Rewriting Your Script is an important decision.

Rewriting Your Script for yourself is one thing, but what should you do when someone else asks for a rewrite? That's a tough question. You are excited because someone is interested. They think your script has potential, but it needs some work. They give you a few suggestions. Now what do you do?

I think Rewriting Your Script is one of the many things you as the writer, owner of the original material, must decide for yourself. Is the person asking for the rewrite interested in representing you or buying your script? What's their experience in script sales or producing?

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Basically, unless your script is purchased or optioned and part of your agreement includes a rewrite, maybe you shouldn't do it. If someone really likes your script and believes in your writing, they may not want to, but to keep it from anyone else, generally a producer or talent not agent, will pay you for a rewrite. As I have said throughout this website, screenwriting is a business and Rewriting Your Script should be seen as just another important part of that business.

I would probably be more inclined to do rewrites for an agent. The agent may have a particular producer in mind and knows what that producer is looking for right now. Also, just for a little sidebar, I am sure most screenwriters know, seldom if ever does a script get produced exactly as it was sold.

Let me tell you a little story of what happened to me several years ago. I made a contact with a small but successful producer in LA. She saw my first movie and then heard my horrific distribution nighmare. She asked if I had any other finished scripts she could read. I told her I had several, but one script a few St. Louis investors really liked.

I was in LA so we met for lunch, and I gave her my script. I was only in town for a few more days so she was going to try and read it before I left town. She called me later that night. She loved the script. Couldn't put it down. She wanted to discuss a possible co-production. Of course, I was more than just a little excited.

We realized my script was larger than both of our past productions. She asked if she could send it to a friend in the business who she trusted and who could put together larger productions. You guessed it, I said yes! Her producer friend was currently in Florida working on another production.

By the time I got home, her producer friend had already called and left two messages about the script. Yep, my excitement level grew! He loved the script! He asked my permission to give his copy to an "A" talent who was a close friend. Ok..Ok..even more excited now! He then asked if I would consider doing a rewrite based on his and the talent's suggestions. How could I say no?

I spoke with my LA contact to thank her. She had talked with her producer friend, but neither of us mentioned anything about rewrites. A few days later, I got a call from the producer. His "A" talent friend also loved the script and although he was too old to play the lead, he wanted to be involved. Maybe change one of the smaller roles for him?

I did two different rewrites which were received very favorably by the producer and talent. All this time, I just figured doing rewrites was the right thing to do. After a few weeks of no contact, I finally talked again with the producer. He rather coldly told me that he and his talent friend were no longer interested but thanks for letting them read my script. Quite the kick in the teeth.

A few days later I spoke with my LA contact. She hadn't talked with her producer friend and wanted to know how things were going. In passing, I told her that after two rewrites that I thought went very well, her producer friend and the talent were no longer interested. She abruptly ended the conversation but said she would call back after talking with her producer friend.

Later that day she called me. I thought she knew about the rewrites. Boy was I wrong. After giving her producer friend an earful, she layed into me. I believe if possible, she would have climbed through the phone line and choked me.

She then explained to me an unwritten rule about rewrites. One I never heard. She called it the Rule of Three. Unless you are Rewriting Your Script for you, no rewrites for anyone unless three or more people you know and trust who are in the industry make the same negative comments or criticisms. She was more than adamant, no rewrites unless you are being paid!

I did ask other screenwriters about Rewriting Your Script, the Rule of Three. Most said they had heard it but would probably do rewrites if they thought it would get a script sold or get them representation.

So we are back to you, the writer, deciding if Rewriting Your Script is the right thing to do. Be careful. Trust your gut feeling. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for advice. It never hurts to get another opinion.

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