fast read scripts? (examples?)

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
Any recommendations for fast read feature screenplays? Maybe it is just me, but some seem to read very fast for me-- The Cave, Twilight, Maid in Manhatten, She's All That, etc. Looking for fast read features scripts to add to my reading list. Suggestions?
 
Not sure everything you've read, but I guess the important qualifications for a quick read would be: 1) it's interesting and 2) lots of dialogue and maybe 3) short length. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read any of the scripts you mentioned yet. But I have read a few scripts recently that might fit your bill:

An Officer and a Gentleman. Classic. 104 pages.

The Usual Suspects. 100 pages.

Being John Malkovich. Not sure if you're interested in comedy. 100 pages.

Pretty Woman. 105 pages.

The Princess Bride. 105 pages. And you could comment in my other thread... :thumbup:

I think those all read pretty fast. I think I'll add your four to my queue now too.
 
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Alien. Minimalist scene descriptions and dialogue, but very atmospheric and moody.

Being John Malkovich is also really good -- stripped down to only what is necessary for the story.
 
I tend to refer to a few movies I like: The Fugitive, Witness (it seems like it should be slow but it really moves on the screen), and I also like Bourne Identity, War of the Worlds (Spileberg/Koepp) I enjoyed the screenplay as much as the film itself and thought that one scene that was cut, was actually in the film... I saw it in my mind that well! Koepp is my current favorite for style.
 
10s said:
Koepp is my current favorite for style.
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Too bad Koepp had to go and write the awful "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".

Man, I know he was brought in late and Lucas pretty much gave him a detailed framework to write in, but boy, did that movie's script have problems.

-- Artman009
 
Artman009 said:
Too bad Koepp had to go and write the awful "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".

Man, I know he was brought in late and Lucas pretty much gave him a detailed framework to write in, but boy, did that movie's script have problems.

-- Artman009
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Keopp's comment about the process describes it as very challenging. He had to please Lucas, Spielberg & Ford. He could often please 2 out of 3. Not his best work... ;)
 
Thank you to all. I just placed my order with scriptfly. :)
ALIEN (1979) $20
BOURNE IDENTITY THE (2002) $15
FUGITIVE THE (1993) $20
PANIC ROOM THE (2002) $15
PRETTY WOMAN (1990) $15
TAKEN (2009) $15
 
Every time you read, try to increase the number of words you look at in a time. In most cases, holding the text a few inches away from your eyes will allow you to see more words and read faster.
 
The Matrix
Rushmore
The Sixth Sense

Pretty much all the great movies have fast-reading scripts.

A while ago, I saw a guy on ebay that was selling a CD with 650 scripts on it for $15. Might be slightly illegal, but just for reading it could be a good source. I prefer a hard copys though.
 
Charli said:
"Armored" written by James V. Simpson out this fall/winter.
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Written by a fellow Vancouverite! (So proud! - don't know him or anything, though).

Was also his first sale (or so I've heard)

He also got $400k for it after placing in the semi-finals of the Nicholl's fellowship (Or so I've heard)
 
Tormod said:
You should definitively read Buried by Chris Sparling. Lighting fast and contained to one location

http://www.sendspace.com/file/zggxw1
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While the script is a good read (if a little on the nose) I can only imagine the film would become tedious pretty quickly. The script works because you imagine scenes outside of the box as they are being talked about. If the film is really only in one location I think it will be too much.
 
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Hey, saw you ordered "The Bourne Identity". I actually just read the scripts for all three flicks in preparation for my next feature. I took the lazy (cheap) way out though and found them on script-o-rama and printed them. =)
 
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