I was reading through the script for the movie "Joker". There are two things so far that I was wondering about.
1). They use the time of day description as "LATE AFTERNOON" (See Photo).. Everything I've read on scriptwriting says to only use "DAY" or "NIGHT".
2). They use the word "beat" multiple times throughout the script (See Photo). What does this mean? I know what a Beat Board is but not sure why "beat" would be used in the script.
Thank you
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A pause. For dramatic or comedic effect.
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Beats are for either Spec or Shooting.
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Hum. I read somewhere not to put Beats in a spec-script, but you could be right. I just use pause for pause.
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The advice is wrong, Derek.
The better alternative to Beat is something more meaningful; (thinks) (scratches head) or
CHARACTER
Blah.
A hungry look that goes on too long.
CHARACTER
Blah.
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Beat means a pause.
Because the scenes haven't been numbered yet, the times of day will be changed for the production draft... and some 1stAD probably did a lot of swearing.
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Now it’s official.
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My manager writes "beat" in her script notes for me, but I can't bring myself to use it because it feels like lazy writing. So I always create the pause in some other way. That's just a personal thing, though.
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Upon reflection I think I combined people saying not to use scene numbers in spec-scripts and also not using beats as a general thing into one swampy morass.
Why not just insert (pause)? Seems cleaner and more direct.
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No reason not to do that, Bill. Because beat has history. It's been defined as requested.
There's advice in the thread to not use either. The average screenplay uses, and often overuses, beat and pause. The scripts that attract attention are those that take a risk, are fresh and stand out in a positive way. That said, use Beat or Pause. Everyone does.
Phillips directed his script. He could use (screeching halt). It's not a good comparison to a Spec.
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I stick to:
Dawn
Day
Dusk
Night
One man’s dusk is another man’s late afternoon.
On the “beat” topic. If you definately need your actor to take a breath, beat. But I have stopped using them unless it is unavoidable.
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"Beat" or a pause as written in this screenplay means a shift in emotion, it often uses as well in dialogues.
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Beat means two things.
When referring to the total script, a beat is a turn in the story, a change in the story direction or a big moment like the inciting incident or the mid point or the break into the 2nd Act.
In the script itself, a beat is a dramatic pause. Not just a pause in time. But it refers to a dramatic moment when the characters take time before reacting.
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Write what ever time of day you want it to be. If it just happened a second later then you can write CONTINUOUS. Don't fret about the time of day, just write a damn good story and don't worry about it.