There are few things here so I'll enumerate them and explain to you what I need. 1. the beginning of the script, usually black screen. FADE IN: something is written, a sentence, a quote.. then it FADES OUT, another sentence FADE IN: ... So, would it be correct to use it like this? FADE IN: (Have you ever seen a burning star...) FADE OUT: FADE IN: ( It's like a photo, just stands there, a moment in time...)FADE OUT: FADE IN:(It's beautiful. You have to see it to understand...) FADE OUT: FADE IN: Again and the Action in the script starts. Would this be the right way to put it? 2. Let's say, the action starts in Earth's orbit. The Earth is in view. But, now something else needs to be seen, also in the orbit, static. I can's use WE SPIN, PAN, THE CAMERA PANS or SPINS. I could but I can't. So, what would be the right choice for this, EXT. EARTH'S ORBIT. To show the second object either EXT. EARTH'S ORBIT - SAME or EXT. EARTH'S ORBIT - LATER. So the scene needs to go like this. A view of Earth, camera pans to the left or right, second object is revealed, static, silent, floating and the third one comes into view, the last part is easy, I think you will agree. 3. It's not advised to include or suggest the background music or soundtrack in the script but what if the Character announces he will play that song, then I have to write it like this: Music starts. The song ‘Air’ by ‘Johann Sebastian Bach’ plays. And there's something else in this "SCENE" There are 12 people in the room while the song plays, each one needs to be shown, just the face or the entire body (In this case to show the emotional state of that person) The scene continues outside, then goes to a location near, returns to the house again, music stops and the conversation between characters resumes. How to describe this transition, the shot from one actor to another? Again, I could use CROSS FADE, ANGLE ON, DISSOLVE TO or anything else or as I did it, I simply described each character in Action Box. 4. Imagine a black screen. Character speaks but he can not be seen yet. MAN #1(O.S) He says something, his line, another voice is heard MAN #2 Say his line... After a few lines, the man's face is revealed ( he had a black hood on) his face is visible, he sweats, he's scared... a few lines after that we PULL BACK, which again I can't use so would INT. WAREHOUSE - SAME be the right choice since we don't even know where this action or conversation is taking place before PULL BACK TO REVEAL takes place. 5. Again, similar scene. Black screen, several people talk (O.S.) a few lines later, I used FADE IN since a man's face becomes visible but here's the thing. there are 7 people at the table. What would be the suggestion to use in order to go around the table from MAN 1 to MAN 2.... and finally we stop on MAN 7. I can't use WE PAN or GLIDE... Any suggestion here? Thank you!
Screenwriting : Formating Advice and Suggestion by Niksa Maric
Formating Advice and Suggestion
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Find a script like a scene you just described and see how that was written. Google scripts to find free scripts on-line. imdb has a script database, I think it's imsdb, check it out. Lot'sa luck!! Oh, but make sure the script you view is NOT a shooting script.
Thank you, I know about imsdb, I know a dozen of scripts with similar situations but as I said I can't use JUMP CUT TO or DISSOLVE TO. As for the scripts, they are mostly shooting scripts, I really don't know where to find a data-base of Spec scripts. There are some samples but that's just a single page or two.
Okay, I think I found something, a list of unproduced scripts and this is how the writer did it "CONTINUING WIDE PAN across empty space until a small space ship enters the FRAME…" This is only ONE THING I've found so far, if anyone have any suggestions regarding other questions, please, whatever you think would be a good way to describe any of the situations above, post it. The link for UNPRODUCED SCRIPTS if some of you have a same problem or dilema: http://www.simplyscripts.com/unpro.html. Thank you!
Basic rule of spec scripts is to NOT include camera direction. That's up to the Director and DP.
ALLE, I am not including this, that's why I'm asking how to describe this visualizations. I think there are 5 points or questions in the original post. What about other thing, a music part or do I simply put bunch of ???????? in part where character says "You like Bach?" and plays the old record. So TITLE: some text and just keep going, no Fade In or Fade Out? Hold on. In the beginning of any script, Fade in is when the screen goes from black to... I don't now... lat's say a panoramic view of down town L.A. At the end of any script FADE OUT means it goes from any scene to black, closing credits rolling, soundtrack plays..... So why can't I use Fade In - Fade Out 2 or 3 times to print or show some quote before anything happens in the script.
Ha, I found it in HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER script. It's written like this: ON A BLACK SCREEN, THE FOLLOWING CRAWL: Then there is a 2-3 sentences, empty space and again 2-3 sentences empty space again, it says FOUR MONTH LATER... then it comes FADE IN: Would it be wrong if I use it like this (different text of course) and if you see it like this, would you have no objection at all, or FADE IN-FADE OUT 2 or 3 times. Look, I probably did insult you by my unusual choice of words the other day, I apologize, I mean it bu promise me 1 thing. Never mention word useless next to your name again. Everybody counts!
A site I've used to look at scripts is Simply Scripts tons of scripts to select from most are original scripts.
Wouldn't it be like... BLACK SCREEN. TITLE OVER: - Brooklyn, USA. - No really, this is totally Brooklyn. -Yes, I know it looks like Canada, but it's Brooklyn. -There are bridges. Brooklyn has bridges, right? -Okay, screw you. It's goddamn Brooklyn, if I say it is. -Goddamn Brooklyn, USA (not canada) EXT. CITY - DAY And then so on. :) Much easier to read that way, than with a ton of 'fade in fade out's. And I'd get rid of all of that direction. No "We see", or "The camera" anything, because that is stuff that the director does (Unless you are also directing, in which case all the power to you).
Thank you both for posting but let me answer to rose first. On the top you will see the menu. The forth from the left is Unproduced scripts. When you enter, scroll down and you will see the list of scrips, TITLE then AUTHOR with sort loglines. Back to you Rob. I'm beginning to sound like a reporter, anyway, Rob, the unclear thing I was asking was: You know before anything happens in the movie, a few sentences appear on the black screen. For example: What you're about to see has never been confirmed by Us. Government.. then, the sentence fades out seconds later, another sentence fades in or appear on the black screen. This is what I was asking all day- I know it's not up to me to start editing or directing but I have a few scripts with such sentences so Do I use Fade in or Fade out 2 or 3 times or I use just the way you've described BLACK SCREEN or as I've seen it before ON BLACK, and I simply write 5 or six sentences on black screen and than FADE IN and start writing because these sentences are part of the script, an introduction to what you're about to see in the "MOVIE" You know how sometimes the same thing happens in the end, the screen goes black, something appears on the screen then fades out and then CLOSING CREDITS ROLL and the soundtrack.
Just use it the way I described, if you're going for a text overlay. And ON BLACK would also work. If it's dialogue instead of text, then it would be written as a slug line, like this: ON BLACK: DAVID Joe, I can't find the lights! JOE Okay, yeh, hang on. Footsteps. Crashes. Tumbling of fallen boxes. DAVID Joe! Are you okay? Joe?! INT. OFFICE - NIGHT Light flicks on. David stands at the switch, Joe lays in the center of crumpled boxes and broken dishware. David stares. DAVID I-It's okay. I found the light switch. If you're doing like, various scenes interspersed with dialogue, and it is a bunch of different scenes, like a trailer, then its like this: EXT. CITY - DAY A great majestic city, with waterfalls and shit, very epic. Much description. DAVID (V.O) Armadillo was a beautiful, peaceful place. ON BLACK: JOE (V.O) Oh my God, it's... it's them... EXT. HARBOR - NIGHT The bold full, blue moonlight contrasts harshly with the red flickers of fire on the decks of three hundred large metal ships that head ominously toward the coast of the city. Joe stares out over the water, face filled with trepidation. DAVID (V.O.) And then the fire nation attacked! JOE Much boats! Such fire! Wow! ON BLACK: DAVID (V.O.) And then everyone died, but the Avatar escaped. The end. I hope this was something like what you were looking for.
Ugh sorry, it messed up the dialogue formatting :P
It's okay, I think I know what you mean and thank you. It looks like I'll have to post a question about soundtrack or music again, in different part of the lounge.