Author: Joanna Ke

If grace married silliness, their child would be Joanna Ke. Joanna is an award-winning filmmaker that thrives in the industry as an actor, writer, professional script reader, and producer. She champions diverse stories led by women both behind and in front of the camera. Joanna has been creating stories ever since she was a child, performing skits for her sisters and scribbling in journals before she even know how to write. She studied the craft of screenwriting with the late, great Syd Field. As a professional script reader, she is known for her ability to masterfully analyze screenplays. Joanna runs the twitter account @femcharacters, highlighting the unfortunate way women are often portrayed on screen. She also isn’t too shabby as a stunt performer and sword fighter. Wielding her broadsword is a favorite both on camera and off.

I’m sure you’ve never heard anyone purport that not taking action in your career will help move you forward. I’m here to dispel the myth that you must be continually on set, in training, networking, and in a constant state of doing in order for your career to be what you dream it to be. A personal example from my own life: A few years ago, I had a couple loved ones that were close to me pass away. Then, I suddenly had to move – twice. This was all within a matter of six months. To say that I…

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Team no days off. Eyes on the prize. Keep going. Keep doing. Never stop. We live in a world where hustle culture is revered. The truth is that many times this way of thinking leaves out the most important thing you need in your life to accomplish the amazing goals you set for yourself in this industry – you. At one point last year, I sat down and assessed where I was spending my time, what my goals were, and what I wanted for the future of my career. I was doing a lot and had achieved some career milestones.…

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When others discover that I work in development as a story analyst, reading screenplays that are currently being produced by studios, networks, and production companies, throughout my years as a reader, I’ve consistently received this question from screenwriters: “What’s hot right now?” The question usually comes from earnest writers that want to find a way to break into the industry and make money from their writing. It’s completely understandable. It’s also a red flag to me that the writer might be pointing their compass in a direction that doesn’t serve them. Logically, if demand in the marketplace is, for example,…

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Have you ever received the note on your screenplay that your protagonist or a character in your script isn’t “likable”? I’ve had writers come to me, seeking help in how to interpret that note and how to address it in their revisions. If this is you, keep reading for some pointers. When it comes to offering notes on a script, shorthand words or phrases are often used to save time. There are two definitions for “likable” in the development world. It doesn’t just mean likable; it also means relatable. In my opinion and from my experience, a character being relatable…

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Wait…this is supposed to be secrets from a script reader. Why are we talking about script doctors? A secret you might not know is that script readers often make fantastic script doctors. Why is that? Let’s first get into what a script doctor is. Script doctors are writers that step in when a screenplay has already been written, but the producers need a new writer to get it to the next level. Sometimes writers themselves hire script doctors to help punch up their scripts. Like a doctor, a script doctor diagnoses what’s ailing a script and then does the surgery…

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One of the great lessons I’ve learned as a script reader is what increases a budget and what changes can be made on the page to fit the budget while still maintaining the spirit and message of a screenplay. I’m so grateful for this, because it’s helped me as a producer. Being a screenwriter that understands what a low budget script looks like and how to write to a budget is a valued skill in the business. When I offer notes on a script, sometimes I know what kind of budget the producer or production company is working with. I…

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A question I’ve been asked over my years as a story analyst (aka script reader) that’s popped up again recently is if my own personal opinions get in the way of the coverage I write or if my personal preferences dictate what I read. The answer is yes and no. I’ll explain. First and foremost, script readers don’t get to choose what we read. We read whatever screenplays need reading, plain and simple. However, I’ve worked with companies that do want to know what I like to read and what I’m a fan of, because that means I’ll have a…

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Within the queries that I receive as a writer and professional script reader, I’ve found over the years that I offer some of the same resources to common questions. I wanted to share those resources with you in case they’re helpful on your screenwriting or filmmaking journey. PROTECTING YOUR WORK It’s important that you protect your work before sending it out, so I always love when writers are conscious of this step. The works you’ve created are your blood, sweat, and tears, and you should do everything in your power to make sure that your babies are protected. First off,…

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Sundance. Cannes. TIFF. Everyone wants to get their film selected for these festivals, to attend, be seen, be heard, mingle with the pros at these events, but why is everyone at these specific festivals in the first place? It’s because these are the major film markets in the world, and the pros that attend aren’t there for play. They’re there for business. There are film markets and there are film festivals. Not all festivals are film markets. I’ve run into many beginning filmmakers and screenwriters that don’t yet understand what a film market is and why the who’s-who in the…

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As an actress, writer, producer, and professional script reader, dynamic female characters are my specialty. With female led films being more in demand (hooray!), I’ve been asked more questions as of late about the problems I see in scripts with a female protagonist. There are a variety of factors that contribute to a female led narrative being weaker than it can be, so much so that I’ve been developing an online course on the subject. These are the top five that I encounter in my work as a story analyst. With each typical issue, I’ve included questions for you, the…

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As a story analyst, aka script reader, I work freelance. That means I don’t work with just one company, but with several different companies, in addition to having my own screenwriting clients. With the variety of screenplays that I see, I get the rare perspective of seeing scripts from writers that run the gamut from totally green to Oscar winners. It’s truly a privilege, and this has been an incredible education for my own screenwriting. It’s easy for me to spot writing that’s average and the work that soars above the pack. Unless you’ve read hundreds of scripts, it’s hard…

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As we begin the new year, I know many of you are laying out your goals, committing to finishing, revising, or starting that script you’ve been thinking about. That’s the great thing that I love about the new year, the fresh energy it infuses in everyone and everything, giving you a springboard to launch from as you embark on another journey around the sun. As you’re defining your writing goals for this year, I’d love to give you an extra boost by busting some myths I’ve heard about screenwriting from a script reader’s point of view. Below are a few…

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There’s a trend I see in the female characters in the scripts I read. It’s actually not a trend, it’s a norm in Hollywood and the media of the world. Women are kidnapped. Women are assaulted. Women are harassed. Women are obsessed over, stalked. Women are the victims over and over again. I remember at one point in my acting career looking at my resume and realizing that in almost every role I had played, I was the victim. Later, as a professional script reader analyzing screenplays every day for years, it became clear that the reason for this wasn’t…

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One of the most common questions I get when people find out I’m a script reader is – how do you get that job? Like every other position in the industry, there is no one path to becoming a reader. First, how did I become a reader, aka story analyst? Years ago, I noticed my community center was holding a class called “Read All Day and Get Paid For It.” Ok, intrigued! What’s this all about?? Reading the description of the class, I was delighted to discover it entailed reading screenplays for studios and producers. Since it was related to…

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