An excerpt from my script review for Lake Placid which will be available 04/07/25:
5.) Format
We’ve discussed it before, but know what you’re reading.
By that, I mean you should be reading several scripts to develop an idea of proper formatting.
This “soft text” version of the script had a lot of errors, not just taking out page numbers because…it saves space?
Remember my “sort of” argument from above?
When characters interrupt one another, there’s “—“ at the end of the entry for the character getting interrupted.
For instance, page 4:
KELLY
I was working for you when “us”
started, what’s–
KEVIN
I know and I thought I could handle
it but work and pleasure along with
somebody else, it’s a dangerous
mix.
Those two dashes let the reader know Kevin is interrupting Kelly, which is kind of important for the actors.
And while we’re on the subject, remember that dialogue entries need proper punctuation just like any other sentence.
No easier way to show a reader their time isn’t valued, than simple and consistent grammatical errors.
And on the formatting of the description…a lot of visuals were condensed into single paragraphs which make for a difficult read.
Page 6:
He looks left, right… then… four snakes, swimming, hovering,
looking back at him. What’s with these snakes? Walt decides
he’ll go back to the boat. Then… BOOM. Something hits him…
and it’s no snake.
This comes after two long-winded blocks of description, but should be broken up to create tension and make the visuals mentally digestible.
Rework:
He looks left…
Right…
… FOUR SNAKES swimming right for him.
Walt turns back to the boat, then…
BOOM.
Something hits him and it’s no snake.
Now, understand this will increase the page length of your script, but this is a horror so you need to build tension while also not putting your reader to sleep by delivering block after block of words that assault their brains.
What good is a 99 page script if it’s one hell of a grind for a reader to get through?
Going back to my original point…
Let’s say you’re an aspiring new writer who happens to love this particular film.
If you’re only reading this single script you’re going to have a lot of errors when emulating the style in your own writing.
Those easily remedied errors, combined with the fact that there was a slew of typos in this script, will telegraph to a reader early on that you’re not serious and thus not worth their limited time.
It won’t matter how good your story is.
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