QUIZ 1 Flashcards
WIDOW CONTROL
A character heading or scene header that is left by itself at the bottom of the page while the dialogue or narrative continues on the next
CUTS AND DISSOLVES
you don’t need to put a CUT TO: after every scene. Only use CUT TO: when you want to draw attention to the scene change for specific effect such as going from a very quiet scene to a very loud scene
- FADE TO: or DISSOLVE TO are similar. Use them for a specific effect like a flashback or a dream sequence
FADE OUT
this is the last line of a screenplay
MONTAGES
a rapid sequence of brief scenes or images that underscores the story or tells the viewer that time in the story is passing
- Add MONTAGE and number the shots
FLASHBACKS
use a DISSOLVE TO: and place the word FLASHBACK within the scene header
If a flashback is starting within a new scene, put it in the scene header
When the flashback is over, use another DISSOLVE TO: or CUT TO: and address the time change in the scene heading
MEMORY FLASH
is a quick burst of picture and sound (not full flashbacks)
TELEPHONE CALLS
to indicate a phone conversation where the audience doesn’t hear the other party, use ellipses
- If we hear the other party speaking use (O.S.)
- It’s clumsy to cut back and forth between two characters, but sometimes you have to, in which case use INTERCUT in the scene header
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
When a character speaks another language, writing it in English and indicate it’s foreign language in parentheticals
- If you are going to use subtitles, you can indicate this in parenthetical too
EXTENTION
Placed after the character’s name, in parentheses. An abbreviated technical note placed after the character’s name to indicate how the voice will be heard onscreen, for example, if the character is speaking as a voice-over, it would appear as LIAM (VO)
TRANSITION
Indent: Left: 4.0” Right: 0.0” Width: 2.0”
Transitions are film editing instructions, and generally only appear in a shooting script. Transition Verbiage includes: CUT TO, DISSOLVE TO, SMASH CUT, QUICK CUT, FADE TO
CAPITALIZATION
Scene header
Character names above the dialogue
Sounds in the narrative
New character names the first time they are introduced in the narrative and in the subsequent introduction of that same character if a new actor is being introduced (example, a character introduced as a 5-year-old and then again as a 50-year-old)
LINE SPACING
Single space
- Narrative
- Between character heading and dialogue
- Dialogue
Double space
- Between scene header and narrative
- Between narrative and character heading
- After dialogue
- Between paragraphs within the narrative
- Before and after a CUT TO: or DISSOLVE TO:
DON’T WRITE
- Acting directions
- Opening or closing credits
SPEC SCRIPT VS. SHOOTING SCRIPT
Spec script- no camera stuff involved. No shooting stuff. Maybe an early draft.
Shooting script- close to final draft, editing, and camera stuff involved
SHOT
A shot tells the reader the focal point within a scene has changed. Like a transition, there’s rarely a time when a spec screenwriter should insert shot directions. Once again, that’s the director’s job.
Examples of shots
ANGLE ON–
EXTREME CLOSE UP–
PAN TO–
LIAM’S POV–
BREVITY-
- 2-3 sentences per “unit” of narrative. Sometimes 4 if necessary. The units of action are called “beats”.
- You do want detail but avoid pretty, evocative imagery and language. It will drag the action down.
- Be concise. Do you really need all these words?
Third-person omniscient
all-knowing and has an external perspective on the story
Access the thoughts and feelings of all the characters
Provide a perspective that the characters can’t
Share knowledge of future events
Third-person limited
limited to the perspective of a single character. The narrator can only see and know what the character sees and thinks, and describes other characters using pronouns like “he”, “she”, or “they”
Third-person objective
detached and neutral, and does not share the character’s thoughts and feelings. The writing describes events, actions, and dialogue of the story, without favoritism or bias.
VERB TENSE- PAST TENSES
1) Simple past: describes events that began and ended in the past.“Galileo observed the stars”
2) Past continuous: describes events that began in the past, continued for a length of time, and ended in the past
“The planet was moving along an elliptical orbit.”
3) Past perfect: describes a past event that happened before another past event.
“The girl bought the telescope her teacher had recommended to her.”
4) Past perfect continuous- Describes an event that began in the past, continued for a length of time, and was in progress when another past event happened
“He had been studying for his astronomy final when the doorbell rang.”
PRESENT TENSES
1) Simple present: Describes an event as happening in the present.
“Cats eat mice and birds.”
2) present continuous: describes an event as being in progress in the present and likely continuing into the future.
“The baby is laughing at Shelly’s monkey puppet.”
3) Present perfect: Describes an event that occurred in the past but has some connection to the present.
“The baby has played this game before.”
4) Present perfect continuous: Describes an event that began in the past but still continues to happen in the present.
“Shelly has been babysitting for years.”
FUTURE TENSES
1) Simple future: describes an event that will begin and end in the future.
“Molly will finish her chores when she has time.”
2) Future continuous: Describes an event that will begin in the future and continue for a length of time
“I will be working all afternoon, so I can’t help Olivia with her report.”
3) Future perfect: Describes a future event that will happen before another future event.
“By tomorrow afternoon, Olivia will have finished her report.”
4) Future perfect continuous: Describes a future event that will begin, continue for a length of time, and still be in progress
“When this show ends, Molly will have been watching TV for three hours.”
SCENE HEADERS
(slug lines, master scene headings) Always: INT. or
EXT. LOCATION - Day or Night. All caps. Far left margin. These are not numbered. Make sure you are consistent in naming locations so they are not
counted as different places.
NARRATIVE:
Scene headers are followed by a double space and then physical action, description etc. Narrative is single spaced and uses the widest margins. BRIEF, PRESENT TENSE, SHORT PARAGRAPHS (2-3 lines
usually)
Character Names are capitalized the first time character appears in a screenplay, but not subsequent scenes unless the character is being played by another actor. For example, if SAM is a child in the opening scene, and we come back to him has an adult we will write SAM in caps again.
Sound (music or effects) may also be capitalized in the narrative.
CHARACTER HEADINGS
placed on the line immediately preceding the
dialogue, and are capped and indented 4 inches from the left margin. They are never centered. Character names are followed but a single space, after which
comes dialogue or a parenthetical.
