“It is all producers ask for not the last 20 pages.”
In addition to the above sentence you do not make your point well in
your blog. You set up a straw man “The opening scene introduces the
main character, what he wants, and what stands in his way to get it.”
and then poke holes in it to make your point.
Some stories start with the main character and set up what he wants
and what stands in his way. Many do not.
You ask the reader to trust you when you say most scripts are abandoned
“just a few pages in”. I have been one of what you call the “overworked
and underpaid people in Sunny Los Angeles” who cover scripts. We are
paid to read and cover the entire script. If we abandon the script just
a few pages in we do not get paid. Why should the blog reader trust you?
Okay, now that I've pulled out the knives I'll sheath them.
You point is good. I respect your opinion. Good writing is important to
getting your point and opinion across. This is especially true in a blog
on writing. The primary reason scripts are passed on isn't the “rules
and regulations” of screenwriting; the reason is poor writing.
Again, your point is good. A screenplay needs a strong opening. I love
your last paragraph. You lost me with inaccurate information and poor
writing.
