How many of us dread facing a friend who hands us their latest work and casually asks, "Could you look this over and let me know what you think?" I remember going to see a theater showcase in New York some years ago that was the worst show I ever saw. After the house lights came on the entire audience remained in their seats. We were all friends of one member of the production or another, and dreaded going backstage to see them because we had nothing positive to say. Finally, I settled on shaking their hand and saying, "Good isn't the word."
But we must learn to honestly evaluate our work and others, if we're going to create more compelling, effective entertainment. Here are some tips that I've used over the years as a theatre director, television programmer, and writer, that can help you evaluate better without hurting too much.
1. Praise First -- there's usually something good you can say about anything. Say it first, and the criticism becomes less harsh.
2. If there's nothing good to say at all, just pick out one thing that's particularly bad and talk about that. At least that will improve in the next draft.
3. Point out areas where you were confused and lost the story line. A good phrase to use is, "I wasn't sure why you did ..." or "I think I lost the thread of the story on this page (or this timecode)..."
4. Be specific -- point out page numbers and paragraphs (or scenes of the movie) or lines where you have questions. Avoid general comments like "it should be funnier," or "it lacked drama."
5. Praise last -- Always end on a positive note. Remind your friend or colleague that there's promise in the material and it will get better if they work to improve it. That will encourage them to revise and improve the idea.
Remember that no one can be sure what show, movie, or novel will achieve popular success. Every network passed on The Cosby Show before NBC took it. Studios paid top dollar for the screenplay of 'Showgirls.' Your friend's idea could become a hit, too. So praise and encourage, and be specific.
No comments:
Post a Comment