script doctor
Dialogue repair specialist
A script doctor is a writer hired to improve a screenplay, usually uncredited.
Studios bring in script doctors to fix dialogue, punch up jokes, restructure plots, or salvage troubled productions: They hired three script doctors before filming began.
The term suggests emergency intervention—someone called in to diagnose and treat a script's problems.
Film's written blueprint
- rewriteRevise text substantially
- polishSmooth by rubbing
- draftPreliminary version of text
- editModify written material
notes · punch-up · structure · pacing · scenes · pages · treatment · coverage
Not formally recognized
- hired gunPaid outside specialist
- fixerOne who resolves issues
- ghostwriterUncredited hired author
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
troubleshooter · specialist · on-call · behind-the-scenes · anonymous · last-minute · production · reshoot
Spoken exchange between parties
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
- arcCurved line segment
- subplotSubordinate narrative strand
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
subtext · motivation · conflict · climax · denouement · pacing · tone · voice
- studio systemVertically integrated film production
- WGAAmerican screenwriters' labor union
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- creditRecognition or payment deferral
William Goldman · Joss Whedon · Aaron Sorkin · Quentin Tarantino · fee
screenplay
Film's written blueprint
edit · notes · punch-up · structure · pacing · scenes · pages · treatment · coverage · turnaround
uncredited
Not formally recognized
- hired gunPaid outside specialist
- fixerOne who resolves issues
- ghostwriterUncredited hired author
collaborator · troubleshooter · specialist · on-call · behind-the-scenes · anonymous · last-minute · production · reshoot · emergency
dialogue
Spoken exchange between parties
- characterizationDescribing distinctive qualities
- arcCurved line segment
- subplotSubordinate narrative strand
exposition · subtext · motivation · conflict · climax · denouement · pacing · tone · voice · setpiece
Carrie Fisher
- studio systemVertically integrated film production
- WGAAmerican screenwriters' labor union
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
William Goldman · Joss Whedon · Aaron Sorkin · Quentin Tarantino · credit · fee
- HollywoodHollywood, Tinseltown, Hollywood Sign, silver screen, movie stars
- screenwritingscreenplay, screenplays, screenwriter, screenwriting, scriptwriting
- job slangcop, doc, medic, cabbie, barista
- Script Termsdialogue, lines, cue, blocking, screenplay
- TV Writing Jobsstaff writer, showrunner, writing assistant
- writersauthor, novelist, writer, poet, journalist
script doctorcreator
One who produces something
originator · auteur · showrunner · novelist · playwright
script, doctor, scripts, scripted, scripting, scriptwriter, scripture, scriptural, scribe