and sell them.

Not saying it's gonna be professional or flawless, lol.  This is already draft 6, HAHA.  Might be on draft 20 before it looks decent.

The transition from novel to script is tough... so, I've decided to ADAPT my novel into screenplay format.

May take some time, but I know everything about it, and it seems like the perfect opportunity to transition seamlessly.

Just have to cut out like, 300 pages of material (leaving 118)... or condense it so the whole thing becomes a 120-125 page script.

First job is to cut out the 12 chase sequences (there's not 12), 1/2 chase sequence(s) instead.  There's like 15 sword-fights too, so I'll have to cut that down to 3, maybe 4.

It's an epic too, but it's my best story, and has been in my head for 12 years.

Quoted from Leegion

It's an epic too, but it's my best story, and has been in my head for 12 years.

My first screenplay is adapted from a short story I wrote twenty years ago. Most of us need to learn how to write screenplays, and it is a curve... and certainly not easy.

In regards to your story, it's certainly the one you should adapt, and you may even find that the screenplay goes in a different direction... Not sure about you, but stories seem to write themselves.

Definitely agree with you on that one.

Age of Shadows came about suddenly, based on the original idea, it somewhat spiralled into its own tale, especially with the addition of the secondary protagonist, who breaks up the plot and takes it in a new direction.

I have to remove A LOT of stuff in order for this to work.  The book has so many characters in it that cannot appear in the adaptation, otherwise it'll be a complete clusterf*** of a mess and confusing as all hell.

Chapters have to be spun around, Chapter 2 has to be the Prologue, as it's the war, so that might take up 8 - 10 pages, and there's 44 chapters...

So yeah, a lot of work ahead of me.  Guess I'd better start.