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Variations in Screenplay Format |
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A more accepted approach is to use capitalized headings to break up a scene, such as Robert Towne uses in the screenplay for "Chinatown," in this scene in which detective Jake Gittes follows Hollis Mulwray.
DOWN ON THE BEACH Gittes looks to his right -- where the bay is a long, clear crescent. He looks to his left -- there's a promontory of sorts. It's apparent Mulwray has gone that way. Gittes hesitates, then moves in that direction -- but climbs along the promontory in order to be above Mulwray. |
The DOWN ON THE BEACH heading is like a sub-slugline
that immediately designates a master shot, whereas the other sentences of the
paragraph suggest other possible sub-shots; "he looks to his right,"
for example, hints to the director that he could perhaps use either a straight
cut to show the "clear crescent" of the bay, or perhaps even cut to
a shot of Gittes' POV, and pan first right to see the bay, then left to see
the promontory.
Modern screenwriting style typically breaks down thick paragraphs like the one above into single sentence lines. These single sentences alone also suggest individual shots.
A particularly violent scene from "The Usual Suspects" perfectly illustrates how to write an action sequence that suggest separate shots. This scene is done without capitalized sub-slugline headings (except for sound effects), although screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie does capitalize the beginnings on sentences for emphasis. His capitalization is purely a stylistic choice, and is in no way required.
INT. VAN
Hockney laughs and jumps in, suddenly oblivious to the
sound of gunfire. He opens one of the crates and looks
inside.
IT IS FILLED WITH MONEY. Cash and negotiable bonds of
all kinds.
He smiles.
BOOM
BLOOD sprays all over the money.
Hockney looks at it, puzzled.
He turns and sees one of the men in suits holding a
shotgun.
Hockney looks down at his own open belly, blood and
innards flowing freely.
BOOM
Another shot takes off the top of his head.
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McQuarrie's description is effective, simple, and easy to read -- everything
a good script should be. It is always a good idea to break up big blocks of
text in this manner.
It is important to remember that the basic function of script format is the
same as for all writing -- to clearly convey information. Occam's Razor is a
principle that states that the simplest solution is usually correct. If you
keep this in mind when formatting scripts, you'll succeed in conveying the necessary
information in a way that makes sense and will not call attention to itself.
Soon, you'll be able to invent formatting that derives from the basic rules
but still looks correct, which will allow you greater
creative freedom as a writer.
Related Links:
"Chinatown"
Script by Robert Towne.
"Star
Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"
Script by Jack B Sowards, story by Harve Bennett and Jack Sowards.
"The
Usual Suspects"
Script by Christopher McQuarrie.
Screenplay
Format According to the Academy
The Nicholl Fellowship page showing proper screenplay formatting.
How
to Format a Screenplay
From ScreenStyle.com, a great overview of the basics of script formatting.
"Beavis & Butthead Do America"
Script by Mike Judge and Joe
Stillman.
"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"
Script Harve Bennett, & Nicholas Meyer, story by Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes,
Leonard Nimoy and Harve Bennett.
"Pleasantville"
Script by Gary Ross. Undated later draft.
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