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Author Topic: 10PTT: When Yesterday Was Tomorrow by Daryl Zer0  (Read 6375 times)
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« on: June 06, 2012, 09:21 PM »


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!


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« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2012, 09:39 PM »

These thoughts are meant to make your script a better, faster read and also to hopefully make you think more about the structure and words that you use in  your screenplay.

Overall thoughts on page 1: What did I get myself into?  Just a tough read honestly.  The page doesn't seem to flow like it needs to.  Having to try and figure out who's talking in the background and then why I'm looking at this picture of this person, etc.  I believe it's Brian Koppelman that says, "Calculate less."  And I can't stress that saying enough.  I might use it more often during this 10PTT.  You're job is to get this story across to the reader as best you can.  Read it to yourself, if you can't figure out how to explain something ask someone.  Especially now that you have found some communities where people are willing to help you.  It was prefaced that this was a flashback so I'm really hoping that it is a needed flashback.  Does this flashback come back into play later?  Is it essential to the story in the long run? 

1. Home of the Earnhart Family can be reduced to Earnhart Family Home and you aren't losing anything.

2. You have already said that it's daytime in the scene heading so explaining that there is warm daylight coming in doesn't add anything.

3-4. Is there a reason that all photos of Kate have the words serious in front of them?  And also, the way you are slowly showing this photos.  I think it would be better if you set that up in an opening description line and then during each of these you can use less.  Like in the main description you write something like.  A beautifully decorated home, we slowly move down the hallway and scan pictures as...
and then start the dialogue. You could also set up the family here so that you don't have to explain the age and person so much in every line of dialogue.  In the description give the details on the family and then you can just interlace who's picture we are scanning by.  And if you are trying to get across that Kate is a hard working person then you should use some other words to get this point across.  Just saying serious over and over is doing nothing for the reader.  And you are saying a serious photograph, not a photograph of a serious Kate so is the photograph serious? 

5. Anytime you use age, I believe the proper form is 9-year-old.  You need some comma's as well.  Just open up any pro script and see how they introduce characters and realize that you are probably thinking too much about it.  If these characters are only going to be here for a few pages then does it really matter about all their details? 

6. your should be you're

7. However is a bad word to use for a character.  How often in real life do you hear people use that word?  Maybe if you lost the but in the previous sentence then you could replace However with but.  Or you could lose the entire I know you're excited line because he is a dad so he doesn't have to reason with her if he doesn't want to.  He can just tell her.  It's your sisters turn but you can put your button down.

Will be back with the second page over the weekend.  This one took a lot out of me.  Like I said, I am not a pro.  Do not take this as harshly as I might have made it out to be.  I want to help you be a better writer so hopefully this doesn't come off as mean.


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« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2012, 11:55 PM »

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. 
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« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2012, 12:47 AM »

Do you have a log line for it?  

I know you have posted the rest of the story for it but I'm actually more interested in what your one line is.

How long is your final draft?

Also, I have already marked the entire 10 pages.  I just haven't taken the time to explain the marks yet but I will finish it for you and hopefully it will help you on a re-write or on a future project.  Like I said, nothing says my notes are the right way.  

Also, I personally don't think Joe is the best example of who to read.  His scripts have never done anything for me.  Sure, he sells some, so there is something there but does he sell the log line or the actual script?  Have you read the contact script? 
Here's a link to it: http://sfy.ru/?script=contact
Notice how nobody's age is given...
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« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2012, 04:41 AM »

Do you have a log line for it?  

I know you have posted the rest of the story for it but I'm actually more interested in what your one line is.

How long is your final draft?

Also, I have already marked the entire 10 pages.  I just haven't taken the time to explain the marks yet but I will finish it for you and hopefully it will help you on a re-write or on a future project.  Like I said, nothing says my notes are the right way.  

Also, I personally don't think Joe is the best example of who to read.  His scripts have never done anything for me.  Sure, he sells some, so there is something there but does he sell the log line or the actual script?  Have you read the contact script? 
Here's a link to it: http://sfy.ru/?script=contact
Notice how nobody's age is given...

Thanks for the link.  I've only read bits of the 'Contact' script. I will eliminate the age. I DON'T need it. It really makes sense to do this now that you've said. I only had it in for MYSELF to keep track of the psychological age differences between Megan and Kate.

The only log line I have is the one I posted on Talentville and another mock one I did for a friend and her less advanced script (that isn't really good and is only a variation of the Talenville one) . But thinking of one now, it might go something like: When brilliant scientist Megan Earnhart's time machine gives her a second chance at knowing her dead fiance and mother, the choice she makes between who lives now may not be as painless nor simple for her to make.

My final draft so far is 135 pages without the title page. I know that's long.

What do you think of David Trottier? I'm mostly going off his bible.

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« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2012, 08:24 AM »

"When brilliant scientist Megan Earnhart's time machine gives her a second chance at knowing her dead fiance and mother..."

Stop right there.  I'm reading that as (and don't try to stop me): Megan's dead fiance is ALSO her mother.  A gender-bending time-travel movie.  Something only a kink in time could allow.

Pedro Almodóvar, when you arrive here via Google Alerts, you're so very welcome.
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« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2012, 11:01 AM »

"When brilliant scientist Megan Earnhart's time machine gives her a second chance at knowing her dead fiance and mother..."

I'd watch that film!  Time travel and lesbian action, that really has everything I demand from cinema. ;-)
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« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2012, 12:25 PM »

135 pages is long and just from reading the first 10 I expected you to hit me with a number like that. 

I highly recommend reading more professional scripts. 

I am not familiar with Trottier.  I tend to stay away from the bibles thinking that you more learn from reading than being told how to write.  Read good scripts as they can inspire you and show you new ways.  Read bad scripts so that you know what to avoid in your script.  It's all about the flow of the script and making it an easy read. 

Would someone not read 135 pages?  No, I'm not saying that.  But right now the quality on your pages would make it very difficult for someone to not give up.

When I think of scripts that flow.  I think of Brothers Bloom, and Looper is a sci-fi one that flows well.  The Stanford Prison Experiment is one that I thought was a quick read.  Godless is a longer script that I absolutely could not put down. 
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« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2012, 03:48 PM »

1. I don't know the exact right way to approach using Young characters names in descriptions but when I do it.  I introduce them as Young Kate and then use that name for dialogue but then in descriptions I only use Kate.  We already know that she is young and it cuts down on some words in your description.

2. exquisite doesn't need to be here.  You could just say crimson metal button and be fine.  Over descriptive.  And yeah, I think it sounds better with crimson before metal instead of metal crimson button.  Just doesn't flow the same.

3. Again, you are over descriptive with the ramps.  You can just say ramps.  You have a character later saying that the ramp is 45 degrees so you are just over doing it.

4. This doesn't read like a real sentence to me.  Should there be a comma or a period in there? 

5. Just over descriptive of the ramps again.  Say in the opening of the description of the ramps that they are sitting opposite each other if you feel it that important to the reader.  If the direction of the ramp isn't important don't say it all.  Just say ramp and move on.

6. I try to not use words like Okay or Yeah anything that is just the character responding to another character.  Find what you want your character to express and express it.  So just deleting okay you are getting the purpose of what you want Kate to express out.  Plus there isn't an exclamation on this line?  The kids were just all excited about this.  Is Kate not anymore.  If she isn't excited then I think using no dialogue and just having her put the button on the ramp would better suit that expression.

7. Kate's doesn't need to be there.  We know it's her button, you just told us it was her button.  Example: She eyes the button.  It doesn't move.  Then, slowly, it glides down the ramp no more than an inch.  I only cut out 5 words total but I used words that aren't as long for one to cut down on space and I broke it up into smaller sentences. 

And yeah, never heard of inclinometer so I won't even discuss it because I don't know it's a real thing or not.

8. It worked!  - we know it worked.  We saw it.  Try to come up with something better here that might actually surprise the audience or the reader.

9. Again, the dad speaking is very specific in his language.  It's too perfect.  He doesn't sound like a dad talking to kid and I think it's overwritten again. 
YOUNG NILES
Yes sweetie.  Just let me drop...

Niles grabs a knob and the ramp lowers.

Done.  I expressed what you wanted in way less words.  Calculate less.

Final thoughts. 
You said that this wasn't in the original draft of the script.  I think it shouldn't be there now.  You need to seriously watch other sci-fi films and read sci-fi material.  What is always at the beginning of those?  The world.  Its' rare to open on characters in sci-fi.  You have to sell the world just as much as you do the characters.  The best sci-fi can do these two things at the same time.

There are two flashbacks in the opening 10 pages which is 2 to many in my opinion.  I will discuss the other one later but I do think that this one doesn't do a lot to help sell your characters.  Maybe this flashback could happen at a really tense moment later in the script when she is involved with her mother and they are having a conversation about Niles? 



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« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2012, 06:12 PM »

"When brilliant scientist Megan Earnhart's time machine gives her a second chance at knowing her dead fiance and mother..."

Stop right there.  I'm reading that as (and don't try to stop me): Megan's dead fiance is ALSO her mother.  A gender-bending time-travel movie.  Something only a kink in time could allow.

Pedro Almodóvar, when you arrive here via Google Alerts, you're so very welcome.

Thanks PP. After I wrote it and read it back to myself, I knew it needed changing. But I can't go back in and edit here. I'll work on the logline.
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« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2012, 06:26 PM »

I guess I have a lot more to think about than I thought T&J. Lately, I've been having trouble seeing my script objectively. I finished the first draft in February then took a month off. And I've been working on it pretty much non stop on and off since. 

I have watched a lot of sci/fi but not read a lot. But I just forgot about focusing on describing the "world" first. I do agree with that. I guess I thought at the time, I wanted to present the world as more or less like the one we live in now for the beginning.

Thanks for reading further.

I had trouble finding the 'Looper' script. I liked 'Brick'; especially the dialogue.
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« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2012, 07:15 PM »

I'll see if I can find Looper for you.

I'm gonna try to make this page shorter on my explanations just because...

1. I'd reword this.  Maybe lose the 60% line.  Is it necessary to get the point across that the character is making.

2. There needs to be an of in there somewhere.  opposite ends of a table not, opposite end table. Speaking of.  Why does the size of the table even matter? 

3. Off Screen dialogue that doesn't matter to the story.  I'd cut it.

4. Reading Norman Rockwell's street's just reads odd to me.  Maybe Rockwell-esque street. 

5. The scene is taking place in the basement but you say that her house is messy?  Are we establishing the house as well as the basement?  Or is just the basement that is messy?

Also, I am a firm believer in the try not to make description lines more than 3 lines long.  If you have to then separate them into more than paragraph.   Chances are if you start separating them into 3 lines you can find some lines that aren't essential to getting your vision across.


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« Reply #12 on: June 07, 2012, 07:23 PM »

1. Over description to the max.  Like I said in my last post about the 3 line rule that some people use.  This paragraph would benefit from it. 

2. Why does this empty space get two lines worth of description?  It's an empty space.  If you are giving empty space this much attention it better have a reason and it better be essential to your story and it probably should have a name.  Also, no reader is going to care about the dimensions of said space.

3. with blonde hair with shimmering silver streaks.  Again over descriptive.  Are the silver streaks necessary to the character or does blonde convey enough?  Plus you used with twice and that's just not easy to read.

4. Sleep hasn't been her friend.  Short sweet, it explains everything that you are trying to convey about this character in 5 words.  Good work.  You need more of that.

5-6. From the basement she hears the humming sound.  The whole is shaking.  Aren't we all hearing it?  This is another one of those lines of dialogue where I don't find it necessary.  She has just walked into a home that is shaking like it has Parkinsons and she stops to make a statement about it not being what she thinks it is?  I think she would more likely rescue the plant and then head straight down or a "What the hell is going?"  Plus, I don't think the comma is needed in that line if you choose to keep it.  I mean to some extent we have to think that this character has been here before since she did just walk in to the house or that she would have some inkling of what's going on.


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« Reply #13 on: June 07, 2012, 07:30 PM »

Page 5.

1. Do you see that added space between laser and beams?  Because I do.

2. I find this to be over descriptive.  There's a laser with a dot.  That's the main point of this two description blocks, right?  Does it oscillating matter?  Does the reader need to know every square inch of the lasers?

3. Another unneeded comma in that line.

4. This is a line that I would trim down to get to one line since it's not that imperative to story.  Rogan sets the drinks on a table and approaches Megan.  Does she need her arms crossed?  Is that conveying something secretly that I, as the reader, don't know about.

5. She just referred to her as Rogan on the previous page and now she is putting the Miss in front of her name.  Does she need to use the name at all.  There is no one else in the basement so can't she just say, "Look at this."?

Half way through the ten pages and honestly, I would have stopped here had this site been called 5PTT.  So far there is nothing to keep me going.  Do I want to know why the kids are moving crimson buttons a quarter inch with their minds?  Not really because it's only a quarter inch.  Low stakes = low rewards.  Do I want to see why the house is shaking?  Well I see this laser beam is doing it and I don't know why this laser beam even exists.  particle something something something else.  But what does that really mean?  Are we searching for the meaning of life with atoms here?  Are we smashing particles to try to produce something?  I have no idea.  Maybe we will find out over the next 5 pages and then I will be sucked into the story.  


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« Reply #14 on: June 07, 2012, 08:04 PM »

I just wanna jump in here and say you are doing a phenomenal job TJ.
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