It started in 2018:
After realizing I'd read over 100 scripts in 2018, I posted the list and challenged myself to top it for 2019. In 2020, I invited my readers to join me! Here's how it ended up.
What I read in 2020:
1. Knives Out*
2. 1917
3. Rocketman*
4. The Two Popes*
5. Joker
6. Irishman, The
7. Marriage Story
8. Jojo Rabbit
9. Little Women
10. Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood
11. Parasite
12. Ford v. Ferrari
13. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
14. Dolemite is My Name
15. Hustlers
16. Pain and Glory
17. Richard Jewell
18. Addams Family (1991)
19. Friday the 13th
20. Get Out
21. The Godfather
22. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
23. Laws of Attraction
24. Seventh Seal
25. The Game
26. What About Bob?
27. Big
28. Elizabethtown
29. Dumb & Dumber
30. Ghost
31. Breaking Bad (pilot)
32. West Wing (pilot)
33. Shakespeare in Love
34. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
35. Grand Budapest Hotel
36. Nebraska
37. The Martian
38. Back to the Future
39. Somewhere in Time
40. Groundhog Day
41. Leap Year
42. 13 Going On 30
43. Mr. Nobody
44. Twelve Monkeys
45. Peggy Sue Got Married 46. Doctor Strange | 47. Blast From the Past
48. Booksmart
49. The Breakfast Club
50. Ten Things I Hate About You
51. Dead Poets Society
52. Good Will Hunting
53. If Beale Street Could Talk
54. Do The Right Thing
55. Loving
56. Green Book
57. Selma
58. Mudbound (pilot)
59. Fruitvale Station
60. 12 Years A Slave
61. Fences
62. Malcolm X
63. Remember the Titans
64. Amistad
65. The Hate U Give
66. 12 Angry Men
67. Hidden Figures
68. All The President’s Men
69. Bridge of Spies
70. Harriet
71. Meet The Parents
72. Freaky Friday (1976)
73. Freaky Friday (2003)
74. Clueless
75. Legally Blonde
76. My Cousin Vinny
77. Thelma & Louise
78. Inception
79. New Girl (pilot)
80. The Office (U.S. pilot)
81. Blackish (pilot)
82. Fresh Off The Boat (pilot)
83. Modern Family (pilot)
84. Story of Us
85. Silver Linings Playbook
86. The Social Network
87. As Good As It Gets
88. The Help
89. The Lovebirds
90. Always Be My Maybe
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I read scripts as a juror for two international competitions, as well as for screenwriting colleagues. I read considerably more in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Total yet-to be produced scripts: 68
Total produced scripts: 90
Grand total: 158
What I learned in 2020:
Some gatekeepers say they stop reading after page one if they're not engaged, and if I had to guess, most stop reading by page ten. When I read for the competitions I'm required to read the 25-30 pages I'm given. Honestly, on page one I usually know right away if it's going to be an easy, engaging read or if I'm going to drag through and struggle to understand. I try to give every writer positives and suggestions to elevate. If there's one thing every writer should consider, it's grabbing the reader/audience in the first three minutes (3 pages). I'm getting pretty good at recognizing which screenplays will make it to the finals--and all of them hook me on page one.
Where to find scripts:
https://indiefilmhustle.com/free-screenplays-download/
https://www.imsdb.com
