NO ONE IS READING YOUR WHOLE SCREENPLAY
WTF! WHY NOT???!
Because your first 15 pages can make or break you in Hollywood. Let’s discuss.
If you’ve been around The Professional Pen for a while, you already know we don’t say this lightly: the first 15 pages of your script determine whether anyone in Hollywood will keep reading.
That’s why we built The Vibe Check — a low-risk, high-value way to test if your screenplay grabs attention the way it should. It’s also why we created The First 15 Script Competition, because those first pages don’t just open your story — they open doors.
WHY THE FIRST 15 PAGES MATTER
When you send your script to an executive, agent, manager, or producer, your dream is that they’ll read it cover to cover. Hate to break it to you, but that rarely happens. In Hollywood, you’ve got about 15 pages to prove you belong in the room.
That’s not pressure — that’s opportunity. Because when you know what they’re looking for, you can own those pages and make sure they keep turning.
Here’s what every exec expects to find by page 15:
A Relatable Protagonist
We need to connect — fast. Executives are looking for a character they can root for or at least understand by the time they hit page 15. If we don’t care about your lead, we won’t care about the story.
A clear Inciting Incident
By page 15, something needs to happen. This is the moment that kicks off your protagonist’s journey. If we’re still hanging out in setup mode, an executive will assume your story doesn’t know where it’s going.
An Active Goal
By page 15, your protagonist’s goal should be clear enough for us to say: “This story is about a person who wants ___.” Executives need to know what the movie’s about — not just the vibe.
Case Study: Judas and the Black Messiah
LaKeith Stanfield as William O’Neal in JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
On page four, we meet William O’Neal, a small-time criminal — our protagonist. The inciting incident hits around pages 9–10 when he’s caught by the police and given a choice: work with them or go to jail. That single choice launches the movie.
By pages 3–4, dialogue sets up that the FBI views Fred Hampton as a threat, which quietly establishes the goal — O’Neal’s mission to infiltrate the Black Panthers. By page 14, he’s already in. That’s how you make executives keep reading.
Want to read the script yourself? Check it out here.
WHAT IF I HAVE ALL OF THAT ALREADY?
Even if you’ve nailed all the elements above, what really makes those opening pages stand out is how you bring them to life. A killer opening image pulls us in before a single line of dialogue. A clear tone tells us what kind of story we’re in for. Strong world-building makes us believe this world exists beyond the page. And a unique writing voice — one that feels alive but never distracts from the read — is what separates a good writer from a great one. Those details are what make an exec say, “Okay… I’ll keep reading.”
So What Does This Mean for You?
Your first 15 pages don’t just show whether your story works — they show whether you do. Executives can tell within minutes if you understand structure, tone, and character. That’s why your opening matters more than anything else you’ll write.
Before you send your script off, make sure your first 15 are giving what they need to give.
WANNA See If Your script Passes the Vibe Check?
Our First 15 Script Competition lets you test the first 15 pages of your screenplay with a readiness checklist and studio-level conclusion from a Story Expert. It’s a low-commitment, high-impact way to make sure your story is headed in the right direction before investing in full notes.
Top 10 finalists earn a free development workshop with our CEO + Head Consultant, Shannan E. Johnson.
The winner gets a career strategy session with Shannan and a general meeting with an industry executive.
You’ve only got 15 pages to prove you can hang with the pros. Make them count.
