The First Draft

When I was writing the first draft of the script, I mainly focused on dialogue that gives information and subtext. My objective was to communicate something about the current scene as well as to hint at a feeling or opinion that allows the viewer to get to know the characters better.

As I was developing the idea for this script, I imagined having some sequences that are predominantly silent in terms of dialogue. In this way, I could show that the relationship between a father and son is in a critical condition because they don’t engage with each other. I found it challenging to write action that depicts these silent moments properly. However, after finishing the first draft, I have now very specific questions that would help develop the narrative and write the second draft.

It was quite helpful to think about the premise, the outline, the treatment, and the step outline before writing the first draft. These steps allowed me to finetune the idea, work on the story structure, and break the narrative into scenes. It was much easier to focus on action and dialogue because I knew how the story would flow. Preparation made writing the first draft easier than I was expecting. That’s not to say that the script is ready. On the contrary, it would need more rewriting. However, since I have done a lot of thinking in terms of story beats beforehand, the actual writing of the draft came naturally.

I am looking forward to getting feedback on the first draft even though I must admit it is a bit scary.