How many times do you need to rewrite a script before you think it is ready??
Screenwriting : How many times do you need to… by Audrey Labarthe
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As many as I need to.
For me personally I do an initial draft of the script and then I send it to a couple of people who will give me an objective opinion (usually mentors)-the first draft is never good. Usually those couple of people will send it back with extensive notes-which I then use to form my second draft (not to say that I use all of the notes, but I do read them all & take them into consideration). After the second draft I do a table read with some actors from the local university (ones who need it for course credit if I don't have any money to spend). I listen mostly to the dialogue and how it's spoken and I get their opinions on the characters (does that feel like something the character would do/say? etc.) After the table read I write the third draft, which is usually where I've worked out all the kinks. If I'm still not happy I send it off to a script consultant, after which I will write a fourth draft...usually that will be the final draft. (It will depend on whether or not you've been hired to write it though...if you have the producer or director might want a say and so you may end up writing more drafts until they have what they want for a shooting script)
Depends. Sometimes, I rewrite a scene 20 times. Sometimes, I don't rewrite anything. Sometimes, I just change a word here and there. I keep re-reading until I like the flow and the emotions and the scenes seem sharp. I go by gut.
You'll know when it's ready. But don't be surprised if it reaches a loooooooooooooooot of drafts. I know Little Miss Sunshine had a 100 drafts before it was "ready".
It is not a question about me but more a general topic. We probably all have different patterns. It is interesting to see all of your comments here. We all do share some aspects of the process but also some differencies. Personnally my characters live the story in my head for a while before even starting the first draft. Then I write a resume of the story and some more episodes in case of my last work. Then I go back living the story in my mind as I write, rewrite, rerewrite... as long as I don't have a clear picture of where it goes. As a result I usually do rewrite really a lot.
42.