"Sheep's End" Skypecast

For the last few months, several TriggerStreet members have gotten together Thursday nights to hold readings of our screenplays. We do this with the Skypecast feature of Skype - holding the VoIP version of a conference call. It works fairly well and one of us records the proceedings.

Last night, I threw "Sheep's End" to the gang. I would have liked to listen only, bu we were short of participants, so I read the black.

This was the first time I'd heard someone read my script (besides myself). Often, our readings will painfully highlights flaws in plot and execution. I gotta say, I was pleased with how "Sheep's End" survived. In fact, it reads much better aurally than it does on the page as the character nuances come to life. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing for a spec amateur.

For example, Hawthorn, the strong protagonist of few words, has a subtle transformation that's much more obvious as the tone of the words changes. That's a credit to the guy who read him, but I think it also helps the writer (me) in suggesting ways to make this pop on the page.

We conclude each reading with a discussion of the screenplay and last night, one reader mentioned a parallel I'd never considered: Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

It's a great process, and it has prompted several thoughts to consider.

Bonus career update:

I'm going to be in Toronto next Thursday for a meeting. Mike, Mark, and I will meet with the Jewish War Veterans of Canada to talk about getting our Jewish War Veterans International Memorial film project going. This is getting good.