Before I get into the script I should preface that I am not a professional anything. Writer/Reader/Producer/Director/nada. So take my thoughts however you would like to take them. When I write and give it to people I expect them to be entirely honest with me about it and that is the mantra I give to people when I read their stuff. I have read some horrible stuff and some incredible stuff over the years and I have my own opinion on what is good. It might not match up with what you think or what others think but for the most part, I find that most of the stuff I enjoy, a lot of others enjoy as well.
Again, before I get to page 01 of your script. I cannot stress how important it is to have friends/wives/kids/anyone read it for grammar/spelling issues. I'm in the USA so my English is a bit different than up in Canada so I let any of those pass that I wasn't sure about ie. humour. But I still found numerous places where there was improper spacing, missing words, bad spelling, etc. I will do my best to point this out to you so that you can improve your script. My opinion on this grammar sort of things are that they stop your reader in their tracks. You want them to just breeze through your script and take them on an adventure but when these sort of mistakes pop up it puts a kink in the process.
Before I go on about this any longer why don't we discuss the title which I feel is a little wordy. "When Yesterday Was Tomorrow" Having read the 10 pages I'm still not sure what the title means to the script. Can you as a writer see a poster with that title on it? For me, I see a poster with the title "Tomorrow's Yesterday" before I see one that says "When Yesterday Was Tomorrow." Title's mean a lot as do loglines. I have no idea what the logline is for your script and after reading 10 pages I still don't know what it would be but I'm guessing that it involves a scientist but that's about it.
My next post will be page one since I've wrote so much just as an introduction to my very first ever 10PTT!
First of all I just wanted to thank you so very much for doing this. Although I am upset you aren't enjoying the read. I know ultimately it could be my fault for not writing it well enough:( If you think the rest is that bad or screwed up, I will completely understand you not wanting to finish. What you've done HAS already helped.
Only one of the 4 people who have read my script has any experience reading scripts. I sent this to about 20 people. This is my first motion picture screenplay and first drama. I've written four comedy teleplays.
I can understand what you're saying about the title. Titles are VERY important. I will offer a spoiler. My character Megan ultimately learns that her machine is a time machine, that brought her to an alternate reality where her fiance is still alive. This is why I titled it this way. But I believe the full impact of the title pays off by page 54. Many may think the title should pay off sooner. And I can understand this. But I myself love the title. And most others I've polled so far, seem to as well. I thought a lot about what to name it. I always loved the 'Star Trek' episode titled 'City on the Edge of Forever'. So I wanted to come up with something you had to think about a little. It's just my personal taste.
I do see a movie poster as I've done a quick design for one.
3-4. Thank you for your suggestion about the photos here as I will try it or something like it instead. I did struggle with what's the best way to do this scene with leaving the greatest amount of white space. This is NOT the original beginning. Half way down page 4 is the original beginning. The new beginning, I meant to establish that my main characters can open a portal into a alternate reality using their minds. I wanted them to do this when they were young to imply they had probably been doing some training in telekinessis their whole lives. And I do agree I did use "serious" too much. I will work on that.
5. I wondered how to show age. Admittedly, I haven't read many screenplays completely through. I think in 'Basic Instinct' Joe used both written and numeric. But I will take your suggestion on the age here. So thank you for that too.
7. However IS a bad word. And it probably isn't spoken often. Although, it does paint the father as a gentle and supportive type. I think at the time, I just wanted a different word than "but". I will look for a better way to say that.
I wanted the script to be part mystery. Megan discovers new things about her machine as the screenplay progresses. I wanted to structure this part like 'Contact'. As the movie progresses, first they discover the message. Then they learn the message has the Hitler video. Then they learn it has schematics. Then they learn it's a machine to build.
In my script, the first discovery Megan makes is that her machine is not just a particle magnifier, but a transporter. Later on she learns it transports her into the past. Then the last reveal about the machine is she learns it transports her into the past, in an alternate reality.
I suppose that's enough for now. Hope the rest isn't so horrible for you. Sorry:( Thanks for going through it anyway. I must consider the idea I may have written something that isn't very easy to read and work on it more.