you might have to decide that it will be good enough and move on. But do make quality a
priority always!
To the Development Executives Working with a Writer
As a development executive, always try to be positive. Remember the reasons you thought
a development job would be fun! What did you like about the writer’s script that you’re
about to tear apart? There’s no such thing as the perfect script. But there are always some
good things. If there are a lot of good things, be sure you let the writer know.
Talk about the script’s possibilities. Tell the writer that you think he can bring a lot more
out of this script. Ask him what he’s trying to do, specifically. What made him want to write
this particular script? If it’s possible to enhance the writer’s vision, he’ll be happier, and
you’ll get a better script. What did you like about the script? Why did you want to buy it?
Don’t lose that in the rewrites. Focus on the structure first. Go through the same process in
the same order as you would if you were rewriting the script yourself.
Don’t make frivolous revisions that will start a spiral of changes ending in a totally dif-
ferent script. If the script’s properly written, one relatively minor change will set in motion
a whole chain of changes because everything will be tied neatly together. When you’ve
covered the major changes, you can attack the minor ones—maybe. Be sure your writer
knows exactly why these changes are being made. End your development session on a pos-
itive note, assuring the writer that he’s doing a great job!
Checklist
- The premise and theme
Write out what happens in the story in twenty-five words or less. Is the main plot
of the story clear and uncomplicated enough so that this is possible? Is there a
single cause-and-effect line? What did the main character learn? How did the pro-
tagonist learn this in fighting the antagonist/villain and achieving this one goal?
Is the story worth doing? Is the story classic, timeless? Or is it especially current,
in some way speaking to us or to the kids of today? Does it give us an emotional
experience? Does it have style? Is it funny? Is it scary? Is it mythic, something that
will resonate deep within us?
Is the main premise original, or does it at least have an original twist?
Is the premise commercial, a story that would interest more than the writer’s agent?
Something that will appeal to a wide audience? Something that will especially
appeal to kids or young adults, something that they can relate to directly? Does the
story view the world from a kid’s or young adult’s point of view? Does it have a
hook that will make it easy to promote?
If this is a high-concept story, is there enough meat there to warrant the length and
budget for that script? Is it more than a one-line concept or a one-line joke? How
264 Animation Writing and Development