If you want to write screenplays,
you need to read screenplays.
LOTS OF THEM.
During the early stages of your development as a screenwriter, I believe you should be reading as much as you write. Read stories similar to the ones you want to write and see how other, successful writers have solved screenwriting problems similar to the ones you want to tackle.
Reading screenplays allows you and your brain to see proper formatting in action. It’s also vital for aspiring screenwriters to see the difference between how scenes play out on the page and how they play out on the screen. Finally, while proper screenwriting adheres to a very rigid format, it’s extremely useful to see how various writers work within those rules and even use them to their advantage. Even if you know exactly what you’re seeing, your brain is actively learning andyour subconscious is absorbing extremely useful information with every script you read.
After reading screenplay after screenplay, you’ll start to get a sense of how to write your own. To help, here is a list of websitesthat allow you to download professional movie scripts. Start clicking and start reading today.
IMSDB – INTERNET MOVIE SCREENPLAY DATABASE
IMDB has proven a valuable resource for researching movie crews, casts, and trivia. IMSDB is just as useful for those looking for screenplays of all kinds and genres.
GO INTO THE STORY
Go Into the Story is the official blog for The Blacklist, the screenwriting community famous for its annual top ten list of unproduced scripts. One useful feature of Go Into the Story is its bank of downloadable movie scripts.
DREW’S SCRIPT-O-RAMA
The titular Drew has been sharing scripts with curious readers and writers for almost two decades now and has a vast library from which to choose from. A great benefit of Script-O-Rama is that it holds several drafts of certain movies, an invaluable resource for those who want to see how a Hollywood film evolves in the writing process.
SIMPLY SCRIPTS
Simply Scripts has a wide, diverse library that also includes plays and non-English screenplays. It’s also constantly updated, providing scripts to current movies such as Interstellar and Foxcatcher.
AWESOMEFILM
AwesomeFilm is another resource with dozens of scripts you can download with a single click, alphabetized for easy searching. If you’re looking for a screenplay to read, this site is, well, awesome.
SCREENPLAYS FOR YOU
Screenplays For You is a clean, smooth website with hundreds of scripts. You’re more than likely to find something from the genre you need—its library boasts everything from low-key award-winning dramas likeSidewaysto action blockbusters likeAvatar.
THE DAILY SCRIPT
The Daily Script offers a ton of screenplays in a very simple, easy-to-navigate layout. It keeps things homey for the typical screenwriter, even using Courier New as its primary font.
THE SCREENPLAY DATABASE
The Screenplay Database is another useful resource with a large choice of scripts to choose from. If you’re interested in a certain type of film, the website also allows you to search its library by genre, to better allow you to window shop and find something you didn’t even know you were looking for.
THE SCRIPT LAB
The Script Lab comes in handy if you’re looking for more recent screenplays. Its front page divides its library into the three most recent years of releases, so if there’s something from 2014 you’d like, for instance,BirdmanorBoyhood, this is the website for you.
MOVIE SCRIPTS AND SCREENPLAYS
You’ve got to love the straightforward title. Movie Scripts and Screenplays gives you exactly what it says, with a long list of manuscripts that you can also directly find with its search function.
SCRIBD
Scribd is a free-for-all document hosting site. Under the screenplay category, however, skipping past the amateur material, there are some true hidden gems. Not only are there movie scripts, but pitch documents, treatments, and other writing-related materials.
SCRIPTSLUG
Scriptslug features a wide selection of both film and television scripts are available for download including a special link each year for the Oscar-nominated titles.
TV WRITING
This is particularly interesting to fans of television and serialized storytelling, but this massive trove of TV scripts (both American and British) is something that everyone should explore. You can find unaired pilot scripts, and series bibles here as well!
WEEKEND READ APP
If you’re looking for a more engaging, modern way of accessing a movie script, perhaps the Weekend Read App is your best option. The app was created by screenwriter John August and is highly regarded in the industry.
RAINDANCE
The Raindance Film Festival has a pretty impressive collection of screenplays, TV pilot teleplays, series bibles, and other goodies that should be of interest to any screenwriter.
SCRIPT SAVANT
This site has scripts divided into two categories: FREE MOVIE SCREENPLAYS and FREE TV SCREENPLAYS. Look for the links at the top right side of the home page.
BLUE CAT SCRIPT LIBRARY
Blue Cat is most famous for hosting screenplay competitions, but they do have a substantial screenplay library as well.
”Reading scripts is an essential part of the development of the writer. Here’s BlueCat’s library of scripts available for you. Enjoy!”
BBC WRITER’S ROOM
The BBC is one of the premier destinations for great TV drama and comedy. Its Writers Room site is full of valuable, practical advice, opportunities and even a window in which they accept unsolicited material. It is, in itself, a shorthand for new and exciting writing.
Itsscreenplayssection isn’t half bad either. There’s plenty of them available from across the British broadcaster’s history, with the ability to search by Drama, Comedy or Children’s scripts and also to sort by date. This spans across film andTV, as the BBC does itself.
The Writer Development section is split off into two sub-sections: Drama Room and Comedy Room. Within these two sub-sections there is a large amount of resources and articles intended to help you withscript developmentand making your way in the industry.
With the ‘Writer Development’ section, there are also live links to discussion groups, and aTVDrama Writers’ Programme.The site aims to provide resources for aspiring writers and those interested in the development process.
RECOMMENDED READING
To get you started, here are links to - and descriptions of - some of the most celebrated scripts in recent history. The scripts, and the descriptions are all taken from a post on wescreenplay.com called Screenplays That Script Readers Love. The link to each script is in the title. This section was originally posted HERE @ wescreenplay.com
Get Out(2017)
Written by Jordan Peele, this 2017 sensation was applauded for its originality and incredible writing. Whether you’re writing a psychological horror or just want to study the writing of a screenwriter who continues to churn out jaw-dropping scripts, this is a great place to start. Peele’s casual writing style isn’t something you’d be taught in universities or from a book, but it helps the readers get an intimate idea of the main character. The sooner the reader attaches to the main character, the better the outlook on your script.
The Grand Budapest Hotel(2014)
If you’re tired of the action-focused sensational box office hits, Wes Anderson’s script forThe Grand Budapest Hotelis just as artistic and meticulous as his directing. Heavy with description and narrative, this script can be a little rich for those not looking for an emotional odyssey. The script is character-focused and written with care such that both the film and the script are two different journeys, one for the audience and one for the reader. Even with his detailed descriptions, Wes Anderson was still able to keep it under 120 pages.
The Incredibles(2004)
It might seem weird to have a children’s animated film on this list, but you’d be surprised how well-written these stories are. FromInside OuttoCoco, these stories are given the most tailored and well thought out themes with timeless narratives and characters. This script by Brad Bird is a great read for beginners or those who want to brush up on formatting and pace.The Incrediblesis the universal example of three act structure and perfectly woven plots and themes. With a good balance of action and character development, this script is not only a pleasure to watch, but the best script to study first.
Raiders of the Lost Ark(1989)
Where are all the action films? No, we haven’t forgotten. However, Lawrence Kasdan’s script forRaiders of the Lost Arkisn’t just a great Indiana Jones action flick — it’s a great example of how to elegantly write exposition. There’s a lot to cover from history to decoding clues that the audience can easily get confused in. Kasdan uses visuals to guide us through most of the wordy exposition, but also employees Indy’s passion. It’s hard not to listen to someone when they’re gushing about something they’re excited about. Especially when the audience has already bonded with Indy in the beginning sequence and fallen in love with his charm, his excitement for history and love of anthropology infects the audience too.
Shaun of the Dead(2004)
Good comedy seems easy, but writing it is a delicate procedure. It’s all about balancing timing, context, and audience expectations. This can be difficult especially with a bigger, broader audience. Look no further for the best comedy script than a tag team of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. With Wright’s expertise on pacing and visual jokes paired with Pegg’s comedic storytellingShaun of the Dead, one of the Cornetto trilogy, is a fantastic example. Watching the film, you can feel the fast-paced movement that holds your attention and its mirrored in the script. Wright and Pegg know how to get the audience to let down their guard with well-crafted jokes and signature montages.
Saw(2004)
For writers working with a budget, a great example of a script that makes the most of what it has isSawwritten by Leigh Whannell and James Wan. Of course, this is a great script for those who are writing horror and suspense, but also for anyone trying to really internalize that common advice “less is more”. Whannel and Wan utilize everything from sound to smells to give the reader an immersive experience without doing much else than turning out the lights. By being clever and inventive, their writing stands out and draws the reader in. Even better, it lingers in their minds even after the read is over.
The Matrix(2001)
Introducing a whole new world and new concepts in a sci-fi film can be difficult. Audiences can easily be confused or bored and lose interest. When you think of the Wachowski’s masterpiece, you don’t think of exposition — you think of action and special effects. Before pitching the film to Warner Bros., the Wachowskis actually got two comic book artists to help storyboard their script. This added investment into their story, enhancing the script. It flows better and feels more refined with the action easier to visualize in the mind of the reader.
Sighthound Recommendations
Here are a few of my all-time personal favourites and why. For now, you’ll have to hunt them down using the above websites, but I’ll attempt to add direct links in future:
ALIEN(1979)
”REVISED FINAL JUNE, 1978 or the REVISED THRU OCT. 4, 1978” - Written by Walter Hill and David Giler
There are a number of early drafts available online including ones featuring the original title, “Star Beast” but make sure you read the drafts marked as above and featuring the work of WALTER HILL. I have never seen such a lean and beautiful looking script as this one. This is the most extremely minimal style I’ve ever come across and it’s exciting (for me anyway) to see and read. This turned me into a huge fan of Walter Hill’s writing style and I still reference it regularly. If you want a great example of what WHITESPACE can do, look no further.
Weird Quirk:
The writer does not use exclamation marks or question marks - ever. Including dialogue. A period at the end of every line is all you get, which makes for an interesting read and I believe it’s so the director and/or actors get to interpret the line and its delivery for themselves.
THE THING (1981)
SECOND DRAFT March 4, 1981 - Written by Bill Lancaster
Another great script written in a very lean and effective style. I enjoyed taking note of the differences between the script and the final film, noting that although several sequences in the script were never shot due to budgetary concerns, the film is actually better for it and Carpenter crafted something even better than what appears on paper. It’s clear the writer did not have a clear vision for the THING itself as the descriptions are not remarkable, but the film elevated the material with outrageous and nightmarish practical effects by Bob Bottin.
Weird Quirk:
Lancaster does the most incredible thing to create focus on important action and details: he uses the dialogue boxes to separate and again, underline critical action sequences. I’ve never seen this done before and don’t recommend it as I’m sure traditionalists would freak out, but … I LOVE IT!
