Screenwriting : Describing photos and notes by Scott Smith

More information and context please. ;) Are you just describing this photo and note in general? Or do you need to include it as an INSERT?—something that needs to be seen clearly, perhaps read by the audience or that you need to highlight and draw special attention. Only use an insert if truly important. An insert looks like this, just as an example: INSERT - APPLICATION FORM, WHICH READS: “Minnesota Early College Credit Enrollment Program for Advanced High School Students.” Brooke signs her name on the applicant line. Switches hands, forges her father’s signature above the required parent/guardian line. Looks it over. Not bad.

Thanks Beth These photos and notes are vital to the story and are needing to be seen by the viewers

GONE GIRL is a good one to look at—thanks Dan! :) The writer primarily used CLOSEUP (giving it a quick glance through), but she also used INSERT. Here's examples from the script: CLOSEUP on a PEN, cursiving across a DIARY. The pen is GIRLY, topped with pink feathers. We see at the top: January 8, 2005. We hear the words as we see them written in pink. AMY (V.0.) I’m so crazy, stupid happy. And: ...Boney reads over his shoulder. INSERT on note: Hey, handsome man—let’s go undercover. You be the spy and I’ll * be his lover. Let’s head on over to the little brown house. We’ll play hot, doting husband and sweet loving spouse. Anyhoo, I don't consider INSERT and CLOSEUP the same, even though they both achieve a similar thing... They are used for different effect. It just depends on what you need to convey. INSERT should be used sparingly and tends to be used to highlight something that the audience needs to read. CLOSEUP is clearly "camera direction"—if you are concerned about that sort of thing in a spec script or have preferences. I'm not saying it's "not okay" to use CLOSEUP or camera direction... Again, it depends on your intent and clarity. Any thoughts, Dan? Or anyone else willing to further or better clarify?

Yes, I know. Agree. As I said, "not saying it's 'not okay'" to use camera direction, like CLOSEUP—what, that wasn't clear? LOL!! I am a little tired at the moment. ;) Anyway, some people prefer not to use them in a spec—just saying. The use of INSERT was explained to me years ago to be a little different... It's not just highlighting something to appear on screen, it also makes it crystal clear that whatever is being highlighted is very important to the story/plot—key information. :)

Well, Scott, I hope that helps! I edited my comments slightly to be a little more clear. I really shouldn't type while sleepy. Lol! Anyway, others may share their thoughts and opinions. Best to you, sir!

I have not read the script in a while, but a scene in WATCHMEN has Dr. Manhatten staring at a photo for a while. It leads to a scene to tell his backstory. They keep coming back to the picture over his narriation and his intimate description of the picture, the events of the night, and his relationship with the person. The scene might be worth a read to provide an option to GONE GIRL which is a great example.