Screenwriting : Using a montage in a short film by Tyler Thorne

When we used it for our short film Iris, which can be seen here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzjqz1m6m2s&feature=youtu.be We found it really sped up the story and made it visually more interesting and cut out boring exposition scenes. I say go for it, but only if it helps your film along and doesn't come across as out of place with the tone of the film.

Its going to be used to show him planning to break in to a place and his motivation behind doing so. Would that work?

Oh most certainly, Other than perhaps a long winded speech to whoever he is doing the break in with, I believe a montage could work best here. Good luck and let me know how it goes

I agree. As long as it is done properly, montages are usually the best way to convey things like that.

Montages are great for shorts as long as they are necessary. Sometimes they can be misused like preludes in books, given information that isnt necessary for the story.

I think it depends on what you're trying to say, and how you want to say it. A one scene monologue might not need it, but in general I think it's necessary to use as much visual, and auditory (non-dialogue) information as possible to tell a story. This is especially true in short films. Each scene has to be as robust as it can be, utilizing all the medium has to offer. I tend to think that continuous montage scenes, like flashbacks, run the risk of entering "the cheese zone" fairly easily. But it can be done.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback!

A montage is good when you need to show a lot of moving forward in the story where no dialogue is needed. Because it's a short film, just be sure you're not using up valuable camera and story time. But if you feel it's needed, then do it.

Totally agree with Robin, both as using a montage as a device and for the opening sequence to Up. It is a device at the end of the day, one of the many we have at our disposal in our writing toolkit. Can't end this post without referring to the montage sequences in Team America though. Hilarious, and effective.

Montages allow you to compress time and tell a earlier story that relates to the present moment in the piece. Just watch the chronology -- so you don't have to sit there in the theater and explain it.

Don't get caught up in what is okay and not okay to use in your script/film. Think of a montage as just one weapon in your arsenal of weapons to help you tell your story. This is what you should ask yourself: Does it help me tell my story in the best possible way? If the answer is NO, then you should not use it. If YES? Then montage away!

I agree with David. Is this going to be the best/most efficient/most interesting way to convey the information you need to get to the audience? If there is a simpler/more effective way, go with that. Then there's always Team America: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFrMLRQIT_k

Well, that was hilarious. Montage, flash cards, bingo cards, Dixie cups and string, free coupons, flossing lessons, whatever keeps 'em nailed to their seats.

Visually, flashbacks show backstory, while montages show time progression.

Montages and flashbacks are tried and true, but that's not necessarily a good thing. They are too common and can be considered a lazy, quick fix by readers, producers and agents. Try to figure out a more clever way to reveal a back story element. Something more intriguing. If a montage is truly the best way to move your story along, then go for it.