This article appeared in the June 2009 print edition of The Irish Times

by Paul Shrader, screenplay writer : "Mishima", "Taxi Driver", "Cat People", "Affliction"

Movies, television shows, cartoons, streaming video, YouTube clips. We’re swimming in storylines, suffering from ‘narrative exhaustion’. Can traditional cinema keep up ?

SCREENWRITERS love to complain. They are disrespected by producers, deemed dispensable by directors, not duly credited by critics, treated like employees by act...

Re-read you screenplay and ask these questions : -

1. Imagine the trailer. Is the concept marketable?

2. Is the premise naturally intriguing -- or just average, demanding perfect execution?

3. Who is the target audience? Would your parents go see it?

4. Does your story deal with the most important events in the lives of your characters?

5. If you're writing about a fantasy-come-true, turn it quickly into a nightmare-that-won't-end.

6. Does the screenplay create questions: will he find out the truth...