Why Does Christopher Nolan Strip a Screenplay Down?

David Senra, reading the book's account, says Christopher Nolan strips a screenplay down because a simpler document shows clearer thinking and a grip on the essence of the film.

He is not looking for a script to arrive fully formed. No project he has worked on landed that way, and he does not want it to. He wants complete control, and that starts with the writing: he either wrote the script or had a hand in writing every one of his movies. He enjoys screenplays because they are very stripped-down, simple documents, and the more stripped down they are, the better. He feels more of a craftsman than an artist. George Lucas reached the same conclusion, as Senra reads it: he makes a movie, not a work of art.

Senra hears the same demand in David Ogilvy's training. Ogilvy built one of the most successful advertising agencies of all time. Senra found him while reading Warren Buffett, who kept calling Ogilvy a genius. Before Ogilvy founded his own company, a boss pushed one idea: strip the work down and get to the essence. Ask that boss what he thought of the work and the reply came back as yes, no, or speak. Speak meant come in and talk, because talking was faster than writing the answer out. Nolan repeats that same push toward the essence.