By Gordy Hoffman

 

I recently had a table reading of a new screenplay I have started. 

A table reading is a gathering of people that read a script out loud with the writer, followed by a discussion of the work by the readers and audience.  Ideally, this helps the writer see where they stand in the development of their screenplay.

A table reading can have a wide range of results. Some readings can be more helpful than others. Generally, they help me see things I cannot pick up on while I’m sitting on the desk, working on it by myself.  I identify blind spots in the story.

At this recent reading, most people thought a character did something that wasn’t believable. They didn’t understand why the character took this action. It was a significant event in the plot, so having most people not believe this part of the story was eye opening.

It indicated that I had a significant problem in my story! 

For me, I thought it was pretty clear why the character would do that. I actually was excited to have created it, and thought it was a surprising plot turn that I was quite proud of making up. 

I think I might have been patting myself on the back for being clever. In hindsight, this was probably of sign that I might be in trouble. 

In reality, I had created something that was incorrectly communicating my intention.

I had written something confusing.

Under these circumstances, I suspected it would not be a successful response to accuse them of being AI, as I could tell that they were human beings, as they had just eaten all the breakfast burritos I had bought them.

I could not claim they had not read it as I was there watching them read it and even some of the people there were reading it out loud——they were the actors.

So they definitely read it and they were definitely human.

What if they were not paying attention? You know, people can look like they are reading a screenplay if they hold it the right way in their lap and keep their eyes focused on the page, but they could be thinking about what they are going to eat for dinner or if they left the light on a home.

But when most of them say the same thing, I’m not sure how that is anything but a sincere response to the logic of my story.

What if I am not a table reading, watching human beings read my screenplay? What if I send it to a friend? A producer? A contest?

How am I guaranteed a human being carefully read it?

My goal when I am working on a screenplay is successful development of a script ready for production and audiences.

If I take any response to my script and disqualify the feedback, then what do I have?

No notes. And no notes gives me nothing to work on.

So even if a robot fell asleep skimming your work and says your dolphin trainer isn’t a sympathetic character, believe them.

Take the note. Ask yourself, can I make dolphin trainer more likable? Do I want to? How would I do that? Are all my characters likable? Why should they be? And so.

Every note under every circumstances has value and its value is delivered in how creative my response is to the note.

Ultimately, every step of the way helps me see what I can’t, if I’m willing to accept my work has room to grow.

And I don’t want to miss that.

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