You must get feedback on your screenplay from other humans. It's not optional.
You might be scared.
You might be protective and secretive.
You might be confident it's 100% perfect.
Too bad.
The whole point of filmmaking is that you will one day have an audience and you need to get used to the idea of other people seeing your work.
And, most importantly, you need to hear negative feedback.
Better to get it NOW (before you shoot) than at the first screening after it's too late to make changes.
That's why the screenplay stage is the most critical for your film: if you don't get it right in the script, you've given your film a probably fatal congenital flaw.
After all, without a good script, you can't attract quality talent (actors), nor quality crew, nor investors to pay them all. Without money, good actors and an experienced crew, you are less likely to shoot a film that is worth watching (or selling).
So a bad (or even mediocre) script = failed film.
Thus, make your script as strong as possible! And the best way to ensure this happens once you have a finished draft is to let other people read it.
Here's how to do it:
1) Choose people you can trust and who know a thing or two about either screenwriting/writing or films. It could be a fellow writer or a friend who is a film fiend who watches more films that anyone you know.
2) Ask them if they want to read and give feedback. This will take time. I can spend as many as five to ten hours going through a script with detailed notes. So don't treat their time lightly -- ask first.
3) If they agree, then I suggest you direct their feedback. I always include a cover letter (see below) with the script that asks for them to focus on specific issues.
Plus, because I hate negative feedback (hey, I'm human) I always ask for them to start out by telling me three things they liked before they start in on the problems.
I find that I can take in the negative (and very important) critiques better if I have that positive feedback first.
4) Give them a deadline -- but be flexible if you're not paying them. Still, a deadline may help them organize their time and focus the mind.
5) Take the negative feedback to heart (i.e. pay attention) and ignore most of the suggestions (you are the writer, not them). Hold the positive feedback close when you're feeling dark and uninspired. It will help get through the realization you have a lot more work to do.
And then rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.
Here's the cover letter that I sent out with a recent draft of In-World War -- feel free to modify and use for your screenplay:
Okay, here it is!
IN-WORLD WAR (working title previously was GAMEPLAY) will be my directorial debut, so I'm trying to get the story as tight as possible.
Please be honest and frank with your feedback!
The file is attached in PDF and RTF/Word docs. I can also send a printed version if you need me to.
RTF/Word is helpful since you can turn "change tracking" on in Word and then add your comments/changes/suggestions in the document itself and they will automatically be highlighted as you type.
The printed version is helpful so you can curl up with the screenplay and easily mark it up with a pen or pencil. But of course that wastes trees (and requires printing and shipping costs).
I don't want to give much in the way of disclaimers -- I want your honest feedback without any preconceptions.
All I ask is that you do not distribute the screenplay. I'm trying to keep it to a very small group of close friends.
In particular, here's the feedback I'm looking for:
- Does the story make sense? Can you follow what's going on? When do you have problems?
- Do you ever get bored? Do you ever stop asking "what happens next?"
- Are the characters (particularly Mary) compelling, interesting and multi-dimensional?
- The genre is sci fi (surprise surprise), so I want to know: does the world/setting of the story make sense?
Lastly, in order to protect my fragile artistic ego, I ask that you start by telling me three positive things that you like about the screenplay (i.e. three things that work well) before you rip into it.
And please, after those three nice things, DO rip into it. That's what I need.
You can send your feedback via email and ideally simply as a change-tracked Word doc (with comments included). Or just write up your feedback in an email. Whatever is easier.
I'm hoping to have another draft done by end of December, so if you could get me feedback by 12/15, that would be ideal. But I understand if you need more time and will take your feedback whenever it's ready.
Let me know if you have any questions -- and enjoy the show!