The One Rule Of Writing For Independent Film (And It’s Not Even A Strict One)

Photo by Chris Murray on Unsplash

Rules, rules, rules – it can feel everyone wants to throw a new one at you when you get into screenwriting and they are almost always fear-mongering bollocks obsessed with the superficial. Good craft will always trump bootlicking but let’s not dwell too much on that because I want to share something with you that might just become your new mantra.

Before we get into this, I’m addressing screenwriters hoping to break into the independent film world in some form. If you’re the kind of writer aspiring to work exclusively for the big studios on nine-figure budget projects, this isn’t going to be of much use to you.

I also want to say, stop worrying that professional readers and industry members are going to throw your script in the trash over minor issues. The title of this article is shameless click-bait. This isn’t strictly a rule but it will serve you well. Spoiler alert; filmmakers see any issues they have in your script as something that can be addressed. Yes I know, shock horror! It’s like they’re competent, open-minded artists or something.

Having returned from being on the set of a feature film production, where I watched my words become reality, I’ve become hyper-aware of just what impact my writing had on production. Seemingly innocent little references had…