How To Impress A Script Reader - Part 2
Saturday 27th June 2015
2: Character is King (or Queen).
Most spec scripts I read have woefully underdeveloped central characters. Invest time thinking about your characters' flaws (and a few redeeming qualities as well).
You should be able to talk about your character as if they're real; the best mate (or worst enemy) you've known for twenty years. Your characters should leap off the page with clarity and conviction. They should also be active in making a bad situation worse rather than simply passively observing a mad/bad world unfolding around them.
Hayley McKenzie is a film and TV script editor and the founder of Script Angel, dedicated to nurturing screenwriting talent. She's written about what she thinks helps a script make the screenwriting contest cut
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