Post #1

A Boy's Life by Melissa Mathison was quite enjoyable to read. I was a little skeptical about what the screenplay could be about, and about the 7th page in, I realized that it was E.T., and I began to have a lot more fun reading it. It wasn't necessarily a difficult screenplay to read, but it was quite confusing in the beginning. I did not understand why there was so much description. I thought I was reading it wrong and read and reread the beginning multiple times to make sure that I didn't misunderstand something. Once I got past thing the reading became enjoyable.

The reading was never boring and it kept me interested. I really liked how Mathison gave E.T. people like emotions and people like habits. She did a great job of expressing when E.T. was afraid and when he was cold and when he was sad. It made me feel like he was a person, not an alien. While reading it I did see a movie in my head. I saw E.T. a long time ago so I did not fully remember everything, but reading the script helped to fill in the gaps of things that I have forgotten about it.

The script did feel complete and wrapped up well. I do think that scripts can be read by non-professionals. Scripts are just detailed stories that I think anyone can appreciate. It might take away a little from the creative aspect as to what someone might look like or how they might walk, but at the same time it gives the reader a clear, vivid, cut and dry picture of what to expect from characters and the setting at in the script.


Disussion:
1. How did you feel about E.T. while reading the script? Did Mathison make him seem more like a person?

2. What would you have done if you were in Elliott's shoes and found E.T. for the first time. Would you run away or make friends with him?