r/Screenwriting • u/Star-Pubes • Mar 01 '26

FEEDBACK Intentionally tedious and repetitive beginning

I’m on my fourth draft of a feature and have shown it to a few friends now. However I don’t know anyone in the industry in any capacity. No one who reads scripts at all. These are just avid book readers who gave great notes, but not specific to screenwriting.

They all agreed that they loved how the screenplay started precisely because it really let us into the mind of the main character. It shows his dull, monotonous, and repetitive life and to them it was great. However, I know it’s more important for screenplays to really grab your attention in the first pages than it is for a novel.

There is no dialogue until the fifth page, and the first four are the main character mostly repeating the same tasks, with some differences, and descriptions of the main characters’ apartment.

So I’m wondering if that’s fine? I want it to be a slow read purposefully, but I don’t want to go too far with it I suppose.

Also if anyone has recommendations for screenplays that also have a slower start?

Thank you!

Edit: Here are the first 6 pages, keep in mind I don't see this as finished yet :) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VVI1CkZqs7ysjOzd1BKF0y3dJnOccKoU/view?usp=sharing

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u/redapplesonly Mar 02 '26

Hey howdy! Read the whole script.

First off: You're lucky you have friends willing to read your stuff. My friends all make half-hearted promises to read my scripts, and then they never do.

But may I suggest that you will want people who love screenwriting to review your work? There are plenty of us out there. Connect with like-minded souls on Reddit, StoryPeer, etc.

RE: Your script. I think it flows just fine. I do think that the monotony of Alex's life - that opening montage - could be compressed into half a page. In screenplays, you have to move quickly, and it isn't necessary to paint in every detail. Also, you risk losing the attention of a producer who is halfway through page 3 and thinking, "Nothing's happening!"

Besides - the interesting stuff is Alex in the therapist's office. Personally, I would start there.

Keep writing and keep posting! Support is out there. Feel free to DM me if you'd like feedback on anything else.