9.1 The importance of rewriting

Rewriting is the unsung hero of screenwriting, often taking up to 90% of the total writing time. It's the secret sauce that transforms good scripts into great ones, refining dialogue, pacing, and character development along the way.

The rewriting process isn't just about fixing mistakes. It's a chance for growth, allowing writers to incorporate valuable insights and enhance their skills. Through multiple iterations, screenplays evolve, becoming tighter, more impactful, and ready for the big screen.

Rewriting in Screenwriting

Importance of Rewriting

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• Rewriting comprises up to 90% of the total writing time for a screenplay
• First draft rarely becomes the final version of a screenplay
• Allows screenwriters to address feedback from readers, producers, and directors
• Enables screenwriters to distance themselves from initial draft for objective evaluation
• Successful screenwriters view rewriting as an opportunity for growth and improvement
• Often transforms a good screenplay into a great one
  • Refines dialogue, pacing, and character development
• Iterative process essential for refining and improving the script

Benefits of the Rewriting Process

• Provides opportunities to incorporate valuable insights
• Enhances overall quality of the screenplay
• Allows for more objective evaluation of the work
• Enables growth and improvement in screenwriting skills
• Refines crucial elements of the screenplay
  • Dialogue becomes more impactful
  • Pacing improves
  • Character development deepens

Rewriting for Quality

Structural Improvements

• Tightens plot structure
  • Ensures every scene contributes meaningfully to the overall narrative
• Enhances visual aspects of the screenplay
  • Improves scene descriptions and action lines for better cinematic impact
• Eliminates redundant or unnecessary elements
  • Streamlines the script
  • Improves overall pacing
• Strengthens thematic elements
  • Ensures a cohesive and impactful message throughout the screenplay

Character and Dialogue Enhancement

• Deepens character development
  • Creates more complex and relatable personalities (Tony Stark in Iron Man)
• Refines dialogue
  • Makes conversations more natural and impactful
  • Ensures dialogue is true to each character's voice (Tarantino's distinct character voices)
• Polishes work to industry standards
  • Increases likelihood of positive reception by professionals in the field

Areas for Rewriting

Character and Plot Development

• Refines character arcs and development
  • Ensures consistent and compelling growth throughout the screenplay (Walter White in Breaking Bad)
• Adjusts plot structure and pacing
  • Maintains audience engagement and narrative flow
• Expands, reduces, or eliminates subplots and secondary characters
  • Better serves the main narrative

Dialogue and Scene Refinement

• Tightens dialogue
  • Makes it more authentic
  • Reveals character and advances plot more effectively
• Refines opening and closing scenes
  • Maximizes impact and effectiveness (The Social Network's opening scene)
• Polishes thematic elements and symbolism
  • Ensures consistent and subtle integration throughout the script

Technical Aspects

• Improves formatting
• Enhances scene transitions
• Refines action descriptions
  • Meets industry standards
  • Improves readability

Systematic Rewriting Process

Preparation and Analysis

• Establishes cooling-off period between first draft and rewrites
  • Gains perspective on the work
• Creates comprehensive outline or beat sheet of current draft
  • Analyzes overall structure and pacing of the screenplay
• Develops character analysis for each major character
  • Evaluates arcs, motivations, and consistency throughout the script
• Implements scene-by-scene review process
  • Assesses each scene's purpose, tension, and contribution to overall narrative

Feedback and Revision Strategies

• Utilizes feedback from trusted readers or writing groups
  • Identifies areas of improvement from external perspective
• Employs layered approach to rewriting
  • Focuses on different aspects in successive passes (structure, character, dialogue)
• Establishes clear goals and deadlines for each rewrite
  • Maintains momentum
  • Prevents endless revisions