Cutting down on my script

 It is near the end of my scriptwriting time, though it is possible for me to make some minor changes based on availability of actors and settings, will be moving on to planning an storyboarding next. Though i am excited for what is it to come, i still feel very anxious about the length of my script, coming up at least 4 pages. Feeling frustrated over what else to cut or shorten, since it has come down from its previous 6 pages long through some formatting changes and the creation of a montage for half of act 2, i have started looking for more advice in more of the editing part of scriptwriting, since i have never really profoundly edit a script
before, only ever changed things on my first draft based on subjective recommendations by other people, sometime even lengthening the pages. I also feel like if i revisit my script one more time i will start to not like it and think is "not good enough", but i try remembering the advice that someone once gave me, "even if not perfect, it is yours", meaning that i created it myself, which is more than never starting out of fear of failing. And, even if it is everything that i fear, i will have all of this usual practice and research to take into my next projects. 

In the article that i choose, the author concentrates on the idea of cutting, the perfect thing that i need to do with my own script, taking an original spin from the common phrase used by writers, "writing is rewriting". It recommends to first focus on the dialogue, which is not a great quantity in my script but could have some arrangements, eliminate the initial salutations, but I am hesitant to do so, since i feel like it will take away from the realistic tone that i want to portray, but i do admit starting with a question seems better for the dialogue to progress further and have the audience interested at the same time. Eliminating commentary is another good option for me to consider, trying to leave the audience feeling uneasy and ask what Mariposa is thinking. 

It tells to reread the script in its entirety again, making sure to cut things that do not make the story progress and may have been part of previous drafts. My genre relies on these moments of introspection with the protagonist, so will make sure to cut off the dialogue with the cashier lady, since that was an idea that i had while writing my beats, but seems more like a character that is not necessary. This also allows me to have more focus on how Mariposa feels, being judged, without having another person taking her out of the trance. 

After that, it has some details on eliminating action lines at the end of scenes, used by me in mostly the act 1 and act 3. It brings about the limitation of parentheticals, which i only had one in my original script, since i knew the advice to not indicate every single way and intonation, can be inferred by context and the actors. I did not had any ellipses, but i did have long lines of action, more accustomed to write very descriptively, but that would be handled more when i do the blocking.

It always helps me to put a list of what needs to be done in a chronological order and in level of importance, that is why the style of the different techniques to edit and in what order to do them has been more easy for my mind to digest than a long paragraph explaining a single one. The scriptwriting is coming to an end, still nervous of sharing it publicly but more calmed after reflecting on it with myself. 

Citations:

Giegerich, Matt. “Writing Is Deleting: Script Editing Techniques For Screenwriters.” Movie Outline - Screenwriting Software, 2018, www.movieoutline.com/articles/writing-is-deleting-script-editing-techniques-for-screenwriters.html.

Kyritsis, Angelos. “Cut a Video Easily, in Full Quality, with Free Video Editor.” PCsteps.com, 17 Dec. 2016, www.pcsteps.com/1922-cut-a-video-easy-full-quality-free-video-editor/.