Many screenwriters aim to write a “good” script — one that meets all the technical standards: solid pacing, clean formatting, distinct characters, and a coherent structure. Those elements are essential if you want your screenplay to read professionally.
But No Film School’s recent piece argues that this is often only the baseline for consideration in the industry. To truly break through, your goal should be to write a script that someone in the business calls their favorite — the one they’re personally excited to champion.
What Makes a Script Someone’s Favorite?
A “great” script might get positive coverage and be technically sound, but executives and producers often read several well‑crafted scripts each week. The one they choose to back is rarely just good — it’s the one that feels irresistible to them.
No Film School explains producers aren’t just buying a project, they’re buying three years of their life — meaning they need to feel personally driven by it.
According to the article, a favorite script typically has three key traits:
- It makes someone obsessed: It sparks such excitement that the reader can’t stop thinking about it — the kind of script a producer stays up late discussing or pitching.
- Pitchability: Beyond a solid concept, it has a hook that makes people lean in and engage, lending itself to clear, compelling presentations to talent and financiers.
- Authentic voice: Favorite scripts feel unique — they carry the writer’s specific perspective, quirks, or emotional truth. Too often, scripts fall into familiar patterns that are safe but forgettable.
Great Isn’t Enough — Memorable Is
In today’s competitive spec market, where executives might read five to ten “good” scripts in a week, only one might stand out as the one they love. A script that’s technically proficient but doesn’t elicit a visceral reaction usually ends up in the “maybe” pile — industry code for unlikely to be pursued. This reality underscores the difference between professionalism and passion.
Write What You Only You Can Write
The article urges writers to move beyond trying to write what they think the market wants. Instead, they should craft stories that only they could tell — with distinctive characters, voice, and perspective. Those are the scripts that become personal favorites and are more likely to earn development and production attention.
In essence: aim not just to meet industry standards, but to create a script that makes someone fall in love with it — because that’s often what it takes to get noticed and supported in Hollywood.
