Any of you read screenplays? Is so, why? Enjoyment? Education? Required for school? Genre preference?

I have a finished, copyrighted screenplay, and am looking for readers. Looking for constructive criticism.

If interested let me know. Thanks!

BD

I used to read screenplays for an agent. It's a horrible job that I would never do again. Everyone thinks they can write a screenplay, but maybe only one in a thousand is actually decent enough to be read. Not made, just read. Imagine having to read nothing but pure crap all the time. I was so happy to read books again for pleasure after I quit.

I can probably understand your frustration. I'm not sure if you're familiar with TriggerStreet.com. Is the website of Kevin Spacey's production company. It's aimed at helping aspiring young writers.

Anyway, they require you to read two screenplays before being able to upload your own on to the website for others to read. I got 10 pages into someone's screenplay and quit reading. I couldn't tell you jack about the story, the characters or anything. The person's grammar was so terrible, I couldn't continue reading it. This person had no concept of spelling, punctuation, verb tense or anything.

I've read quite a few books, and taken courses on screenwriting.

I have to admit, my first one is pretty basic, and linear. Straight forward action/comedy. Just to get it out of my system. I wrote it one week. What's that tell you? The one I'm currently writing is a lot different.

I had to read several as part of the Project Greenlight process. There were a few decent ones... they needed a little work, but had interesting concepts and were entertaining. But there was one... it's the most laughable thing I've ever read. While reading it, I could picture the movie, and THEN picture the Mystery Science Theater crew mocking said movie. It's that bad... I did enjoy giving my two cents to the ones that were on the cusp, not that I'm that great myself. Some of them still sit in my head as if I actually saw those movies.

No thank you, I rather be on the outside looking in, ie, reading an actual book, written someone who knew what they were going to write when the ink hit the paper.

Yes, I often read screenplays, and write too. But most of my projects don't work out, as I don't feel 100 percent satisfied with the story.

I'd love to read it, really, I would. Please let me!

Parcher - I'd be glad to let you read it. btw, I dig your quote from Ravenous

DRG - mind if I send it to you and let you check it out? It's about 96 pages.

Sure, you can send it to [email protected]
as long as the file is under a meg... I need to do some de-spamming if the file is larger.

Drg - It's way under a meg. Not even close. I'll send it in Rich Text Format. Thanks again.

BD

yeah, i read and write as well. I have read a whole lot of screen plays, so feel free to send [email protected]

MrGoat00 - I will send it first thing this evening, when I get home!

Thanks.

BD

I mostly only read the screenplays that are officially published, or are posted on the internet. I love doing a comparison between script and screen with a movie.

I read screenplays for education, because I think it would be embarrasing to send in a crappy screenplay. I have written three so far, two of them are about 150 pages each but they are still in the rough draft state and will probably not be done within a year or so. Oh well, life goes on. I do enjoy reading a good script and then try to visualize what I could do with each scene.

If anyone's interested, I have a screenplay that I wouldn't mind having someone read and criticize. I've already sold my first(woohoo) and this is the follow-up.

D

Send it to me, I've never read a screenplay and am interested in what one looks like. Plus I can offer constructive criticism.

What genre is it?

Derrich please send it to me: I myself am trying to write screenplays.

When I didn't have car I used to go to Barnes and Noble and read while waiting for my ride. For some reason they had a lot of screenplays. I read Miller's Crossing and Barton Fink by the Coens. I enjoyed both. I would not seek out screenplays as reading material again unless it was a movie I really liked.

http://www.script-o-rama.com/table.shtml

I just read screenplays for education. Quite frankly, screenplays are not the best forms of writing out there. They aren't really written to be read, so they don't often times flow that way. And yes, a screenplay can be a good read, but I either prefer to watch the movie or read a book. Though I do read screenplays for my own education as I do write them also.

If you are interested in film as an art form, and writing, it is useful to read screenplays, both good and bad. I just had to read one for a friend and...it will be hard to give my honest opinion of his. Screenwriting is a skill and an art, and those who can do it well are few.

As enjoyment. I own screenplays for "Blue Velvet" and a very early draft of "Alien 3"

I watch a lot of films late at night with the volume down, so I have to use subtitles a lot. Does that count?

what is the process that one goes through to sell a screenplay?