Screenwriting : How to Lose Readers Attention Immediately - Bad Openers by Tammy Hunt

You're absolutely right.

My script lacks such skills, even though it is a great story.

Can you follow these techniques to edit my script?

Thank you.

I also recommend writers start with present scenes rather than Flashbacks and Flash Forwards, @Tammy Hunt. I realized a little while back that I was putting Flashbacks and Flash Forwards at the start of a lot of scripts. One reason I was using Flashbacks and Flash Forwards was I couldn't think of strong enough openings. It's better to do the work coming up with a strong opening instead of using a Flashback or Flash Forward to bail yourself out.

Love this. Much prefer the idea of moving the story forward at the onset. Thanks Tammy Hunt !

Good, but won't it be more beneficial for newcomers to focus on what should be done on the fist page or so?

Then again, who really knows, yeah? :)

But my goal IS to lose readers attention immediately. It really puts a crimp in their day. I mean, come on? You can't put a price on "Why the hell did I bother reading this crap?!!!"

Phil Stubbs Brilliant assessment, Phil. I, too, WAIT... and allow stories to come to me. I work with the agreement that there is no rush and everything will eventually fall into place. I don't stress. I don't panic. Pride in one's work DOES take time.

Thank you for your advices, it’s really helpful for us!

Some of these methods can be fine for experienced writers. In a beginner’s hands, voice-over or “waking up” are usually tropey. You’re right, try to avoid cliche methods unless doing something fresh with the approach.

BUT, a prologue approach is fine. It can set up your character or world, especially if brief and to the point. Useful with horror to give a good sense of dread before laying out the story at a gradual pace.

A flash-forward is used a lot, but is really useful to tell the tone of the story to come. Then jump back to tell the audience how we got there. Useful with action or thrillers that might have a slow build-up otherwise.

I agree too many scripts don’t have an obvious protagonist. But an exception for not putting that person on page one would be when writing a prologue, especially in a horror screenplay.

Mike Boas a prologue it's the same as cold open?

I so agree with all your points! After reading about 100 screenplays when we opened a screenwriters' agency (which we had to close 2 years later), it's amazing how often these openings are use. Especially the one where the person gets up and goes about their business with nothing interesting happening.

I agree with post's points and also disagree. Many good and bad films do this; unfortunately, maybe 10% of career filmmakers & in-front camera talent have above average storytelling skills to make waking up look cinematic.

I swear 'Citizen Kane' employs several of these all at once in the first 5 minutes, LOL. But I agree with many of these.

Excellent post! I agree with all of it! Flashbacks can be done by a more experienced writer, but I wouldn't risk it for someone new to writing scripts.

Great post! Gimmicks and tropes are often used poorly but, if used correctly and with a solid purpose in the narrative, can work for you. The bombastic Cold Open followed by a dry cut to “three weeks earlier” is often used as a “here’s something exciting to keep you interested” before a lot of lacklustre exposition. Having said this, it can be used very well (to be used to create an expectation that the story will subvert with a different perspective of the same situation later on for instance). Talking to camera in Fleabag is another example where a trope is subverted for great impact, rather than to just deliver exposition. So if these things are used for a creative purpose that firmly serves the narrative they can work.

Sandra, to me a cold open is just dropping us into action with little explanation. Can be a prologue, flash forward, or something else.

Just watched "The Killer" directed by Fincher, written by Walker, and starring Fassbender. All 3 elite in their occupations.

Movie begins with the Killer waking up, voiceover, alone waiting, plays same song on repeat, single location.

With all due respect to OP, most of the posting is fear-mongering nonsense, and an attempt to bend writers to others' will.

There's no better example of why a writer's work is rated a 'Pass'. A reader with bias about certain elements (like some included in the 'Taboos List') automatically dislikes a script rather than maintaining neutrality by letting the story reveal itself to them.

As noted, any of those 'Taboos', used with a smidge of panache, are perfectly acceptable. Should the first ten kick ass? Certainly. Don't be shoehorned in the process. Never write to please a reader.

Thank you Mike Boas , understand better now :)

Dan MaxXx Great observations, Dan! You are spot on, but I have to admit, Damn! That sure made me laugh!!! : )

Some very good points Tammy Hunt, but I think it depends on the story...most 'rules' are not absolute.

A Reader’s attention span is close to zero so I just try to grab their attention and draw them into my story. If they decide to pass on the first few pages they aren’t doing their job someone is paying them to do.

Philo Kvetch I would know if my first few pages stink and they don't.

Dan G has it right - most readers aren't paying attention to start with, so it's not really possible to lose their attention.

Philo Kvetch I just like to do it my way and I can get my screenplays by Readers so I don't care what they do or think.

Thank you, Tammy Hunt. With respect to current studio trends, I understand the justification for these rules. But for every one there's a hugely successful film that broke them. Amélie, Pinnochio (del Toro), Signs, Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia... to name a few that continue to be watched and rewatched by new audiences.

Shouldn't the rules for screenwriting be the same as for any art form? That is...know the rules before you break them. Given that...if it works, you're doing it right. If every writer/filmmaker followed Tammy's rules religiously, we'd see nothing but formulaic, predictable films.

Philo Kvetch Because I said “I just like to do it my way and I can get my screenplays by Readers” why would you think that is funny? I’m just saying what I like to do. I am not suggesting you or anyone else here do things my way.

Wendy Gordon yes, to a certain extent. My favorite example of this in film making is Charlie Kaufman's Oscar wining film Adaptation (where he literally tells us the rules via V.O. and then immediately breaks them), however; you'll need to justify the why. At the end of the day good story telling is good storytelling, but one thing we all need to understand is this is the way many readers/gatekeepers are trained to read and promote scripts. So, it all depends on who or what you're writing for. For instance contest. I've had readers send me personal notes that they like my script/story, but it didn't progress because it didn't fit in the "box" of what they're given in terms of scores. Another example is Lifetime, Hallmark, and even Pixar (Disney) as they follow a very specific style/template. This is why you often hear that the the key to success if finding the right "fit."

Yes, ,I agree, all Oscars won by films that did not introduce the lead character(s) on page 1 must be send to me!!! I mean immediately!! Because I just bought a new vintrine for them!! And don't diss my beloved Newsreporter, he has a nice moustache, loves his city, and is a great character that loves to bug the the Serial Twins. Oh, yes, and did I tell you, he killed the Pope in his pool?! (Little Blake Snyder joke)

Just write how you want to write. Structure, formats, "rules of thumb".. These are all restrictions on your creativity. There's a reason why 90% of new TV and movies are just recycled crap.

Philo Kvetch I am done trying to communicate with you so goodbye and good luck with your career whatever it is.

Hey guys...could we keep the communication at a more professional and supportive level? I am new to this forum and I'm hoping it will be at a higher level than most social media. In regard to my previous comments: I just attended the Austin Film Festival and while some of the conference panelists also had their unbendable "rules" (often contradicting another) , all the writers/directors who actually had films in the festival had not necessarily followed those rules and stressed above all writing from the heart. The key is to write well from the heart so that readers and ultimately filmgoers will get what you are saying. For myself, I like believable worlds, rich characters, and thought provoking ideas, and in my revisions I'm trying to achieve that in as concise a way as possible...because we don't live in a world with a lot of patience.

Wendy is right, @Philo Kvetch. Let's keep it professional and not pester anyone. Thank you, Wendy.

Wendy Gordon Don’t include me in that. I have been a member here since 2015 and have been nothing but professional and supportive the entire time. I have been a professional screenwriter and all I did was ask the person who kept laughing at my comments why he was laughing. That person wouldn’t answer my question so I stopped communicating with that individual.

I'm a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator, @Philo Kvetch. Don’t bother/pester people. If you continue doing so, Stage 32 will remove you from the platform. This is your only warning. I also deleted your comments from this post.

Sure, sure, Boss. I be behavin' from now on.

Instead, maybe I'll make a video about why I love Stage 32.