Page One: “12 Years a Slave” (2013)

Screenplay by John Ridley, based on “Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup

The movie version of the opening:

Interesting choice to start in the present, when Solomon is a slave, then cut back in time to when he was a free man. The choice gives the audience a foretaste of what's to come.

You may download the screenplay here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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