Just do it. Kill your Baby.
The scriptwriting development workshops were extremely beneficial for me. As someone who wants to be a screenwriter professionally, having my work constructively critiqued helped me in the creative process. They do say that a script isn't finished until you have killed your baby and this workshop truly helped me realise that.
The 2 key issues with my script involved Elle as a character and Tee's dreamscape and relationship to Elle. At first Elle was an over the top rope on 'Damage Girls with Daddy issues'. At the time of writing the 1st draft I hadn't seen this, but it was quickly brought to my attention at the first workshop. I subsequently fixed it over the next 2 drafts. This issue with the character brought me to Tee and Elle's relationship. In the first draft, it seemed as though Tee wanted to 'Save' Elle. This was shown in his daydreams being wildly over the top and displayed many situations where he was being a Hero or Saviour. In the next few drafts, I toned it down to more accurately reflect Tee's true inner ambition, to make a friend.
I always crave feedback on my creative endeavors. The aim is to grow as an artist and you can't do that sitting in a corner telling yourself your work is perfect and amazing and you'll never change it for anyone. If the feedback is truly constructive and there is something that can possibly be done, I welcome it. I was at first reluctant to amend some of the daydreams as I believed they were vital to the story, but quickly realised I was no longer telling the same story they were so vital to in the first place. It was much easier to edit these scenes after understanding it was all to make my script better.
After feedback sessions I would note all vital information down on my script and notebook, whether it was vital; story beat changes or something small like grammar and tackle it once home. No feedback was too small so I took it all under my wing. There was little feedback I pushed back on.
I learnt lots about screenwriting from these workshops. The major points are to think about what truly drives your characters deep down, not just at surface level. As well as thinking from a direction and production design standpoint while writing scenes. These three things combined brought my script and all future scripts I plan to write, to new heights.
Tee
- Obsessive
- Depressed
- Lonely
- Cares about perceptions of him
- Sincere
- Sweet
- Caring
- Imaginative
- Scared
- Timid