The Opening...

From notes on the first draft I realize I need a more smooth introduction to my main characters. I'm still trying to strike the balance between a tight description and the excessive description. And it appears that in the first draft I've very little description.

I still want to treat this as a spec script. So while I bend the rules somewhat to my own style, I still want to have the proper structure to use as my calling card for a script to sell me as a writer. Even though I have plans to film this myself and I could put in as much, or as little description, I want to do this the right way.

I've re-written the first couple of pages and I think it's already a thousand times better. I introduce my main character through the actions he takes in his cell as he prepares for his release. So goal one is accomplished today. And I'm proud of the fact that I did, indeed, do it through actions and not through dialog.

The script, as it is now, is just barely 90 pages. My goal is to add some more substance and get within 110. I think that by adding in scenes to help flesh out the story/characters and get rid of a few loose ends that I left in the first draft.

I should let you know that I wrote all but 19 of the 90 pages during the 1st Avalanche that ran July 15, 2008 - July 21, 2008. And all that Avalanche was was a group of fellow writers from www.triggerstreet.com that took part in a project on the boards to complete as many pages in a week.

I'm off to a great start. I hope I can continue down this path and hopefully discover and learn more about what goes into getting a script ready to go to the screen.