Freeman M.

How many screenplays have you read for BlueCat?

42.

What is your job when providing feedback to a writer?

My job is to provide both encouragement and constructive criticism. It’s important to let the writers know what they’re doing well in addition to what they may need to work on.

What is your attitude toward a screenplay before you start reading?

You hope that it hooks you in the first page and never lets up. This doesn’t necessarily have to involve action. Sharp dialogue and well-written prose descriptions are just as effective.

How do you stay focused when reading a script you don’t find interesting?

More often than not, the writers have put a lot of time and effort into constructing their stories. For many of them, it’s taken months, if not longer. You owe it to the writers to put in a couple of hours.

What are three common problems that keep coming up when reading for BlueCat?

(1) Novelistic Tendencies. You come across a lot of screenplays that incorporate prose descriptions better suited for books instead of screenplays. Many writers would improve their scripts if they remembered to show, not tell.
 
(2) Grammar/Punctuation. Even professional scripts miss a few periods and commas here and there. Proofreading will eliminate a lot of these errors. An even better solution is to proofread once or twice several weeks (if not months) after the script is completed.
 
(3) The Parenthetical. Many use this tool too often, or they use it incorrectly.
 
How do you handle being critical without being mean?

Everyone’s bad at something the first time they try it, and for many of these writers, they’ve never constructed a screenplay before. Additionally, it takes courage to submit something, knowing you face the possibility that someone will hate what you consider to be your best work. There’s no point in being rude with your analysis. My approach is to make suggestions so they can improve on their mistakes without feeling like they should give up.   

How do you avoid unwarranted praise?

If the writer has truly done something praiseworthy, then they deserve to be commended for it. In these instances, I point to specific examples. Not only does it show that my acclaim was warranted, it also helps the writer. Now they have a better idea of what they do well and what deserves more of their attention.

Do you have any pet peeves?

You hate to read scripts that put women and minorities in stereotypical roles. Even if you like the screenplay overall, this is something that keeps you from loving it.
 
What is at the heart of a successful screenplay?

It’s a combination of three things: a good story, memorable characters and great descriptions. Truthfully, a script doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel. It can be a story we’ve seen before. It’s how it’s told that makes the difference.
 
What do you believe is the hardest part of the job of the screenwriter?

Writing the script. Think about it. How many people do you know who are working on their script or novel? Compare that to the number of people you know who have actually finished. Writing can be tough. Between work, frustration, self-doubt and, maybe worst of all, procrastination, you can put off something you’ve been meaning to complete for years. The first step is to come up with an idea you think will work and write it. Work on polishing it later.

What advice would you like to offer a screenwriter before they enter BlueCat?

Make an outline and/or write a treatment. Giving yourself a blueprint ahead of time can help boost your confidence and point you in the right direction of where you want to go. Many times, you can find holes in your story here and fix them before even starting on your script.
 
Read professional scripts. There are many online sites that have screenplays that were actually made into major motion pictures. Look to these as references, particularly those movies that influence your script.
 
If possible, read bad scripts, too. As awful as this sounds, seeing how not to write a screenplay can energize you. This should be done with the aforementioned, however. Reading a bad script alone will have a negative effect.
 
Get an honest opinion from someone you trust. Preferably, this would not be a family member or a friend, unless they won’t hold back.