11 Screenwriting Techniques to Hook a Reader on Page 1

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Dominic
How do you hook a reader on page one and keep them reading:
1. OPTIMISE YOUR PAGE DESIGN
2. UPGRADE YOUR FIRST LINE OF DIALOGUE
3. WRITE SOMETHING VISUAL THEY WANT TO SHOOT
4. DON’T WRITE AN INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL
5. MAKE EVERY WORD COUNT
6. INTRO YOUR HERO ASAP
7. DON’T WRITE SKIM
8. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
9. BUILD UP YOUR LINE-OF-CREDIT WITH THE READER
10. SHOW THEM SOMETHING THEY’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
11. GROUND YOUR LEAD CHARACTER
WHO IS SCRIPTFELLA?
I'm a seasoned WGA screenwriter & story consultant. I've been optioned or commissioned by over 30 US and UK studios and production companies including: Universal Studios, Working Title, Bold Films, Scott Free, BBC and ITV. Recent produced credits include the award-winning motion picture An Act of Defiance (2017) and the not-so-award winning Hard Target 2 (2016).
If you'd like me to help you tell YOUR STORY, shoot me an email on [e-mail] and let's get stuck in.

[@siskavard]

One thing that I don't understand about all of this is, why is it that there is so much emphasis on making screenplays so "AMAZING!" "UNIQUE!" "EXCITING!" and yet 90% of the movies being made now are anything BUT all of that?

[@TheGloriousUncertainty]

Because the money is in a TV series, it’s a much more attractive proposition for any investor. If you hook the audience then they will follow….

[@jayexcellence6898]

Mmm I wonder 🤔

[@marbellalive24live61]

Good one 💥

[@boydl]

those 3 words mean different things to different people i think the take away here is set up and pay off is everything

[@nerdock4747]

There's two different types of successful script formulas: Exciting, fresh and new and Predictable formula that's proven to make money Anyone entering the entertainment industry is likely to enter with the first, but choices that a lot of producers make, almost always use the second.

[@storytellingdeconstructed8206]

Yes, love #5. We talk about this a lot. The key to great dialogue is to make every line do as many jobs as possible. 1. Move the plot along 2. Develop character 3. Be funny or interesting 4. Do exposition on backstory or worldbuilding 5. Establish tone and voice It's impossible to have every line do all of these of course, but the more you can make each line do, the better. No line should just be accomplishing one thing.

[@mroctober3657]

Guess who's back. Back again. Scriptfellas back. Tell a friend.

[@viviensfilms3604]

Brilliant video. Every non professional writer needs to watch this clip to understand how important the first page is. You are a brilliant mentor, Dominic.

[@Scriptfella]

Vivien - what a lovely, shiny comment to wake up to on a very grey day in England. D

[@karellt2355]

Damn. Received permission to submit an action spec to an agent and came here. I sorta knew this info but it's good the way it was presented! 1st Page is crucial! Subscribed.

[@lanks4]

You provide immense value. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@Scriptfella]

Thank you Rashad, I'm very pleased you found the vid useful. D

[@tawdryhepburn4686]

Gotta admit… I have never heard that tidbit about the opening line of dialogue. Very obvious in retrospect, but somehow I have never heard it verbalized. Good shit!

[@Scriptfella]

Yeah me too, Tawdry - the moment Peter uttered that tip, I knew I needed to get it out there.

[@alangeorge1661]

I watched this video twice. This is probably the primary problem most scripts have, min,e included. Thanks for the inspirational insight

[@isaacruddell7940]

He's back he's back he's back and here to stay. For every hour of every minute of every day!!!

[@lucifitzpatrick7994]

It dropped early! 😄 Looking forward to watching this!

[@Scriptfella]

Cheers Luci

[@isabeldrean]

Wow! This is gold! Peter Lydon knows his stuff. This one should be watched a few times over. Thank you both for this.

[@bazmurphy7792]

Welcome back sir. Really enjoy your content on here. It always gives me inspiration to sit back down and continue with my script.

[@Scriptfella]

Good to see you again Baz

[@bazmurphy7792]

@@Scriptfella I take it you have been busy getting your next project finished or rewriting it for the umpteenth time. You must look at your scripts and think, yes. I need to change this and take that out. How do you really know if you have a finished project that your happy with and pass it on to your management

[@Scriptfella]

@@bazmurphy7792 the short answer - when all the big picture problems have been addressed - and when the script reads like the wind, with zero fat or suboptimal prose or dialogue.

[@saradinga]

Love this video... so good! Thank you, Dominic, for always providing your viewers with the best of the best screenwriting advice. And thank you, Peter Lydon, for taking time out of your schedule to provide insight on what gets you/directors hooked when reading a script. Much appreciated!

[@geminijeff1]

I wish you uploaded with more consistancy cause your content is absolutely amazing and I find your videos so inspirational, helpful, and honest. I just wish there was more lol.

[@Scriptfella]

Thank you JM and I hear you on the cry for consistency.. I'm shooting an online course which I hope will give me enough petrol in the tank to make regular videos on a scale and frequency I've never done before.

[@geminijeff1]

@@Scriptfella sounds cool, I really enjoy your content, looking forward to seeing what you do in the future.

[@SecretAgent3174]

Great tips, as usual. Thank you, Scriptfella.

[@Scriptfella]

Hello Chuck, good to see you back on HMS Scriptfella. And congrats on your two most recent script deals.

[@MegaRockstar48]

Unfortunately there’s the catch 22 situation of only being able to hook a director if you have an agent and a manager but you can only get an agent and a manager if you’ve got a film writing credit so already hooked a director 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@Scriptfella]

I hear you - However if you slowly network - without asking anything in return - and build relationships , you can get to directors and other decision makers .

[@gunnytroelstrup3199]

Loved this video!

[@darthgamer79]

Great Interview and insights, thanks for this material.

[@Scriptfella]

Cheers, Darth.

[@GregPreece]

Thanks for this. I've become more and more interested in getting better at using hooks. Great topic!

[@MadKatBoss]

Scriptfella's videos are the kind I like before watching

[@craigwarren]

This video is a brilliant summary of what Dom's taught us over the past year. I'd recommend his consultancy to everyone.

[@Scriptfella]

Cheers Craig, appreciate the shoutout.

[@jamesparkes]

Such a great video. Please keep them coming!

[@jacksonfilm]

Top stuff. Good refreshers

[@SpectrumScribe]

Great content. Thanks! Glad to see you back...

[@Scriptfella]

Cheers Jack. D

[@maxiixam2352]

Ah, great video. I was by chance looking for a screenwriter, and it looks like you are I have a novel that I want to show you, it is really great🤭

[@iSpike]

Brilliant! new subscriber here. Cheers from Western Australia

[@ADWrites24]

Thanks gentlemen, great notes.

[@Scriptfella]

Cheers Andre

[@BrandonJamesPLUGS]

Another great video!

[@Scriptfella]

Cheers Brandon.

[@astridclave1326]

excellent

[@retroelectrical]

Summary: Captivating Directors Immediately: Start with a minimal but engaging description that leads swiftly to dialogue. The opening dialogue should be unique, unexpected, and prompt a strong mental image. Aim to surprise the reader early to maintain their interest. Creating a Cinematic Experience: The first page should be cinematic, with a visceral quality that is tight and compelling. Avoid technical film language; instead, use vivid descriptions to play the movie in the reader's head. Every line should evoke passion and earn its place in the narrative. Introducing the Main Character: Introduce the main character quickly, showcasing their attitude and tone. The character should be the hook that pulls the reader through the story. Avoiding Red Flags of Amateur Writing: Excessive description and irrelevant details are warning signs. Overwriting can cause a director to skim, losing control of the narrative. The story must propel forward, not tread water, with engaging character actions. Setting Up the Stakes and Keeping Interest: Establish clear stakes within the first few pages, using dialogue and light touches. Maintain a dynamic relationship with the reader; keep them engaged and on your side. Originality and Freshness: Avoid scripts that are too predictable based on their log line. Scripts should offer a fresh take or a surprising angle on familiar concepts. Learning from Classic Cinema: Study classic films for their quick pacing and immediate character engagement. Ensure the story starts with something grounded and relatable before escalating. Editing and Refining: The first few pages deserve a significant amount of time and attention. Continuously refine and improve the script to maintain high quality and engagement.

[@francescociccone2224]

When I, for the first time, found myself writing a screenplay: I read and learned from the Internet everything I needed to get started. I will preface this by saying that I don't know what scripts the gentleman gets--but the things he said at the beginning are the basis. The other things he said, one is "don't describe the weather" ... it's debasing, an artist describing, for example, the weather, maybe he wants to leave a feeling with the reader, try to make them feel and read ... what does "don't describe" mean ... it seems as if a writer has to rip the soul out of his creature because the reader wants nothing more than to make money. "FILMS" are description, narrative, LOVE--not a fucking profit in first place.

[@ivanttulern.1416]

Every point doesn't need a background heart attack inducing music.

[@sexyrexy6358]

While I agree with everything is being said, I don't agree that most movies we watch stick to these elements, yet they made it to production. Most movies are tedious to watch. The success of the good ones can mostly be attributed to sentimental value - like Maverick, but if I wasn't nostalgic about the prequel, I would have found it cumbersome as well.

[@footballfrequency7979]

I'm really unsure about finding a beta reader for my story. Any advice?

[@DDumbrille]

His #7 rule -- "Don't write, skim" -- is broken by the graphic of the script page at 1:10 minutes in.

[@Scriptfella]

I concur DouglassD. Drive sports a great opener by an A list writer - but I'd say it's 20 percent overwritten. (A listers like Hoss Amini don't have to battle for the reader's attention like the rest of us mortals) How would you rewrite the first paragraph to eliminate the skim. Care to share?

[@DDumbrille]

@@Scriptfella Sorry, too busy trying to write my own scripts. Thanks for your comment and channel. :)

[@Robertsmith-un5cu]

The vast majority of movies and tv shows is boring trash these days. But yeah just keep thinking it’s your writing skills alone that get you in lol. Who you know Are you the right person they want in their team to fit their writing agenda. It’s extremely discriminatory.

[@cjtrent1969]

Who is this dude in his pajamas He has great perspective...

[@PrecisionPatios]

You provide immense value. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!