In my ongoing quest to learn as much about my craft as possible, I decided to read a screenplay before I saw the actual film. My choice? The Devil Wears Prada. I hadn't yet seen it, but wanted to, and found the script online. Thanks to Netflix, I was able to watch the movie right after reading the script.

It was a very interesting assignment.

In the screenplay we start off at the party in Paris, after Andy's transformation into a Miranda automaton, and then work backward to explain how we got there.

In the ranks of the unsold, flashbacks are strongly discouraged, and for probably this reason.

The whole scene was actually quite unnecessary at the beginning of the film. Instead of starting the story at the beginning, it was a rather pointless glimpse into the future, that really didn't serve any true purpose.

The filmmakers apparently agreed with me, and instead started the movie right when Andy applies for and gets the job at Runway.

Also in the screenplay, I found myself drawn to Nigel, and actually laughed out loud when upon meeting Andy for the first time proclaimed, "Oh my God, I love your look. It's like Oklahoma and New Jersey fell in love and had a baby."

Sadly, this line would not make it to the big screen, as they turned Nigel and his biting wit *against* Andy instead of making him an immediate ally.

And I was so looking forward to it, too.

There were a lot of lines that didn't make it to the movie, and a lot of scenes as well - including the pivotal scene at Miranda's party where Andy saves Miranda from an embarrassing scene with her husband in front of Elton John.

I realize that it's probably really difficult to get someone like Elton John to do a picture, but they could have had any notable fill that spot and still save the scene.

In the screenplay, it was only after Andy jumped in and saved the day that Miranda showed her first hint of humanity.

This would take a lot longer in the movie, and in fact she never *really* gets there until the final scene.

But, because of the great Meryl Streep, there was something deeper in Miranda than was on the page.

Also, I don't recall her dismissive, "That's all," punctuating each of her scenes, but it did stand out in the movie.

I wasn't too thrilled that Andy didn't have any friends at Runway, see my complaint about Nigel above.

I've actually worked for a Miranda type and I know if I didn't have friends it just wouldn't have been worth it. So that they decided, in all their

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