What is a SCRIPT BANK?
A script bank contains the scripts you have at your ready to send out to an agent, producer, showrunner, or even a contest.
What do I keep in my script bank?
Your very best work. Scripts that you’ve written and rewritten and reworked. Scripts that shine. Scripts that show off your unique style and voice. We all have screenplays that we’ve never completed or scripts that just aren’t as good as the rest and have never impressed anybody. We have scripts that we’ve completed and are very excited about but haven’t had time to do rewrites yet. You don’t put these in your script bank.
Not every screenplay that you write is worthy of being in your script bank. You should know which script is your number one script, number two, etc. What is your very best, and so on down the line. Why? Because you always lead off with your best. If they pass on that script but want to read more of you, – “What else you got, kid?”- you hit them with number two. If you start off with number three, they may not want to read anything else.
People ask me; is it okay to have a romantic comedy, a horror script, a drama and a thriller? Should I have a screenplay in every genre so that I’m ready for anything that may open up? According to my experience; you want to be known as that comedy guy that writes very funny scripts. Or that horror writer that scares the pants off of the reader. The more you chip away from that same block of ice, the bigger dent you’ll make. If you chip at one block of ice here and then another one over there, you won’t leave much of a mark in the mind of a producer.
If a producer has a certain project that comes up they’ll be thinking, let’s get that horror guy, not that guy who can write okay in every genre. Leave a definitive mark in the mind of the production company or agent that reads you.
What if a horror writer wants to write a romantic comedy, something out of the writer’s normal field? Is that okay? I think it is if that writer is passionate about that romantic comedy and already has a bunch of horror scripts in the bank. A producer who may know you as a good horror writer but reads and likes your romantic comedy, may want you for a project like a SHAWN OF THE DEAD – a horror/comedy film. You can bridge the genres.
Some writers may be able to nail every genre. Some successful writers aren’t pigeon-holed in one genre. The advice I’m giving here is for that writer that is trying to break in, trying to sell that first script and make a name for him/herself.
TV WRITERS –
How does all this apply if I’m a TV writer trying to break-in or a produced writer trying to get on a new show?
In the half hour world, showrunners have changed what they want to read. Now they want to read original pilots and hear your unique voice and see if you can tell a good story. You should have at least two pilots in your script bank, preferably a single camera show and a multi-camera show. In this world you should be ready for anything. (Most pilots written by aspiring writers should be viewed as “sample writing”, not pilots that will be produced.)
You also need some spec scripts in your bank too. There was a time when there were a lot of half hour shows to spec, now there’s only a couple. Find the comedies that producers and agents are willing to read, ones that have not been spec-ed to death. Write a single camera and a multi-camera spec as well. That makes a minimum of four great, funny, unique story driven scripts in your one-half hour TV script bank.
Also you can include a spec or pilot script for cable TV; one where you can have your characters say or do anything you want with no censoring at all. But you want to be careful that you don’t send your THE SHIELD-like script to the showrunners of HANNAH MONTANA or ABC execs.
In the one hour world, there are several genres to think about; procedurals, dramadies, dramas, and the new breed of procedural with more characterization like BONES or THE MENTALIST. Can you write all genres strong? Probably not. Have at least two spec scripts and two pilots in the arena of what you really like to write and where your strengths lie.
Get the feel of your strengths; are you better at plotting (LAW AND ORDER) or is characterization more your thing (BROTHERS AND SISTERS)? Write to your strengths, as a weak script will cut you off a person’s list and it’s almost impossible to get back on that list. There are few second chances in writing.
That’s what I see a SCRIPT BANK is all about.
Good luck making many script deposits and I hope all your withdrawals become profitable.
What do you think? Any questions about this blog? Any questions for future blogs? Feel free to leave comments here or email me at: Stephen@ReWriteDr.com
Next week: THE STATE OF SCRIPTS TODAY
Posted by rewritedr 
