Nowhere Boy, Script versus Screen

[selenak]

So an early script of Nowhere Boy (31st March 2008) came my way, and the differences to the final screen version are virtually a text book lesson in good editing and rewriting. With some scripts of films you find yourself thinking, damn, I wish they'd kept this, or you even like an earlier version of a scene better, but wow, here it's basically all

Comments

[zahrawithaz]

Haven't seen this film, but I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on it. I love the editing process, and what it means when you get to see deleted scenes and the like--and an early script is even better.

And wow, it sounds like quite an improvement. Along with the general sense of streamlining, those quotes for comparison are pretty hilarious.

[selenak]

I'm quite intrigued by the film making process, early drafts to film/episode to finished work, so I'm always grateful to find stuff like this when I'm into the final product, so to speak.

Quite an improvement indeed, and I now picture the director, Sam Taylor-Wood, getting this script and mentally going, no, Matt, no, with a red pencil over certain dialogue passages. And expensive animated sequences. :) Mind you, it's sort of endearing that you recognize he did a lot of research, but he's prone to letting characters voice biographer theories in this version of the script, instead of going for plausible-sounding dialogue. (Points, though, for neither here or in the finished product going the cheap route and cribbing lines from A Hard Day's Night.)

[ponygirl2000]

I remember there was a great thread back in the day on ATPoBTVS comparing the script for the episode Passion with the actual episode, it was a very striking illustration of the necessity of a good re-write. The voiceovers for that episode before Joss got hold of them were clunky and as obvious as could be and he made them into poetry. I do have some sympathy though, the thing about scripts is that one can never be sure how closely they're being read so there's a temptation to throw in everything in the most sledgehammery way possible.

There's audio commentary on Nowhere Boy? I don't remember seeing that on the N. American dvd, I'll have to check it again! ::is intrigued::

[selenak]

I don't remember the discussion, but I do remember the script, back when so many BTVS scripts were online! So yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. (Another good example would be the church scene between Buffy and Spike in the second s7 episode in the original version versus rewrite. Or the scene between Darla and Angel in "Dear Boy" (btw, ha! Only notice that one now! Appropriate divorce song title is appropriate) in Greenwalt's original versus Marti's rewrite

[pseudo_tsuga]

This was great to read! I love the comparisons of teenager talk the most. I work with girls that age sometimes and it definitely sound more realistic after revisions.

[selenak]

I am assuming it was a while since Matt G. had talked to a teenager. On the other hand, Sam Taylor-Wood is the mother of one...