Advice — marisa d'vari

"Cardboard characters!" writes a story analyst, putting the finishing touch in the comments section of his story report. "No tension!" writes another gatekeeper, check marking the dreaded word "pass" on her studio coverage form. Lack of real, empathetic characters is the leading reason why agents and production executives pass on scripts. In today's competitive market, it is imperative to create the kind of full-bodied characters that mesmerize gatekeepers and bump your script up to the next level. Happily, capturing the kind of well-developed characters that dazzle buyers is simply a matter of understanding the four basic personality types. Hippocrates, often...

From a writer living in Turkey:... Question: How can I protect my script in the USA? I mean how can I take the 'all rights reserved' for my script? I am afraid to (have my script) copied and stolen!! What is the best way to protect my script? Marisa D'Vari responds: This is the most common question in all the screenwriting classes I teach. I will detail the steps you can take to protect your script, but ownership will still be difficult to prove - and win - in a court of law. Often, studios and producers don't consciously try...

Question: How does a story analyst become a Story Analyst? Is it worth developing a relationship with a Story Analyst? How crucial can knowing a Story Analyst be to a screenwriters career? Thanks! Marisa D'Vari responds: 'Knowing anyone' in Hollywood is always a great benefit to a career. Friends who work with sound, either on the set or in post-production, can fill your ears about dialogue. Camera people can tell you about shots and perhaps what to avoid at the script stage. Secretaries often know more than the executives who employ them. Ditto for story analysts. The ideal solution is...

Question: How can a great 'non-formula story' get past the gatekeeper? Marisa D'Vari responds: Great question, Stuart. My personal feeling is that several recent events and the national tragedy will pave the way for more personal films. Realize that it all starts with character. The characters in 'Diner' were exceptional, very real, and the audience felt as if they knew them, even if they never met that 'type' before. A gatekeeper is looking for well-turned characters who must resolve universal key issues before the story's end. This is the simple formula for a great film. To test if your characters...

Question: I keep hearing about these mysterious story analysts who will be charged, hopefully, with reading my script. Who are they and what are they like? Marisa D'Vari responds: Story analysts (or readers, as they are sometimes called) come in two types. The full-time studio or production company reader is required, in most places, to read and analyze at least two scripts a day. They show up for work like everyone else, have their coffee, put their feet up on the desk and read. Many are exceptionally well-educated, and have advanced degrees, with law degrees particularly prevalent. Despite their education,...