Filmmaking / Directing : The 5 Stages of "Writing" the Final Script (pt2) by Peter D. Marshall

Throughout these five stages, the director plays a critical role in ensuring the story makes sense and that each character’s performance (their beats and moments) is consistently shown. The director must also keep track of what the story is (really) about through all these stages.

(2) First Drafts: The first draft is the first full version of a script, where ideas from the outline are developed into scenes, dialogue, and character interactions. While called a "first draft," it often takes multiple revisions before the script is polished and ready for production.

1. Expanding the Outline: Writers turn the outline into a full script by adding scenes, action, and dialogue, uncovering new ideas or challenges along the way.

2. Focus on Completion, Not Perfection: The goal is to finish the draft, even if parts are rough, building momentum for later refinement.

3. Finding the Voice and Tone: Writing the scenes helps define the story’s tone and characters' voices, allowing for experimentation to fine-tune the balance of dialogue and pacing.

4. Addressing Plot and Character Challenges: As the story develops, writers may notice forced or unclear plot points, shallow or inconsistent character motivations, and scenes that don't advance the story. These issues are flagged for future drafts.

5. Series of First Drafts: The first draft is rarely enough to capture the writer’s vision. Each draft gets closer to a version ready to share with producers, directors, or financiers. Multiple drafts help to: remove unnecessary scenes or subplots; add depth to relationships and motivations; make dialogue sharper and more authentic; and adjust the story’s rhythm for better engagement.

NEXT ARTICLE: The 5 Stages of "Writing" the Final Script (pt3)