How Does A Screenwriter Know Their Screenplay Is Good? - Jim Agnew

Jim Agnew is a director, writer and producer, known for The Capture (2017), Rage (2014) and Game of Death (2011). A former contributor/writer to Film Threat who played guitar for the Industrial Rock group Hate Dept., Jim has worked with such directors as Dario Argento and John Carpenter as well as Oscar-winning actors, producers and writers.
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[@visionaryventures12]

I’d say the opening shots should give you the tone and mood. The opening scene should give you the genre.

[@winterramos4527]

Absolutely. A great example is "Memento" the opening scene is like whaaaaaa?

[@batman5224]

I don’t think there’s any way of truly knowing if your writing is good. Sometimes, I’ll sit back, look at a sentence that I’ve written, and think, “You’re a genius.” The next day, however, I’ll sit back, look at the same sentence, and go, “What were you thinking?” This can also be vice versa.

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

True. I have had moments like that. I write something I think is crap then the next day I'll be like, "Huh, that's actually good." Other times it's "Oh this is awesome!" Then a day later it's erased and rewritten lol.

[@peterpan1435]

After reading my screenplay, if a mature person reports: “I cried, I smiled. The tangles, divided loyalties in a family are authentic here.” Then I think I have a screenplay worth honing some more.

[@w.harrison7277]

That's because philosophy can never be independent of the philosopher.

[@lmathews5608]

Hahaha same here, day1: first draft, day 10: 10th draft

[@starbright6579]

A Screenwriter will know if there script is good you will feel different when writing it, what I mean by that is it will make you so into the story that you will keep coming back to write more of it, you will also keep listening to your character tell you his/her story in your imagination.

[@DAMON409]

You know it's good when it flows from one beat to the next in a logical order with increasingly more revelations and connections.

[@kevinmejia1989]

I have this script I wrote 3 years ago. I sent it to Bluecat, the reader liked it but it had issues. One day, when I feel that the genre is more in demand I will resubmit it and hopefully someone will see some greatness in it!

[@cadenadelreino1442]

What genre? I also want to submit to Bluecat but I‘m not sure If they like stuff like that.

[@Exodus26.13Pi]

All this sounds so rewarding

[@masterducky3646]

Those page count numbers are so specific they must be true

[@danielblackwarrior]

Insert a place holder for description is such a good idea ... Because those scene descriptions need to be tight but sufficiently descriptive (thinking of Pascal quote: I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.) Scene descritpion placeholders would be pefect for a first draft .... than create a polished and well written description in 2nd draft vs rewriting a lengthy and overwrought description.

[@xenoverselv2269]

Straight to the point as usual. This channel is truly a blessing and has helped me a great deal. From The awesome host to the great interviews, FILM COURAGE, you guys are the best. Thank you 👍

[@wormsnake1]

This guy says the opening to a screenplay can’t just be exposition and people sitting around talking. That’s the very definition of Reservoir Dogs!! I’m not saying he hasn’t got a point but by the same token you have to be faithful and tell your story in your own way. Ticking boxes may well have its merits but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a good story. These opinions and approach to writing are just that. They are not a blue print or set in cement and this gentleman may well inspire another person in there own personal approach to writing. However re-invent the wheel is what I say, break the rules, create your own mould, go against what is “supposed to happen” and play against type both in character and plot. Film courage is a great channel by the way!! 🙏❤️.x

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

3:20 I agree. Even the slug lines are not that important to me in the beginning. It could be anywhere.. as long as the characters are moving you can figure out int or ext when you shoot 😂😂😂

[@cristina7317]

I think an A-list could answer this. They really know cause they're doing it :) I don't trust some nobody's opinion. I don't even know what they wrote or whatever...when you search their name you see their movies rated 5 on IMDb so yeah....

[@Robertsmith-un5cu]

When everyone else tells you it’s awesome. Then you know.

[@mandelamoore4175]

I love all your videos ma! But I have one question I feel you should ask the writers of the show. And that is when your a first time writer what is some techniques to finding your path or even a a talent agent? I write myself but I tend to get get discouraged but your videos keep me aboard (•‿•) I truly appreciate them!!

[@filmcourage]

Hi Mandela, maybe look through some of these videos here - bit.ly/3gejpeB

[@mandelamoore4175]

@@filmcourage you are probably the best spot I get any info I swear I just love the videos! KZbin guru at this point!! And I mean it

[@mandelamoore4175]

@@filmcourage and you truly answered me with the right video I just appreciate it honestly ma yall are doing it right over there!!

[@KayFlowidity]

2:22 👌👌👌

[@filmcourage]

How do you know a screenplay isn't good enough?

[@corpsefoot758]

When you’re embarrassed to even share it with others LOL Granted, the whole “imposter syndrome” thing apparently never goes away, but I feel like there should at least be a baseline level of quality you feel isn’t embarrassing upon sharing with others The same way a chef should know when they haven’t cooked their absolute best, versus when that dish shouldn’t even leave the kitchen 😅 Long story short: if I can close my eyes and sort of “daydream the movie”, I generally feel safer about its prospects

[@samsungminlee]

When you tell a short outline of the script to a film friend and hear yourself describing it out loud

[@roathripper]

if you cannot recognise a good screenplay, you have no business writing screenplays.

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

Weeeel, it's all subjective. I know a lot of people hate when I say that but it's true. When it comes right down to it all art is subjective, including screenplays. Granted sometimes there are scripts that are just downright terrible (my first script was just....whew), but overall it really comes down to personal taste and opinion.

[@roathripper]

@@matthewgordonpettipas6773 the 'it's all subjective' defense is a cop-out. Good writing is not completely subjective. there's a baseline where the quality is clearly distinguishable and broadly accepted by the readership eg. inexplicable inconsistencies in character behaviour and motivation, illogical plot holes, lazy research destroying narrative development, formatting errors, the list goes on. As a writer, it's your primary responsibility to know whether your writing is good and should be retained, or if it's shit and should be discarded. That's your job essentially, not the responsibility of others.

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

I agree. Good is easy to recognise...because it's not bad. But greatness is more difficult to recognise because a great script is not always a great movie and that's where taste comes in.

[@BigDaddyJinx]

​@@roathripper I agree that there's an objective baseline for what would make for good WRITING, but not necessarily good screenplay writing. In most ways, it will still come down to subjectivity of the reader not the writer. I mean, clunky dialogue or scenes that seem to go on too long (or too short) are objectively noticeable and objectively bad. Same with shit formatting or grammar errors. Objectively awful and easy to spot. But plot? Story? Character? Motivation? Elements? Descriptions? Allllll subjective. Example? That's easy...put you and I in the same room together and ask us to describe the room we are both in. Bet you any money any reader will know we are both in a room, but one will capture the imagination for a reader and one may just be utilitarian. 4 walls. White paint. Fluorescent lighting that flickers. Smell of piss and mold. Two people in there. The other description may add dramatic flourish to it. Is one better than the other? That depends on who's reading it. Some readers prefer short, sweet, and simple. Others prefer wordy, descriptive, and elaborate. That's not objective. That's subjective. But both descriptions are "good" and convey an image. Both would let any reader know that two people are in a room together that is white in color, with 4 walls and no windows, flickering lights, and smells of piss and mold. Same with story elements. Maybe the reader likes fantasy stories. They'll enjoy the read unless it's pure trash. The next reader might be too highbrow for such things and regardless of how boss the script is, they hate it and they hate the genre, so they're gonna deep six the script. Characters? Same thing applies there. You find a reader who engrosses in the character presented and they enjoy the read...while at the same time, you have another reader who is more fixated on "What color are they? What race are they? Why isn't this a man/woman instead? Are they gay? Are they trans? Do they dye their hair? Do they attend rallies? How many tattoos do they have? Do they believe in the environment?" Alllll subjective, friend. WHAT someone is reading today is less important than WHOM is reading it. You could write the next Gone With The Wind and you'll find that reader that reads the first 20 or so pages and immediately goes, "Not gay enough. Where are all the colored folk at? I hate this." I'm sorry, but that's just the world we live in today. You could write the most banging screenplay to ever screenplay, but if it doesn't line up with the values and ideologies of the reader, they're gonna fail it and trash it. It could be perfectly formatted, great plot, brilliant characters, crisp dialogue, moving actions, great descriptions and they'll hate it because they already have their own preconceived notions of what constitutes a "great" screenplay. How is that possible? Subjectivity. That's how. So no, it's most certainly not a cop-out. It's a fact. WHOM is reading your work is less valuable than WHAT you work looks like. Absolute 100% fact. More proof you say? That's easy too. Just take a look at all the films that have come out in only that past 5-7 years and you'll see a notable trend. Most are failures and they all seem to have the same common denominator. They were viewed by some hack as "good enough to be on film so let's greenlight it" and they ended up being financial disasters. Why? Because WHAT was written was less important than WHOM was reading it. The screenplays were total ass and hot garbage BUT because they matched the reader's personal bias and predetermined notions of what makes a "great" screenplay, they got the green light. How is that possible? Subjectivity. Hollywood has produced failure after failure after failure in only the past 5-7 years alone, and those failures all share the same traits. And no, they're not all superhero movies...lol. But they do all share the same traits that will equal failure time and time again. That's because the readers that are in the business right now aren't qualified to be reading the ingredients from a box of KD let alone screenplays, and they're forwarding all the works that align with their own personal narratives (or company sponsored ones). Some of the best works I've read are still unproduced because they aren't "gay enough/black enough/not enough women/too many men/no representation/why is the hero a man/etc.". They're not objectively bad...they're only subjectively bad. It's fact. But don't take my word for it - look at all the box office failures and see how easy you can spot the shared traits among all of them. Each one had been approved by a reader at one point and forwarded off to the execs and money people so they can be bought and put on film. Look for yourself.

[@ninjabirdman551]

I dont fully agree with his comment about not writing a long script. Dont write a bloated script but once you’ve scraped away the fat of the story and have it down to what is essential then the story can be as long as it needs to be.

[@lonjohnson5161]

I agree with the sentiment, but I still plan to keep the first script I show to the world a little lean.

[@therunawayrascal]

i reckon you’re right, but i also reckon he’s right in describing the reality of what actually gets read and bought in the current industry. ish is mad lame, but it is what it is as well-unless you’re in a position of power to change it.

[@chuzzbot]

How to make a boiler plate script, by another one of these guys. Getting a script produced isn't the mark of a good script though, is it? Let's all munch on cardboard and pretend it's great.

[@themattpack1]

Agreed wtf is with this dude

[@royaltypoetry1533]

What people have to understand, is he's talking about from a Hollywood stand point.

[@chuzzbot]

​@@royaltypoetry1533 , or his own stand point, I would say.

[@royaltypoetry1533]

everyone from Hollywood, screenwriters, directors, and producers, has always said this. Therefore this is from a Hollywood standpoint. So take it with a grain of salt. If you trying to break into Hollywood you have to follow the rules. Unless you make your movie. We're not household screenwriters so we have to do things according. At the end of the day, all this is subjective. What's a good screenplay to me might not be good to you or anyone else. So nobody can't say what's good or not because we all have different tastes and different styles and that's okay but everyone who is interviewed is coming from a Hollywood standpoint.

[@chuzzbot]

@@royaltypoetry1533 I already work for Hollywood, do you?

[@futurestories2380]

Writers don't know how to tell a story prove me wrong. What is a story?

[@josephsanchez2159]

No wonder movies are good when starting and sucks at the end.

[@therunawayrascal]

that’s actually a good point. both the fetishizing of the opening line/first act and the emphasis on radical brevity all the way through breeds sub-par 2/3’s of a film. or would seem to by the last decade of fruit from Hollywood. this must be juxtaposed with ruthlessly making a script as tight as it can be, though.

[@josephsanchez2159]

@@therunawayrascal them word choices 👏

[@renehazekamp3951]

If you can write a script in a week, why not spend 10 days on it to make it somewhat better ? Or isn't your audience worth the extra effort.