Each writer has completed a polished draft on their own—hopefully a lot. In the final phase, you make last-second checks for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors; read through the script to pick up the pace; pare each line of dialogue down to its core; make sure your story and structure are consistent; and add Creative shades, plants and returns.
These are the things every screenwriter should do before sending a draft to any competition, scholarship, or industry insider. You make every effort to make your script the best that you feel and are capable of doing. Knowing this, we will not discuss That Types of Polish drafts (check out our ultimate draft list).
Instead, we’re taking it to the next level and discussing how to write a professionally polished draft.
What is Professional Polish Draft?
A professionally polished draft is the draft a screenwriter is obligated to write when signing a contract with a production company, streamer, network or studio. Poland’s rewrite is even detailed in the Writers Guild of America Minimum Wage Schedule, which sets minimum wages for guild members under contract signed by the guild. We’ll discuss guild and non-guild professional polish rewrites in this section.
Typically, the average industry contract (whether guild or non-guild) breaks down like this:
- Or you sell a script and get contractual permission to rewrite it for the first time or You are assigned to write a screenplay based on your employer’s intellectual property or idea.
- If you’ve already sold your script to them, ignore this contract step. If you get an assignment, the first thing you need to do is write an outline. This is usually the first pay grade on your assignment contract.
- Once you request your first rewrite, you will typically have anywhere from two weeks to a month to complete it, with two weeks being the usual time frame.
- Once you submit your rewritten content, you may get more notes unless you are replaced. Rinse and repeat.
- However, if you haven’t been replaced yet, you may be asked to do polish rewrites once the script gets closer to production.
What does the Polish draft mean?
A polish rewrite involves making subtle changes to various elements of the script, all in an effort to prepare the script for production.
At this stage, polish does not include substantial changes to plot, character arcs, structure, or major scenes or sequences. That’s what the rewrite requires.
Instead, your task is to tweak the script so that it can be sent to the crew and actors and serve as an official shooting draft of the script.
What changes did you make to the Polish draft?
The answer to this question will depend on the specific circumstances of each writer’s contract and production. However, the following are general guidelines for improving the content in draft notes.
Fill drawing holes
Plot holes will happen. This isn’t usually completely bad screenwriting, especially when you’re working under contract and receiving multiple notes throughout the development, writing, and rewriting process.
You see all the time in completed feature films that despite the acclaim and box office success of a successful film, there are almost always plot holes, big and small, in the final cut of the film.
Polishing the draft ensures that plot holes are minimized and kept as small as possible throughout the story.
The notes you receive will identify plot hole issues that you need to address before production begins.
You need:
- delete scene
- Add scene
- cut scene
- Extended scenarios
It’s all about making the final movie better.
polish dialogue
Conversations work best when they have a minimum number of words.
Polish drafts require you to say as much as possible with the least amount of dialogue. Directors, actors, producers, and other production staff usually know when a scene is getting too wordy or too long because of dialogue.
Scenes that are too long mean more shooting time, more lines for the actors to remember, and more time added to the final running time.
You need:
- Delete conversation
- Correct dialogue
- replace dialogue
- rewrite dialogue
- Added dialogue for illustrative purposes
Typically, customers make these requests by providing page-by-page notes, specifying the page numbers that need to be changed, and providing simple instructions on how to implement the changes.
Read more: The only secret to writing great dialogue
shorten scene
The film is once again about to go into production. The production team will look for ways to reduce costs and streamline filming times. Sometimes that means shortening a scene.
This process also affected the pacing of the film. While post-production will officially determine the final time, why shoot an overly long scene when you can schedule shorter scenes to speed up production?
Combine scenes, dialogue and locations
This is where production needs come into play. Remember, movies only start with the script. In addition to you, there are dozens of people (hundreds on larger productions) preparing for an expensive shoot.
corner kick will Fiscal cuts are needed. The production team needs to make the most of every location and shooting day.
Therefore, polish rewriting often requires you to combine scenes (which in turn involves combining dialogue from one scene into another). Sometimes this may mean you need to use the same locations in certain scenes so that the final production can take full advantage of the locations and make the most of them.
Specific casting needs
Casting changes happen often. The original script may have had a certain type of character in the original draft, only to hire a certain actor closer to the production, changing the dynamics and necessity of the character in terms of background, dialogue, dialect, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
Some minor (and sometimes major) adjustments may be required before production.
budget cuts
The powers that be may need you to cut action scenes, live set pieces, and any other expensive elements from your current draft as they try to tighten the budget and schedule before production can begin.
MPAA rating downgraded
If your script is filled with profanity, nudity, and violence and you decide to pursue a PG-13 or PG rating, they will require you to reduce these elements to comply with MPAA guidelines.
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Polishing a draft is less time-consuming for a screenwriter than the usual rewriting process. These examples may seem daunting, but they are often presented in a simple and easy-to-apply manner.
Read More: 7 Studio Jobs That Give Screenwriters Advantages
Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.
As a production writer, he participated in numerous studio meetings with companies such as Sony, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures, Disney, Warner Bros., and numerous production and management companies. He previously signed a development deal with Lionsgate and has had several writing assignments, including starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haley ·The miniseries “Blackout” starring Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric LaSalle and Bruce Bucklina. Follow Ken on Twitter @ken电影 and Instagram @KenMovies76
