However, it is possible to cater to two different demographics on opposite sides of the spectrum. Every film has a target demographic and it can’t be “everybody”. If obvious predictions can be made within the first ten pages, readers won’t be inclined to continue because they feel as though they’ve already figured it out.Īgain, how you chose to present your hook depends on your target demographic. There has to be an aspect of surprise and uncertainty while feeding into the audience’s ego of picking up on subtle information. The pace at which they learn new information and solve problems should be intentional. Therefore, the worst thing you can do is dumb down the writing for them. It’s also the writer’s responsibility to know their audience. No matter how small of a detail it is, anything that sets the tone or builds the world and characters is worth putting in the beginning. However, don’t mistake this as an exposition dump. Instead, pick the most important details that serve as relevant information. It’ll overwhelm the reader and leave you no room to grow. However, don’t worry about compiling every little detail at the beginning. As a writer, it’s your responsibility to know your story from front to back. Treat the first ten pages as if that’s all the time you have to tell your story. The most effective hooks are specific to the tone of the story and cater to the target audience. Luckily, there are a lot of ways to hook an audience. Not only do you need to grab their attention, but also sustain it throughout the entirety of the story. “Hooking the reader” is another term for grabbing the reader’s attention. The following information will help you become one of the naturals at perfecting your first ten pages. When you read countless scripts on the daily for years on end, spotting the good ones comes naturally.
These quick decisions may seem rash, but the people making them are professionals for a reason. Therefore, only the most intriguing and well-crafted scripts will make it past the first ten pages.
It’s impossible to read through mountainous stacks of scripts. Producers and studio executives run a tight schedule. In a world of infinite sources of entertainment, viewer’s decisions are made fast.Īlthough, not as fast as the decisions made by industry professionals. That’s about how long it takes for a viewer to decide whether the rest of the 110 minutes is worth their time. These pages make up the first ten minutes or so. The first ten pages of any screenplay are always the most important. Introduce the World in the First Ten Pages Introduce the Protagonist in the First Ten Pages Hook the Reader with the First Ten Pages.