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Elements:exclt

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Characterization 1----+----+----+--"1Dialogue \- __ ~--~--~--~

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yES _ NO _ MAYBEC-..:.- _

WRITER(S) RECOMMENDED: YES _ NO _

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The Comment

The "Comment" is that portion of the coverage in which the reader gives his or her criticalappraisal of the material. Except for special cases (such as Comparison Coverage), thecomment usually runs a quarter of the page to a full page, the average being approximatelya half of a page.

The comment is unavoidably a subjective response, but one that needs to be organisedaround some basic criteria that are fairly standard. For example:

Quality of Writing. Most comments will start off with some mention of the overall quality ofthe script. "This is an extremely well - written script about " or " This script is really verypoorly done and ..... "It is a good idea to make a statement about the quality of the workwhatever the idea, how well it has been executed is a major consideration.

The Premise . What is it about? Mention the premise and comment on it. "This story of amarriage on the skids is one we have seen many times before. Nonetheless, somethingcomes through here that is very fresh and exciting. "Consider the premise. It is a new twiston an old idea or a tired version of something you've seen hundred times before? Does ithave a long history of appeal ? Is it original, fresh, traditional, cliched, clever, overdone,familiar, relevant, contemporary, intresting, fascinating, funny, serious, depressing,potentially interesting, unfocused ? Sometimes the premise will immediately fit into a genre.If it does, mention this and consider how well it does the job.

Characters . Look for solidly -written and developed leading characters that go throughsomething. This is where the tension comes from and what makes them different at the endof the movie. It's an emotional payoff most of us pay for when we go to the movies orwatch drama. Are main characters interesting, strongly written, likeable, unappealing? ISTHIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD APPEAL TO STARS? Finally, that's what it's all about interms of getting this script made. Who will want to do it. Is this a great role of someone inparticular -- a "star vehicle" for?

Appeal. This is the old "who cares ?" question. Is there an audience for this story and, if so,who is the potential audience. It is likely to be TV or features, kids, adults, families, serieswatchers, a small audience, upscale, downscale, or is there potentially NO audience. Andtry to support why you feel this way: "the great action sequences and the central battle ofgood vs. evil will certainly appeal to youth audiences that turn out for films like STARWARS." or, "this subject matter is so depressing that I can't imagine anyone would leavetheir home to see this movie."

Allude to precedents, if you can, to support your opinions. Films that this is like that havedone well or vice versa. Avoid making grandiose statements one way or the other that youcan't support unless you want to lose your job. Of course, sometimes you're just sure. Inthat case just go for it. If the script is a sure-fire turkey, that's all you need to say.

Conflict . The story better have it or you'll probably fall asleep while reading. Mentionsomething about conflict, especially if it's missing, or if it's revealed too late.or if it doesn'tgrow, or it isn't resolved.Jt it's there, you probably don't have to say much of a-nything aboutit other than it works. -

Dialogue. Dialogue can put you to sleep or it can make you laugh or cry and how you feelabout it should be mentioned in your comment. Overall, does the dialogue strike you asgood or bad? Is it clever, funny , awkward, false, dull , real, sparkling, stilted, preachy,talky? The most common mistake novice writers make is to overwrite their dialogue. Longspeeches everywhere you look. Watch out for this because it rarely works. PaddyChayevsky is the exception.

I

Elements . When you read something and know something about the writer or are told thata certain director star is attached to the project, take this into consideration in yourevaluation of the material. For example, if you are reading a script by Paul Mazursky, youhave a body of work to acknowledge and allude to in your evaluation. Use what you knowto imagine how this one will work.

Conclusions. This is were you sum up, in a couple of sentences, what conclusions can bedrawn from the plusses and minuses you have enumerate in your comment. Takingeverything into consideration, what subjective feelings are you left with. Don't avoid taking aposition, even if it's an ambivalent one. Sometimes you will be asked to say "yes" "no" or"maybe." And sometimes you won't. But I suggest that you always come to someconclusion whether you're asked to or not.