How to actually sit down and read someone’s script…

It’s quite hard to do sometimes, right? You’d rather fashion yourself a smart-casual jacket out of your script pile than actually read one of them?

Despite being obsessed with the things, some days even I find myself struggling to muster the motivation to actually sit down and open a new script. Especially if, for instance, it’s a densely-packed political drama or a fantasy storyworld that’s been rendered in great detail on the page. Something that’s going to make my brain hurt a bit, at first!

There’s a logical reason for the procrastination. Scripts aren’t written to be read. Scripts are written as a blueprint for the teams of people who are going to bring its story to life. Unless you’re dealing with an extraordinarily talented screenwriter who can somehow grip you from the first ‘INT./EXT.’ it’s perfectly natural to find yourself struggling to get into the flow within the first few pages.

If you’re quite new to the scripted TV/film space, it’s a good idea to set up habits to help you get past the initial delay tactics, to deeply read and understand other people’s scripts.

If you’ve read Atomic Habits (we all have, right?!), you’ll be familiar with the term ‘environmental cues’. Here’s some that I use on those days when I’m finding it a little difficult to get into reading mode:

  1. GO OLD SCHOOL. Print out a (double-sided, recyclable) hard copy, put it in a binder, and grab a pen to make notes with.

    (I actually do this with every script I read, regardless.)

  2. HAVE A READING NOOK. Step away from the distractions of your office and sit where you can get into the right headspace.

    (I have a little chair on the front porch in summer, and a doona/armchair situation in winter!)

  3. SENSORY RITUALS THAT TRICK YOUR BRAIN INTO FOCUSING. Little things that signal to your brain that ‘it’s script reading time’.

    • An essential oil blend, such as one that promotes focus, that you only use for this specific purpose.

    • A specific type of music. Brown noise is good, too.

    • A luxe pen you only use for making script notes.

    • A particular tea that you keep aside for reading sessions.

      (Some days I don’t need any of these things. Some days I need ‘em all!)

Happy reading! Hey, it could be worse. You could be avoiding doing your tax return instead!*

*A joke for the Black Books fans.

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Script feedback, and letting go of what other people think…