What is a script doctor?
I’m sure this is an unusual type of email, but I am doing some footwork for a friend of mine who wants to be a script doctor and doesn’t really know where to start. Right now he has a degree in English - Creative Writing and some film classes under his belt, but no experience in the industry. Can you offer some quick advise to someone looking to break into the field?
– Heather
Actually, this basic question comes up a fair amount, so it’s time I explain a term of art:
SCRIPT DOCTOR
An established screenwriter with significant credits who rewrites a script to address specific concerns, often shortly before production begins.
By this definition, I am a script doctor. I get brought in to help out on big expensive movies — two of which you’ll see in Summer 2008. They pay me significant money to do a few weeks’ work, for which I’ll never get credit. I’m hired for my talent, hopefully, but also my track record in getting movies up on their feet. I enjoy the work, partially because it’s a chance to date other movies while being married to the ones I’m “really” writing.
The thing is, no one who actually is a script doctor uses the term. My hunch is that some journalist made it up, likely because the work the screenwriter is doing on a script in this stage is often described as “surgical” — you’re going in to fix a very specific issue, and leaving everything else intact. Steve Zaillian is often brought up as script doctor, but make no mistake, that’s not a side-job to his writing career. It is part of his writing career.
To summarize, Heather, a script doctor is a screenwriter. So if that’s your friend’s goal, he needs to write a lot of scripts and have them produced. There are also non-writers involved in the process of shaping a story — producers, development executives — but their focus is working with a writer. If that’s his ambition, he’ll start out in the trenches, answering phones and writing script coverage.
UPDATE:
Damn, I knew I’d answered this before. In fact, it’s the fifth hit on Google for “script doctor.” Here’s what I said in 2004:
In the industry, a script doctor is an established screenwriter with a bunch of credits who comes in on a project shortly before production and does a rewrite to fix some specific, nagging problems. (Or, depending on your perspective, destroys the things that made the project unique.) Steve Zaillian is a highly-regarded script doctor. Arguably, I could be considered a script doctor, because I’ve done a fair number of these 23rd-hour emergency jobs. But no one’s business card reads “script doctor.� It’s a specific task within screenwriting, but not really a profession in-and-of itself.
A lot of times, the work you do on these projects is described as “surgical,� which fits well with the script doctor moniker. Generally, you’re not rewriting the whole script. You’re fixing a few key sections that aren’t working.
It’s strange to read an answer written nearly three years ago and see the same phrasing, same examples. I guess it’s good that I’m consistent.
By the way, I’ve added this to the wiki, in anticipation of the next time someone asks the question.
Articles
May 8th, 2007 at 6:17 am
Steve Zaillian may not have been credited with working on “Patriot Games”, but his name is mentioned by Anne Archer on the telephone as “Dr. Zaillian”.
May 8th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Frank Darabont is another one - he doctored Collateral - I think from a comedy to a thriller.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Neil Simon’s nickname is “Doc”, he’s known by many of his friends as Doc Simon, because of his reputation as a show doctor . . . he’d be brought in when a show or musical was in trouble out of town and “fix” it - sometimes he wouldn’t even get credited . . . so it goes farther than movies . . .
May 8th, 2007 at 8:23 am
John, are there legal or contractual reasons that you can’t tell us what movies you’ve done uncredited work on (such as the summer 2008 movies mentioned above)? Is it an etiquette issue? I’d love to know what else you’ve been partly responsible for.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:38 am
“I get brought in to help out on big expensive movies — two of which you’ll see in Summer 2008.”
So, no hints? Come on. Rhymes with…
May 8th, 2007 at 9:05 am
So, if we MUST use the doctor analogy, it’s kind of like asking how to be a medical consultant if you’ve never been a practician.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:36 am
I heard somewhere that Carrie Fisher was a script Doc. She has very little “writing credits” up on IMDB but, of course, she’s Carrie Fisher. I love Postcards. And it looks like she’s written for the Oscars quite a few times too…. From Leia Organa to Hollywood script Doctor…. dreamy….
May 8th, 2007 at 9:55 am
It’s an etiquette issue, largely — you don’t want to disrespect the writers whose names are on the movie. I’m happy to talk about the films I’ve worked on after they’re out. This often comes up during screenwriting workshops, when people ask about how the business works. I used to be really, really honest during these sessions, but now that more of these are taped, I’m a little more cautious about what I say.
Another good reason not to talk about it: to avoid the inevitable questions and critiques. “Is it true that so-and-so is being cast as ____?” or more often, “Are you staying true to the 1972 mythology, because if you’re not, you suck.”
It’s hard enough to keep on top of these issues when you’re the main writer on a project. When you’re the hired help, discretion is the best approach.
Only once have I worked on a project where I had to sign something saying I wouldn’t talk/write about it. But, of course, I can’t talk about that.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:57 am
It would seem obvious that a script doctor is someone who helps a script that is sick. Thus a screenwriter would be a logical choice…but probably not the only choice. In any event it doesn’t seem to be a logical choice as a career goal but rather the by-product of being good at your career (most likely screenwriter).
May 8th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
This isn’t how it works then?
http://www.atomfilms.com/film/script_doctor.jsp
May 8th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Hi John, thought I would mention, although I am sure you already know, Gilmore Girls is on its last season. This will free up Melissa McCarthy to do more movie projects. Is this a bittersweet moment for you? It being the end of the show, but also giving you the chance to use her in more of your films? Just wanted to see what you think. I hope to see more of her in films. I think she is great.
May 8th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Any thoughts on this book?
I Could’ve Written a Better Movie Than That! : How to Make Six Figures as a Script Consultant Even If You’re Not a Screenwriter
http://www.amazon.com/Couldve-Written-Better-Movie-Than/dp/1932907076/ref=sr11/102-0188161-9645741?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178668073&sr=8-1
I got it from the library a few weeks ago, just to see what it could possibly say. It was ridiculous, of course, telling people amazing script consultant secrets like “You will need an internet connection and a separate phone line to stay in touch with clients.”
It seems like it was written with the goal of suckering people like Heather’s friend.
May 8th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Well, I personally think I’d be quite a good “script doctor”. I’m very good at taking the writing of others and making it better. I’m the first person friends come to when they need a something proofread or input on a story idea. I would never expect to get a job in the industry doing only that, though. If I were a producer or studio, I’d rather hire someone who has written produced spec scripts AND has doctored other scripts that have gone on to critical and/or commercial acclaim.
I agree with John in that if that’s all you want to do, and you don’t much want to develop an entire story and write a spec for it, then you should probably persue becoming a producer. Unfortunantly, you can’t study to become a producer.. or can you?
I supposed this brings up a question I have, John: I love writing, and I love creating stories. However, another thing I think I would absolutely love is producing. Is there any particular course of study in college that yields itself well to becoming a producer (I’m a Marketing major), or is the largest aspect of it social networking? I’m perfectly good at networking, but something tells me I couldn’t just charm my way to becoming an assistant, or someone who writes coverage. To quote Eric from Entourage: “There are guys out here in the mail room with Wharton MBAs.”
May 9th, 2007 at 5:32 am
I came to London as an animator/illustrator (with copyrighting experience) and instead of doing much animating or illustrating found myself rewriting the script to an animated feature currently in production.
I am pleased to discover that there is a great deal of satisfaction in (hopefully) taking something that’s nearly working, or not working at all, and elevating it something much more satisfying.
It’s an interesting experience.
You spend all your time watching films and grumbling, “I wouldn’t have done it that way” or “That was stupid dialogue” and are then given the opportunity to contribute something of yourself to the project.
Jolly nice.
May 9th, 2007 at 8:48 am
John,
I read in a recent article in Script magazine how a screenwriter claimed to have made his start as a script READER. He made it out to be a freelance position where someone does the reading on behalf of an agent/studio and passes along recommendations. The writer HIGHLY recommended this route to newbies as a way to help hone their craft. I asked a screenwriter friend of mine and he said it sounded sketchy and he’d never heard of it. Thoughts?
Oh, and what’s your opinion about Script magazine versus Creative Screenwriting magazine?
Love the blog,
Jeff
May 9th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
John -
I know this isn´t the place for asking this (no, this is NOT the “would you read my script” question), but: in October 2006 you had a little article about the Montage Screenwriting software.
http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/macworld-review-of-montage
My question would be if you´ve tried out the latest update(s), or - the big one - if there´s any kind of new screenwriting software that might finally kill the crappy stuff that´s out there. Perhaps one day you could give an update on what you´re using etc.
Cheers - Jason
May 9th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Paul:
Sure you can study to become a producer — all you have to do is to do it. I’m not sure where you are, but there are people wanting to be filmmakers everywhere. Find ‘em, befriend ‘em, and see if there’s one that has something they’re trying to get off the ground that you believe in too. Finding a friend who wanted to produce films was the best part of my Group 101 experience (group101films.com). He helped me get my short, Dudley and the Toy Keeper’s Chest, off the ground and now it has won several awards in the US and Mexico, and has just started touring as part of Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams. All because I found someone looking to produce.
I was lucky enough in the past to meet Steven Spielberg, and I asked him what advice he could give me on getting started. He told me to keep making movies, to not be afraid of making mistakes, as they are the best learning opportunities, and to just never give up. I’ve found that advice works for making movies and more.
So, just get out there and start doing it. If you have a voice, someone will hear it.
May 10th, 2007 at 6:54 am
The Rock on Captain Marvel, I’m sure you’ve heard this already but none the less:
“John August is writing the script and he’s a tremendous writer, and I’ll just wait for the script to come in. But I’d love to work with Pete again, and certainly would want to work with John August. So there’s a strong possibility”, said Sir Rockio.
from moviehole.net
Always nice to hear.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Jeff:
Just to help stem the tide a little for the blogger himself, John worked as a freelance reader (“Getting a reader job”), and it’s common for screenwriters starting out. Terry Rossio (one of the writing pair behind “The Mask of Zorro” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” has written about his experience as a reader in his Wordplay columns (“Death to Readers”) which I highly recommend.
Caveat: I’ve never sold a screenplay, and I live in North Carolina, so I am hardly one to criticize. But I find a screenwriter who has never heard of readers somewhat dubious.
May 14th, 2007 at 5:17 am
John, have your scripts ever been “doctored?” Who were the doctors. I assume there would not be the same etiquette issue in a writer identifying his/her “doctor.” I also would like to assume that there is no shame in having someone work on your script, but I suspect this is a big part of the etiquette issue.
However, others who write for a living freely acknowledge their editors, and we know that some editors re-write asignificantly. What’s the problem? If your scripts always get “doctored” does that mean you are less likely to get your next movie produced? Do you get less money for your script if you have a reputation as the writer of “sick” scripts?