Queens Gambit

Executive Summary

Pass/Consider/Recommend/Highly Recommend

Consider

Explanation: The screenplay shows promise with its effective establishment of urgency, mystery, and character relationships. However, there are areas that need improvement, such as smoother transitions between scenes and more engaging dialogue. The missing elements include clearer explanations of character motivations and emotional journeys. Notable points include the use of visual and auditory cues to create tension and the introduction of intriguing conflicts and relationships. Overall, the screenplay has potential but requires further development to fully engage the audience.

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Overview

Genres: Drama

Setting: 1950s and 1960s, Kentucky, USA and Paris, France

Overview: The screenplay shows strong character development and emotional depth, but it lacks originality and unpredictability. Dialogue is effective but could benefit from more depth and standout moments.

Themes: Identity and Self-Image, Conformity and Rebellion, Power and Control, Friendship and Support, Escape and Freedom

Conflict and Stakes: Beth's struggle to overcome her addiction and pursue her chess career, while navigating the challenges of being an orphan and a young woman in a male-dominated world.

Overall Mood: The overall tone of the screenplay is somber, reflective, and bittersweet, with moments of hope and triumph.

Mood/Tone at Key Scenes:

  • Scene 1: The opening scene establishes the orphanage as a cold and unwelcoming place, setting the tone for Beth's struggles.
  • Scene 5: Beth's discovery of her talent for chess brings a sense of hope and possibility, but the scene is tinged with sadness as she realizes the challenges she faces.
  • Scene 12: The scene where Beth overdoses on pills is harrowing and intense, highlighting the destructive power of addiction.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: A young female protagonist who is a chess prodigy and struggles with addiction
  • Plot Twist : Beth's discovery of her biological father and the revelation of her mother's past
  • Distinctive Setting : The orphanage and the chess tournaments provide unique and visually interesting settings
  • Innovative Idea : The exploration of chess as a metaphor for life and the challenges of addiction
  • Unique Characters : The characters are well-developed and relatable, with complex motivations and flaws
  • Genre Blend : The screenplay blends elements of drama, coming-of-age, and sports

Comparable Scripts:

  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
  • Girl, Interrupted
  • The Shawshank Redemption
  • A Beautiful Mind
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • Silver Linings Playbook
  • Black Swan
  • The Breakfast Club
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
  • Requiem for a Dream
Market Analysis

Budget Estimate:$20-30 million

Target Audience Demographics: Adults aged 18-45, fans of drama, coming-of-age stories, and chess

Marketability: The screenplay has strong central characters, a compelling storyline, and timely themes that will appeal to a wide audience.

The screenplay is well-written and has a solid foundation, but it may need some additional development to make it more marketable to a mainstream audience.

The screenplay has potential, but it may need to be revised to make it more accessible and appealing to a wider audience.

Profit Potential: Moderate, due to its niche appeal and limited box office potential, but strong potential for streaming and awards recognition.

Scene Level Percentiles
Script Level Percentiles
Emotions Elicited Percentiles
Writer's Voice

Summary:The writer's voice is characterized by concise and descriptive language, realistic dialogue, and a focus on visual details and character emotions. The narrative and dialogue effectively convey the mood, themes, and depth of the screenplay.

Best representation: Scene 1 - A New Beginning. This scene is the best representation because it showcases the writer's ability to create a vivid and engaging visual experience through concise and descriptive language.

Memorable Lines:

  • Beth: Checkmate. (Scene 7)
  • Alice: Fear is just a phantom. (Scene 8)
  • Mr. Shaibel: I don't play strangers. (Scene 4)
  • Beth: I'm sorry. (Scene 1)
  • Mrs. Deardorff: Your behavior has come as a profound shock to all of us. Nothing-- nothing-- in the history of the Methuen Home has been so deplorable. It must not happen again. (Scene 13)
Story Shape
Emotions Elicited