Now...I thought I had this small inquiry answered...but, I seem to come upon multiple scripts interchanging this particular format, so, I'm throwing out the question to get clarification.
I've read up on it before, and there are sources stating that 'Fade In' and 'Fade Out' should only be used once -- at the beginning of a script and at the end. However, I'm seeing it used throughout in some scripts.
Consider as well, for e.g. a mid scene in a script:
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
John Doe, stoned out his mind, falls flat, face first onto his bed -- OUT COLD.
BLACK SCREEN
The sound of screams echo through the air...
FADE IN
INT. Yada Yada Yada...etc etc etc...
If it is in fact true that 'Fade In' should only be used at the start, then in a case like this scene, would it be allowed to use again based on the image being painted?
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Don’t know which scripts you are reading, but “allowed” isn’t the issue. Lol! It’s rather a choice, albeit an unnecessary one, in my opinion, just extra unneeded jargon that clutters the page. The next header “fades in.” I prefer to keep it simple and crystal clear, and for a spec you wanna keep it in “story-mode.” In your example, I would use description to “transition” to what happens next. To add, I tend not to use FADE IN at the beginning either. ;)
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Just remember, using transitions takes up two lines of space for only a couple of words. It's really not necessary since it's the director's job to figure out how to transition from one scene to the next for the screen.
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Danny MaxXx: And they can't even pay for biscuits and gravy.
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Well...that settles it. Thanks guys. Always can depend on ya'll to come to the rescue. When you're starting out, you just worry so much about "not looking like an amateur" you know. So I'm always trying to 'be sure' there's not like expected standards I'm not breaking with first impressions. I just need to do the dang thing I guess. They're going to get these stories whether they want to or not lol
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Just write your stories. You can worry about the other stuff later. The important thing is to exercise your voice.
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Now ya got me craving biscuits & gravy Phil. I spent 7th grade in West Memphis, Arkansas where my uncle taught me how Southerners do 'em right... yum!
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The simple answer is that you get one of each per script (and sometimes you don't need 'em at all). This is my personal preference only (you do it your way). FADE In & FADE OUT are transitions and they normally right justify by default. I like to left justify FADE IN, followed by a comma as the first line of the script and I like to end with right justified FADE OUT. - followed by a period. It works for me. I have been known to add a little black screen dialog after the FADE OUT. and that's why I don't use THE END - some folk do. Now what is this? "The sound of screams echo..."
Fade In and Fade Out are transitions which you specify like all transitions except Cut To which is the defalt transition.
i hope this helps
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Very helpful information guys. Appreciate it. I need to give you all a shout out when I win my Oscar, haha...
Kay, don't confuse 'em... you're talking production tv scripts; not spec film scripts.