Craft Notes

Charles Deemer, novelist, poet and professor of screenwriting at Portland State, has a couple of nice pieces in the inaugural/revived issue of Creative Screenwriting online.

Here he discusses the role of the "harried reader" in a film production company, the one likely to be the first person to read your submission.

That person is too busy to mess around with your verbosity, says Deemer.  The reader is looking for a solid story, not complex or wordy writing.

He is looking for a "blueprint" with a good story embedded.

In the second article, Deemer analyzes how Harold Pinter wrote for the big screen, making several cogent points budding screenwriters can take from Pinter's style.

Deemer's concern as a screenwriting instructor is with the "spec" screenplay, how you must please the gods to get through the front door of a busy production company. Of course, as with anything else, if you have the money and another notion nothing is stopping you from doing it your way.


TS