The First 15 Pages of Your Script: Nail It or Tank It

Let’s not sugarcoat it:
If your first 15 pages don’t hit, nobody’s reading the rest.

This isn’t about “finding your voice” or “warming up.” This is about proving—fast—that you know how to tell a story people want to stick with. Whether you're pitching a rep, submitting to a contest, or sending to a producer, those first 15 pages are your audition. So let’s break down what they need to do—and how to make them work.

Page 1: The Tone-Setter

Your first page is prime real estate. Don’t waste it.

This is your opening image. The feeling. The world. The first breadcrumb of your story.

Think less: “I’m easing into it.”
Think more: “This is the moment they decide if I know what I’m doing.”

Do this:

• Open on a compelling image or moment.

• Start in action, or at least with a question.

• Show us the genre.

• Avoid walls of description. Less is more.

Pages 1–5: Who Are We Watching and Why?

The audience (and reader) is already asking:

“Whose story is this, and should I care?”

Make sure they do.

Do this:

• Introduce your protagonist doing something that reveals who they are.

• Show a flaw or contradiction.

• Plant the seed of the want or problem.

• Give us something to latch onto emotionally—even if it’s messy.

This is where people either invest… or check out.

Pages 5–10: The World and the Problem

This is where the “Ordinary World” shows up—but it better not be boring.

You’re showing the status quo, the tension underneath it, and what’s about to get shattered.

Do this:

• Set up relationships, pressures, or routines that need breaking.

• Show what’s missing. What itch isn’t being scratched.

• Start teasing the bigger problem or threat.

If it’s a thriller, tension should already be creeping in. If it’s a comedy, give us tone. If it’s a drama, hit the emotion. Don't hold it all back.

Pages 10–15: The Catalyst

This is where something happens that flips the protagonist’s day upside down.

Maybe it’s subtle. Maybe it’s explosive. But whatever it is, it shifts the balance.

Do this:

• Introduce a choice, a threat, or a temptation.

• Make sure your protagonist can’t just ignore it.

• Let this moment ask the story’s central question.

What now?
How do they respond?
What will it cost?

This moment should end with tension, urgency, or an emotional spike that propels us into Act Two.

Final Tip: Every Page Earns the Next

The point of Page 1 is to make us turn to Page 2.
The point of Page 2 is to earn Page 3.
You get the idea.

You don’t have to cram everything into the first 15 pages—but you do have to earn trust. Show that you know how to hook, reveal, build, and twist.

Because once you do?

We’ll follow you anywhere.

📥 Want Help Nailing Your First 15 Pages?

Grab the 7-Day Screenplay Workbook, or book a free clarity call with me.
I offer script feedback at every level—from page polish to full rewrites. You write it, I’ll help you make it undeniable.