Screenwriting : Important Screenplays to Read? by Samuel T Castellino

Night crawler, Dark night.

Momemto, Sideways & LA Confidential.

Thank you!

Shawshank Redemption.

Hi Samuel,

First, welcome to Stage32. It's a great website to learn; to interact; and to meet like-minded creatives.

You are quite an impressive young person. Your loglines look very interesting, and I'm glad you're a big Quentin Tarantino fan. I think he is probably the most influential screenwriter/filmmaker in the last 25 years.

Personally, since time is limited, if I were writing scripts in one specific genre or sub-genre, I would stick to reading scripts in that area. I would only read modern scripts because of time issues, and to see how newer things like texts/chat boxes/computer screens/etc. are formatted in a script. There are so many great scripts out there to choose. I'd imagine you're pressed for time, too, so you might want to hit your top 20 favorite films or so.

You might already have these links, but here is a link to the Tarantino screenplays from Indie Film Hustle, and another link to Script Reader Pro's "Essential Screenplays in Every Genre." Indie Wire also is an outstanding source for screenplays. And JoJo Rabbit is on the third link of recent films, as are a bunch of other great films released recently..

https://indiefilmhustle.com/quentin-tarantino-screenplays-download/

https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/best-screenplays-to-read/

https://indiefilmhustle.com/free-screenplays-download/

Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, Samuel!

Momento I forgot that one.

Also get hold of “Hell or High Water”. There is a great line in there which is completely unfilmable but explains the way the character is. Something like “His mother was like a dog that had been kicked before each meal. She was used to it and thought it was normal. It was wrong. He hated her for not know the difference”.

It tells you how to read that character. It tells you how the actor is going to be portraying the character. It is a good script to read. It also won and academy award for best screenplay.

Craig:

Taylor Sheridan is an awesome writer. Hell or Hogh Water and Wind River are both exceptional scripts and made great films.

I don't know what it is, but I can read Dallas Buyers Club again and again and still cry.

https://indiegroundfilms.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/sicario-by-taylor-s...

I have to agree with Phil and Craig. Sheridan work is exceptionally good. He can capture a characters mindset in barely any words. In Sicario he writes simply " she doesn't but she will " he writes this early on in the screenplay and it tells you everything you will ever need to know about Macy. That's good writing, he never has to say anything else about who she is or what drives her. She will do what she must, what's expected of her no matter how uncomfortable it makes her.

Just to offer a variety of different writers and types of work that are not mentioned as often in the forums: Gillian Flynn: Gone Girl. Jane Goldman: The Limehouse Golem. Nichole Perlman: Guardians of the Galaxy. Emma Thompson: Sense and Sensibility. Melissa Rosenberg: Twilight—yeah, I know, but the script is truly well written, worthy of study. Jordan Peele: Get Out. Han Jin Won and Bong Joon Ho: Parasite. Jeff Nichols: Mud, Loving, Take Shelter. Michael Arndt: Little Miss Sunshine. Mike Flanagan: Gerald's Game, The Haunting of Hill House (series), Doctor Sleep. John Logan: Penny Dreadful (series), Sweeney Todd, Rango, Hugo, The Gladiator—there is so much from Logan, just read whatever you can find! Misha Green and Joe Pokaski: Underground (series). Some scripts from these writers/directors/creators and productions may not be publicly available nor translated, but hopefully they will be at some point. Connections can often help get your hands on copies and on the most-liked, un-produced screenplays currently circulating the industry, which is truly valuable and informative. Gotta read what's current too. ;)

Whatever movies inspire you to be a screenwriter, go search for those screenplays.

Besides that, I'd get a job/learn another skill that's movie business related and pays steady. That is the endgame - making movies for a living.

Yeah, really, like Dan M points out, it depends on your interests and goals, of course. My two cents, try not to be too myopic and learn about making movies as a whole, not just the writing. ;) Best to you!

Thank you everyone! This is all extremely helpful information, I didn't expect such a huge reaction, haha.

In addition to reading scripts, read books on the craft: Screenwriting Tribe, Screenwriter's Bible, Save the Cat, Syd Field.