Script Auditing!

Importance of Film Script Auditing

Film Script Auditing is the validation process of identifying gaps, issues, and flaws in the Film Script. An audit determines whether the script is providing a true and fair view, story narrative, character arc, plot structure, dialogues, and events.

Script Auditor needs to keep their ears open and be sharp to hear information that will be useful during the assignment. There may be some information that the auditor may conclude that it is misleading or confusing. But it is better to test everything during an assignment instead of not testing it and later regretting it.

Script Auditing is done on the by applying audits, writers/directors can identify the issues much earlier and can avoid huge financial damage. The auditor is not a superior person to the writer. One should not consider the script auditor as a threat or a competitor. By finding issues, it does not mean that a script auditor is an intelligent person and the writer/director is less capable. The audit helps the writer/director to see the vantage point they are unable to see. Auditing is an external arm of the writing team.

Usually, the script audit is conducted after the completion of the bound script. But in a few cases, the writer/director takes the support of the auditor in each course of writing. Below given layers are also audited by the auditor if the writer/director wants to make sure that they are in the right path;

Ideation to Logline

Logline to Synopsis

Synopsis to One line Order (Treatment)

Fixing up the point of view, Applying Genre, and Plot Structure.

Creating believable characters and their events.

The first draft of the screenplay.

Even if the script auditor contributes to each course of writing, there may be some missing links that one may not see. Auditing the Bound Script gives a clear indication of what is missing in the entire script.

Sai Vijendhiran

Associate Professor, Script Auditor, Author and Writer.