Ingredients for a Screenplay to Win Over Producers and Directors

There is no single set of ingredients that will make a screenplay stand out in the eyes of producers, directors, and contest judges. Everyone brings their own preferences, likes, and dislikes to the table. However, there are a few broad strokes that most professionals look for, both consciously and unconsciously.

Concept

The concept is the cornerstone of any screenplay. It is essential to craft a unique concept or a fresh take on a familiar and successful genre. The choice of your concept should be well thought out, well-researched, and not merely a copy of your favorite types of movies.

A high-concept script is far more valuable than a brilliantly written low-concept character piece, and a brilliantly written high-concept script is pure gold. Producers and directors either want to revitalize an already successful trend with a new take or they want something completely different, unique, and original. However, no matter how original your concept is, it has to play to a wide audience.

Clarity

Formatting is crucial. Nothing is worse than opening a script to find horrible formatting. Overly busy formatting with various camera angles, flashbacks, flash-forwards, transitions, and inserts can be even worse. The military says KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). This couldn’t be truer when it comes to screenwriting. Focus on providing locations, character names, action descriptions, and dialogue. If you introduce different elements throughout the script, readers will forgive that. But if you over-explain, you’ll lose them before engaging them.

Engage Them

Quick engagement is key. Most scripts received are either utterly horrible, or just aren’t ready. Only a small fraction, about 0.5%, are worthy of recommendation. Finding those diamond-in-the-rough scripts is tough and akin to finding treasure.

Start strong with a compelling opening in the first five pages. Industry insiders can tell within the first five pages whether a script is going to be a good ride or a long dull haul. Engage them quickly and continue to do so with consistency every few pages. Keep things moving forward, keep them guessing, and surprise them. This is what script readers need the most.

Make Them Invested

Being engaged is one thing, but being invested is another. Being engaged means that the script keeps the reader interested as the concept, story, and characters progress. Being invested means that the reader needs to know what will happen next and how everything will end. They need to feel emotionally invested, just like they would in a theater watching the movie.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key. Producers and directors want the promised concept to be consistent throughout the script. They want the format and structure to be consistent. Above all, they want to be consistently engaged and invested throughout the script. You need to knock their socks off from beginning to end to be worthy of a recommendation.

Craft Great Characters

Producers and directors think about the big picture, which includes casting. They need and want characters that movie stars will want to play. Therefore, create characters with depth, levels, charisma, and other appealing traits. These elements not only entertain but also make it easier for viewers to envision the story unfolding in their minds as a movie.

These are the best scripts—page-turners where you don’t feel like you're reading literature. Instead, you feel like you're seeing a movie unfold before your eyes. This is where the magic happens.