From Betty:
Don’t write anything in your screenplay twice.
Don’t put in the description:
Debbie takes off her hat, exposing her long blonde hair.
Then have her best friend say:
Wow. Your hair is so long. I wish I had blonde hair!
Instead, you can say something like:
Description: Debbie takes off her hat and shakes out her flowing hair.
Best friend says:
Hmph. Blondes really do have more fun.
Don’t say in the description:
Doorbell RINGS. Jason opens the door. Kylie holds up a bottle of wine.
Jason: What are you doing here?
Kylie: I was in the neighborhood and thought you could use a drink.
Say something like:
Doorbell RINGS. Jason opens to Kylie holding a bottle of wine.
Kylie: Got some sorrows to drown?
The first examples are placeholders. The second examples are the rewrite. No one wants to hear:
Jim: Hi. How was your weekend?
Laura: It was great, thanks. How was yours?
Jim: I mostly stayed in bed. Anyway, do you have a minute to talk about our project?
PEOPLE DON’T TALK LIKE THIS IN THE MOVIES. THIS SOUNDS LIKE REAL LIFE.
It’s okay to hold your place while you’re trying to map out the screenplay, but go back in and fix it once your first draft is complete.
Jim: You look like shit.
Laura: It’s this damn project.
Jim: Get yourself together. You got this.
Happy writing!
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