I’m still a newbie screenwriter trying to figure things out. I’ve read a number of screenwriting books and many blogs as well as many screenplays. One thing that is still illusive to me is that in many screenplays have words in the action that are capitalized and I don’t know why. I know that the first time a character is introduced you use all caps but often there are other words that are capitalized. For example take Allan Ball’s "American Beauty" here is a paragraph of action: “LESTER BURNHAM lies sleeping amidst expensive bed linens, face down, wearing PAJAMAS. An irritating ALARM CLOCK RINGS. Lester gropes blindly to shut it off.” This is the first time we meet Lester so it’s all caps; got it. I know that in shooting scripts sounds effects are all caps, but I’ve been told not to do that with spec scripts so maybe the “ALARM CLOCK RINGS” could be justified, but why is “PAJAMAS” in all caps??? I see this a lot in scripts is there a reason a rule I'm missing???
Screenwriting : Capitalization: To CAPITALIZE or not to capitalize? by Rick Hardin
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PAJAMAS - That's and example of a prominent props. When the script is broken down before filming, It helps the production work out what they need for the film. RINGS/BANG/BLAM etc - Loud sounds.
Thanks! That makes sense but what about a spec script? Should I do the same thing? The copy I have of "American Beauty" is marked “First Draft” so I assumed that it an early spec script, but it also has a ton of camera angles it must be the first draft of the shooting script.
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Hey Rick, the use of CAPS for props, or other objects, or sounds, is a shooting-script convention. Your copy of "American Beauty" could be the first draft of the shooting script. Or, simply, it could contain lots of caps because it was written in 1998-1999 (?) and styles and preferences has certainly changed since then. The use of CAPS nowadays should be at a minimum in spec script narrative descriptions, used mostly for character first appearances. Although, you certainly may use them for superimposed words, for example. Really though, the use of caps is up to the writer. Just keep in mind most spec scripts only have one or two instances of emphasized words in descriptions. More importantly, the use of too many caps breaks up the copy and slows down a reader. Caps can be too disruptive. You want to create an easy read, one that's easy on the eyes. :)
Thanks Beth! That’s kind of what I thought. But I’ve seen samples of scripts from “winning” scripts on writing contest web sites where the writer has used caps like a shooting script so I was confused. There’s enough stacked against new writers like me as it is that I don’t want to fall for rookie mistakes!
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You're welcome Rick! And, don't sweat the small stuff. I'm relatively new too. I've been writing scripts for maybe three years now and one never stops learning. Anyway, get some great reference books for current writing standards like, David Trottier's "The Screenwriter's Bible" and just hold your own course. David Trottier also has a great web site, here's the site's newsletter that answers a lot of writer's questions: http://www.keepwriting.com/tsc/newsletr.htm I hope that helps!
Yup, that is true Marvin, as I stated earlier on this thread; "Really though, the use of caps is up to the writer." However, I think you would agree, overuse in spec scripts is not well received in the industry. :)
Hi Rick and everyone. I'm new too, with draws full of books and dvd's. I wish you luck. I live in north NSW, Australia. Really I have no one around here, so I keep up to date with stage 32. Grant.
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In action I'd be inclined to only use caps for the intro of a character... I can't think of an instance where I've needed it for anything else. Perhaps to highlight something important that might otherwise risk being missed, i.e. something which may appear insignificant on first glance, but which is significant later on, but even then I'm not sure I'd use caps. But that's just me, as Beth said, it's up to the writer, but over use is definitely going to distract your reader. Hope that helps. Cheers Andy
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I have read Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier he has also suggestion use caps forintroducing characters .While it is ok if you are the Director but if you have to sell they will raise many issues like formatting , grammar etc. This is my personal experience.
Wow, guys I just left a reply for the first time on Ricks post. I don't know about caps but I have never used them but for characters. Grant.
Thanks Beth and everyone for your help! I’ve read, Syd Field, Mike Hague and a couple others, but I haven’t got to David Trottier yet.
Let me throw another “for instance” at you. In one of my scripts I have a car chase with three different vehicles, all sedans. As I write it seems natural somehow to use all caps for each of the different cars to help the reader keep on track. Currently I’m calling them; “Black Sedan”, BMW Rental Car”, and “Mercedes” What do you think?
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Hey Rick, yes, I think the use of CAPS would work well for an action-packed, car chase scene. However, use CAPS on select words as secondary headings, or rather, as secondary slug lines. Use of secondary headings is explained well in "The Screenwriter's Bible," pages 150-154. You need a master slug line that establishes location, then secondary headings break up the scene. See rough example below: EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS The cars race up the on-ramp. IN JOE'S CAR Sam opens the passenger window, leans out, fires back. THE BLACK BMW swerves to avoid being riddled by bullets, slams hard into THE MERCEDES which instantly rolls into the ditch, landing upside down.
I like it! Thanks again Beth!!
I hope it helped, Rick!
Pajamas has no technical reason for being capitalized. It was the writer's choice. In screenplays, any character ALL CAP intro should also have a brief description of the character. Thirdly, all sound effects that are not made by a person/character are technically supposed to be CAPPED, such as when a gun fires. BANG! There are discrepancies of opinion whether just the sound it makes, the noun it is about, and the action that makes the sound should also be CAPITALIZED. Again, this is the individual writer's prerogative. Personally, I have always been of the opinion if you capitalize everything, nothing stands out anymore. So, I stick to sound effects (and sometimes I don't even cap those unless it's supposed to be jarring). Hope this helps...
Hi, have taken a big break from screenwriting of late to concentrate on novels. But within weeks I will script the Golden Malaita Eagle. I see your point and like horse's for course's not all directors worry about angles and caps and a lot of other thinks unless your dream as you write MEANS you want it that way. But I could be wrong,
For special scripts CAMERA DIRECTIONS are a strict no. This is what I found in Screenwriters Bible and the umpteen number of articles which I read and I was also guided by my guru for about two scripts. Later I wrote scripts by myself along with my FB and a few online friends.
From experience I would say that camera directions are always a no no, not just because directors and producers dislike being told how to shoot the movie, but because you don't want ANYTHING in there that distracts from the story. Thus capitalisation should also be avoided except for when mentioning a new character, or for scene headings and sub headings. There are always exceptions to rules, but it's best to try not to put anything in your screenplay that brings the reader out of the story to consider say something like CAMERA TILTS UP TO SEE, or WE SEE... that's what I'm always striving to do, keep the reader hooked and in the story, not thinking about shots and so on... hope that helps :-)
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If you stick with the basic rule of capping first character intros and sound effects, you should be good. And also mini-slugs, like in Beth's example above.