How to Write a Screenplay That Will Actually Get Read

If you want to write a screenplay that will actually get read, you must master several things beyond just how to write characters and craft compelling plots.

Yet there’s a second part that often gets left out or forgotten, even though it’s just as important.

You must also be able to tell us what’s really special and unique about your film.

You must not only tell us who the characters are, what the goals are and what the obstacle is and know how to write a screenplay, you also have to be able to think of other similar films and be 100% prepared to answer the following questions:

What is so special about this script? What is that makes it unique?

You have to be 100% prepared to answer those questions.

For example, if someone asked me “What’s so special and unique about “Meet the Parents” in terms of concept?” my answer would be “What’s so special is that it takes the character of Greg Focker and turns him from a boy into a man over the course of the comedy by having him rely on his weakest instincts, which is to lie, even though he’s facing the most formidable foe – a human lie detector played by Robert De Niro.

It’s taking that stressful event of “meeting the parents,” asking for their daughter’s hand in marriage, but approaching it with the most useless strategy – lying. Then lying some more and then some more after, yet never succeeding in pulling the wool over the eyes of the most vicious opponent imaginable in the ex-CIA agent.”

That’s what makes that particular comedy so special and unique. It takes this really romantic moment in human experience and turns it into something corrupt and suspicious. As you think about your movie, you have to have a clear picture of what makes your concept stand out.

Example – “Taken”

The thing that is so special and unique about “Taken,” and so perfectly portrayed by Liam Neeson, is that while we’ve seen plenty of bodyguard films and movies about CIA operatives and the good guys taking people down, we’ve never seen an action movie with this particular perspective.

In this film we’re seeing things from a retired CIA Agent’s point of view and it’s something that everybody that has a family can identify with which is: “I’ll do anything to prevent my child or loved one from getting into trouble and facing any kind of harm whatsoever. I’ll sacrifice anything.”

There’s an element of fantasy fulfillment, too. What if I had all of the armory and knowledge and the expertise at my fingertips that Liam Neeson’s  character does in “Taken,” to execute every parent’s fantasy by crushing any bad guys who are bringing harm or disaster to their child’s doorstep.

It’s a kidnapping movie where the kidnappers better beware, because they kidnapped the wrong child. It’s a typical heist film, but one with a terrific twist to it.

Example – “Paranormal Activity”

What’s really special and unique about “Paranormal Activity” is it goes to the core of what makes horror films stand out as a genre. Every horror film deals with the fear of some sort of monster, right?

In “Paranormal Activity,” we’re led to believe we’re getting an opportunity to watch security camera footage of an event that actually occurred.

The demonic presence in “ParanormalActivity” is so disturbing because all of us have seen nanny cams. All of us have experienced security camera footage. So to see a demon entering a home in the middle of the night on this footage that appears to be real and was marketed as such, deeply speaks to our most primal fears.

That demon, which was so inexpensively executed for that film, was just as terrifying to the audience as any $150 million or $250 million CGI generated monster that Lucasfilm can create.

Example – Finding Nemo

“Finding Nemo” is special and unique because we’ve never seen a family adventure story taking place completely under the sea, from the perspective of an undersea creature. There are hundreds of children’s shows and animated features which anthropomorphize wonderful little animals, most typically mammals, such as “Bambi”, “The Lion King” or “Kung Fu Panda.”

Most humans can easily relate to other mammals, such as in “The Jungle Book.” What had not been done was to anthropomorphize sea creatures in the beautiful and remarkable way that Nemo did.

Remember as you learn to write a screenplay, you’ll also need to learn how to market your idea and get people interested enough that they will actually read your script.