There are different kinds of notes. Notes about set up (I didn’t buy that the character was really all that desperate!), notes about logic (How could the murderer have been in all those places at once?), notes about tone or genre (I know it was supposed to be a comedy but I didn’t laugh.), notes about execution (I got confused. Was the murder in space or on earth?) and notes about the premise itself (I feel like the story was very familiar to me).

Organize all of your notes and separate them by element: This note is a character issue, this note is a tone issue, this note is a premise or logic issue, this note is structural in nature. Then take an inventory -- do your notes all have something in common? Maybe your structure is not working. Maybe your characters need a lot more development. Some of the notes will feel vague and you won’t be sure how to interpret them. But here’show you can try. If the note is something like “it would be really cool if the killer attacked the policewoman in this scene” this note probably translates to “there’s not enough exciting action in this segment of the script.” If the note is “I didn’t buy that the character really HAD to find the treasure,” this note is about character motivation and set-up. And so on.

Make sure you do some quality control when seeking notes. Get notes from experienced writers and get notes from some regular folks who are smart and like movies. Don’t get notes from your cousin Jimmy or your mom. They won’t be helpful. Absolutely, no matter what, you will get some notes that are ridiculous. That’s okay. Write them down, categorize and evaluate them, then toss them out. This is your story, after all. If you use a reputable consultant, the notes will be fairly organized and generally spot-on. Yes, personality comes into it. Some people just won’t like your script, full stop. They don’t like the genre, the type of humor, or a particular character. A professional generally won’t have those personal issues; they will remain objective and judge the script in a mechanical way.

An interesting litmus test is this: If the note really upsets you, then take a hard look at that note. Sleep on it. What is pinging for you? Why are you feeling defensive? Nine times out of 10 it’s because the note is spot on, but the issue at hand is a darling and you’ll be damned if you’ll kill it. These are the most valuable notes of all, the ones that really get to you.

So here are some pointers to remember the next time you receive notes on your script:

• Breathe it out -- don’t take it personally.

• Nod and scribble. Write it all down.

• Sort out the notes, look for a pattern.

• Interpret notes that weren’t clear to you. Look for the underlying note.

• Thank the note giver and buy them a drink. They deserve it. If you react with graciousness and sincerity -- they might just read for you again.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment