tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post5365274850047527458..comments2023-05-04T03:37:04.200-07:00Comments on The Rouge Wave: Take. The note.Julie Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690487940378619749noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-58313191951572913732008-01-31T16:52:00.000-08:002008-01-31T16:52:00.000-08:00Tavis - sorry for my tardy reply. The Wave-inatrix...Tavis - sorry for my tardy reply. The Wave-inatrix is with the incredibly busy lately. No, I have never had a person ask for credit and yes I have given notes that altered the shape of the script significantly. And I have received notes that did that to my material - for the better. When my writing partner and had our script in development at Fox, we had to change the point of view entirely away from one character and shifted to that of another. It was like turning a sock inside out. At first we were bummed; we liked how we'd executed that early draft. But after we decided to try making the change, we were really pleased with it.Julie Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14690487940378619749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-27819547241965862012008-01-30T22:32:00.000-08:002008-01-30T22:32:00.000-08:00Here's what I do - I take the note. Sometimes, I ...Here's what I do - I take the note. Sometimes, I cry in private. But I take the damn note, and then another, and another.<BR/><BR/>After 3-5 sets of notes on a particular draft, I look for trends and repeats. If 4 out of 5 readers tell me that x beat felt contrived, you bet I'm going to do something. If 1 out of 5 people told me it was contrived, I'll still think about it, but not as hard.<BR/><BR/>You can't do anything with one set of notes, really, unless they're from a master note giver. You need sets of notes because I do believe it's possible for one particular reader to not get a script, but it's not possible for 3 readers not to get a script. If 3 readers don't get it, you got issues...Christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14805340886472955460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-76488906558784691792008-01-30T21:15:00.000-08:002008-01-30T21:15:00.000-08:00Have you ever encountered a note-giver requesting ...Have you ever encountered a note-giver requesting credit for a suggestion that significantly altered a script? <BR/><BR/>Have you ever given a note that significantly altered a later version of a script-- or the completed film itself?Tavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10931940066917820034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-28007223602145414912008-01-30T17:48:00.000-08:002008-01-30T17:48:00.000-08:00Ah but Jay - you misunderstand something fundament...Ah but Jay - you misunderstand something fundamentally important here. I said "take the note". That means write it down. I did not say, make the change based on the note. No, no, no, that is up to YOUR judgment as a writer. You take it down and you figure it out.Julie Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14690487940378619749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-24941613117022802992008-01-30T17:38:00.000-08:002008-01-30T17:38:00.000-08:00Usually what you say is true. But I think there i...Usually what you say is true. But I think there is one HUGE exception to this.<BR/><BR/>Let's say the person giving you the note is a teacher. Or somebody who's opinion you really trust. Really respect. And they are comfortable with you.<BR/><BR/>Then I say argue the note. Argue it until you are convinced they are right and you are positive they're completely wrong.<BR/><BR/>Why? Because at the end of the day, it's not really about whether or not that moment in the script worked. It's about your judgment as a writer, being able to spot the moment next time BEFORE you commit it to words and give it to somebody. Fixing a bad note because somebody tells you to, even though you don't believe the note is good, teaches you nothing about how to do it better the next time.<BR/><BR/>So if the person is somebody you're comfortable with, I say argue the note until they show you why you are wrong. <BR/><BR/>What ever that thing is, you put it in the script to begin with because you thought it worked. If you don't fight for it, you've kowtowed to somebody else's judgment and all you've learned is how to roll over.<BR/><BR/>Make them convince you. Because one of two things will happen - either you'll become convinced and your craft will be stronger, or you'll have your convictions hardened and believe in yourself that much more.<BR/><BR/>I stress again - this is only valid with people and situations where you have a huge amount of trust. Otherwise yes, just shut up and take the note.Jay Bushmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05041351750860790006noreply@blogger.com