How to Organize a Table Reading for your Horror Short Screenplays

The Creepy Short Table Reading

A valuable step before you put a screenplay into production or while you are working on rewrites is to organize a table reading. When we write our screenplays all of the dialogue is in our heads. The action lines and descriptions make sense to us, but are they coherent to other readers? Do the decisions your characters make, make sense? Hearing your words out loud and hearing your dialogue read by actors is one of the best ways to improve your craft. It’s also a great way of making sure a script is ready for production.

The Scripts

Last year, I wrote a raft of creepy short film scripts in the horror genre. I made a horror short years ago and I’ve written a few horror feature screenplays. I made the decision to focus on the horror genre last year.

After I wrote the horror short films, I took them through a series of re-writes. After reworking them and fine tuning the scripts through successive drafts I felt like four of them were getting close to being producible. I felt good about how the stories played out and I started to consider putting one of them into production. I felt ready for a table reading.

Finding Cast

When you feel your screenplay or short scripts are in a good place, you’ve taken your scripts through four or five drafts, and you’ve received feedback from trusted readers; it’s time to make a list of everyone who know who would be interested in reading a part. Ideally, your list will include actors you know personally. If you don’t know any actors, you can cast friends who remind you of the characters. A better option may be to post via social media, saying you are looking for actors. You will want one actor to read for each part in the script, and one other voice to read the action lines. If you are reading multiple shorts, actors can read multiple characters. For a feature length script, actors can also double up characters as long as they never have to read for two characters in the same scene.

For my four short film scripts, I made a matrix of the actors who were available to help and the various roles in the scripts. I could then assign roles or make adjustments as needed.

The Moderator

I feel it is best if you can ask a friend to moderate the reading. As the screenwriter, in a sense you are the host; but when it’s time for feedback you want someone you trust to keep the feedback going. If you have specific questions about your scripts, you can share those with the moderator as well. As screenwriter, your job is to listen to the feedback. You may not agree with the feedback but it won’t help your writing if you try to defend your script.

Set a Date

I had the benefit of being part of a table reading for a feature I co-wrote last year. From that reading, I had a bunch of recent contacts I could reach out to for the creepy short table reading. I set a date and a late morning time for the reading — Saturday at 11AM. My time commitment for the actors was thirty minutes for the reading and another thirty to forty five minutes for feedback with anyone who could stay. For some reason, early on the weekend works with a lot of people for a zoom table reading.

If you are attempting to meet in person, it may be more tricky to find a date and time that will work for everyone; especially if they are volunteering. I have had luck with early on the weekends in the past. Whatever works best for your readers.

I tried to set a rehearsal time but that didn’t work out.

The Script

Prior to the reading, preferably five days to a week before, you want to send the most recent version of the screenplay or scripts to your cast. For my reading, I continued to work on rewrites until the weekend before the reading. When I completed my final pass, I sent the actors and my moderator a dated script.

The Reading

On the day of the reading I started the zoom session a little early so I could welcome readers and colleagues as they arrived. When everyone logged in I said my thanks to the cast and the friends who were attending and I introduced everyone to my moderator.

After the introductions, I reminded the actors of the roles they would be reading for the scripts. With that I muted my mic and listened to them read my work.

I had a hard copy of the scripts in front of me and as they read I would take notes.

I listen for anything that doesn’t sound clear and dialogue that sounds clunky.

Feedback

After the reading, the Moderator took the cast and guests through a series of feedback questions. As they gave their feedback, I wrote down pages of notes. I ended up with six pages of notes by the end of the feedback session.

When the feedback session was over, I answered any questions my cast or guests had.

I thanked everyone again and that was it.

Take aways

After the creepy short table reading I discovered that there was pretty much a consensus on which script was closest to being ready for production. I gained valuable insight into the scripts. And I felt more confident in the scripts themselves.

Conclusion

Before you go through the expense and effort of turning a screenplay into a film, it’s a good idea to hold a table reading for your script. We are inside our own heads so much, it’s important to hear how others feel about our work. You may discover a scene isn’t working or isn’t needed. You may discover a script needs more work or that it’s ready to go. A table reading costs some effort and organization while making a film can cost a lot of money. Make sure your screenplay is ready to go on set.

I plan on making a spooky micro short, a creepy short, and a horror / thriller feature this year. To make these films happen, I need you, your friends, and your creepy cousin. Filmmaking will happen in Chicago. If you would like to support this horror slate, please connect.

Next week I will talk about: A New Direction — Horror Filmmaking

Check out last week’s blog post: How to write a Horror Short Screenplay