So the fourth draft is now finished and I met up with Ben to go over the script. The script is about 90% there. We are just ironing out the last 10%. The discussions we had were about character traits. Would they actually do that or would they try something else? It’s like when you are watching a film and the main character makes a stupid decision, that no one in their right mind would do. The ones that make you want to scream at the screen. Especially if it is the dumbest thing to do. We are trying to avoid that.

What I am going to do, once Ben has finished writing the fifth draft, is to past the script along to some trusted friends of mine to read, so I can get some feedback on it. Both Ben and me are too close to the script, and we want to make sure there are aren’t any problems staring us straight in the face. I don’t think there are, but I want to make sure. So I will give a copy to my friends and then meet up with them to go what they think and if they have any ideas.

I invite them to give me ideas. Other people, who are not involved with the project, can come up with some great ideas. I’ll give you an example. Before making my first film, “Fire Power”, I gave a copy of the script to Chris Watson - he does special effects for film and TV. (Spoiler Alert) There is a scene where the Boss gets killed and his two henchmen come running in. I had written that the Man point the gun at these two men as he makes his escape. Chris said, “What you should do is make it that the two henchmen see their boss dead and they just walk out. Because their pay packet was gone.” It was brilliant idea and I put it into the film. It works really well. (Spoiler End)

The friends I give the script to all work in the industry, either as cast or crew. They all know their field very well and so I respect the advice they give me. And now is the time to make changes, as once production begins, there won’t be time to make major changes to the story. I’m not saying that no changes will be made along the way. It always does, as filmmaking is a constant shifting, changing thing. It’s just that once filming gets under way, you can’t make major changes.

Anyway, the original idea you have will not be anything like the final product. The people who come to work on the film will bring their own ideas with them. As a director, you have to be open to those ideas. Though, they have to enhance the story in ways you didn’t think of. How do you know when one of those ideas come along? You have to know the story you are telling inside out. That’s why I am involved with the script from the beginning. So I will know.

You can see Fire Power and my other films at:

www.independentrunnings.com/showreels.html