There comes a time on every film where something happens, and the need arises for the script to be rewritten.
It can be small.
It can be big.
But it will happen.
If the screenwriter is off to another project, which usually happens, the finger will be pointed at you.
Yes, you.
If you want to be a director, you need to be able to rewrite the material you are going to direct.
That’s why this week is all about rewrites:
- Why you need to be able to rewrite, even if you’re not a writer
- How to use rewrites to enhance your vision of the story
- Three steps for improving your writing, so you’re ready when the time for a rewrite comes
Snuggle up, get cozy and let’s talk rewriting.
You are a director, you need to be able to write
In an ideal world we’d have our writers along throughout the whole production to help handle any script changes. In reality that rarely happens. The screenwriters are done by the time the film goes into pre-production.
That doesn’t mean the script is unchangeable.
There are a thousand and one things that can happen once a script meets the reality of production. A few examples:
- Locations differ from what was written
- Character choices change aspects of how a character was written
- Actor availability forces you to change things around
All of these open up new challenges and possibilities, that may require a rewrite of the script. When you as the director don’t feel confident taking on that responsibility, you miss out on a crucial tool for making the film better.
To build that confidence, start with an open line of communication with your screenwriter. Most of them care deeply about their stories, and they want to put you in the best position to direct a version of their script that is true to their intent.
When you’re taking over the responsibility of getting the script ready for production, it’s not to fix a writer’s mistakes, or because you think you’re a better writer. The skill of rewriting is making necessary changes, while keeping the spirit of the original script.
When we direct a film, we have to become the world’s leading expert on the story we’re telling. Make it part of your process to understand the material as deeply as you can. When you’re an expert on your story, you have the skills and the knowledge to pull off those necessary rewrites.
You don’t need to be a bona fide screenwriter. But building the confidence and skills to rewrite a script is an essential directing tool.
Enhance your vision
Last week you and I talked about rehearsals. One of the main benefits of rehearsals is you’re able to discover new things about your story. Your actors bring a different point of view to their characters, which makes new ideas pop up. This always happens when your material is presented to and interpreted by someone new.
It’s a natural part of the development of your film to want to include some of these new ideas.
It becomes the director’s job to make those changes to the script, so everyone else has a script that reflects what you’re actually making. If you’re not able to translate those experiences into words on the page, you risk losing valuable ideas and perspectives.
Another aspect of directing that comes into play with these rewrites is your vision. You’re chosen to direct a film because of everything you bring to it. Just like your cast and other collaborators bring their own ideas to the film, you will have ideas for how to bring the film to life. Some of those ideas might alter the script.
Directors are the guardians of the story’s soul. We protect and nourish the heart of the story, and sometimes that means changing the practical circumstances (plot) to help the story. We work to tell the best version of the film with the resources available to us.
Curiosity and an openness to discover new things is key to pulling off the vision we have for our films. Throughout our pre-production we’re bombarded with opportunities to make changes. The best directors knows which changes can help their film, and which are distractions. I find that writing, and testing things on the page, before anyone else sees it, helps me figure out what’s a good idea and what’s not.
How to build the confidence to tackle rewrites
If you’re a director who comes from a non-writing field, and feel insecure about taking on the task of rewriting, I want to give you a couple of tips and tools to help you along the way.
Here are three things you can do if you’re a director who doesn’t write and you want to build the skill of rewriting.
- Read scripts. Reading scripts is invaluable as a filmmaker. Scripts are weird. Their formatting is unlike anything else out there. Getting used to reading scripts helps a lot if you feel uncomfortable writing in this style. Find the script for your favorite movies and see what the words on the page looked like before they became images on the screen.
- Copy scripts by hand. No, this is not some kind of punishment for bad behavior. Copying by hand is a great exercise for learning how something is written. Take that script from step 1, pick a scene and write it out by hand on a piece of paper. Pay attention to the wording, the formatting, the way it’s structured. This might seem mundane, but the act of physically writing accelerates your learning dramatically.
- Write something. Even if you don’t want to write your own movies, I highly suggest you try to write something. Getting comfortable with the screenwriting format is such a valuable skill to a director. And even if you don’t intend to show it to anyone or direct it, it’s still the most direct way of learning the skill of rewriting.
If you’re a writer/director, you know how valuable it is to be able to tweak a scene the night before the shoot or write alternative lines on the spot to feed to the actors.
A script is never done, it just gets shot, and you’re always going to want the opportunity to make changes when you need to.
And cut!
That does it for this week. Here are the key takeaways I want you to bring with you into your directing career from today:
- Rewriting is an essential tool for directors which helps you:
- Handle real life changes that impact your story
- Include new ideas that pop up after the screenwriter is done on the project
- Shape the story to your vision
- You can become a better writer by:
- Reading scripts
- Copying scripts by hand
- Writing your own scripts
- Don’t let the fear of writing stop your curiosity
As always, thanks for reading.
