A script vs. a detailed breakdown?

N

nyvideo

Active member
I'm writing a screenplay for a short film (8-10 minutes). Given the brevity, I'm focusing on only one central character and one central storyline. Hence the story is told with very little dialog because it's mostly told by the character's actions.

Would any of you have some advice for determining where I draw the line between writing a screenplay and essentially detailing the editing of the film as I write it?

Thanks in advance for any ideas or help.
 
Thanks for the reply. I know it wasn't very clear.

Because there's so little dialog, I feel like I'm writing more detail into each scene than I should. I'm putting in 2-3 second cutaway shots, explanations on where the POV is and why, the kind of light or angle for key light, and other things that, when I set it aside and reread it, appear to be too granular for a script.

...or maybe not? Do these kinds of things seem to detailed for a script?

Thanks.
 
I'm guessing that you are planning on shooting this so put as much detail as you need into it to get the job done. The version wtih all the details woudn't necessarily be shown to the actors, but simply write whatever you need to shoot it, edit it, etc. When I am writing something to direct I put options for many scenes. If I come up with more than one way to handle a scene then I will shoot those options to give me more power in the editing phase.

Only follow those more strict rules for screenwriting if you are trying to sell it or have someone else direct it.
 
Thank you all. I've been trying to do this "by the book." You showed me that there are no fixed rules. This helps immensely.

Thanks again.
 
A screenplay is structured mostly for dialog purposes. Action is secondary.

To flesh out the action you can focus on a detailed shotlist. You can storyboard (recommended). You can use the screenplay format. You can use ANY visual reference that inspires you or keeps you organized best.

Coppola had a giant notebook with the actual pages from the novel "Godfather" taped to every page and his notes lining the sides.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPLAnJ8Xozk
 
"Would any of you have some advice for determining where I draw the line between writing a screenplay and essentially detailing the editing of the film as I write it?"

Yes. Ignore the spec script format rules. What you want is a shooting script with as much detail and camera information as needed. Number the sluglines. Use the common terms for camera positions, movements, transitions, etc.

Print up a bunch of pages with rectangles in the shape of the frame/perspective you're going to be shooting. Draw storyboards as they come to you.

There are also blocking diagrams, overhead schematics of locations with lights, characters, cameras, dolly tracks and obstacles.

If you really want to go crazy, use the 3D software modelling to pre-visualize your scenes...
 
jscottprice said:
Hmm. Do you mean camera action? Or character action? The former I can understand, whether one is directing this script or not, but the latter is just as important as dialogue in a script.
Click to expand...

OK, define "just as important." And specify how the screenplay format addresses this "just as important-ness."

My counter argument will be "the screenplay gives dialog much more space and therefore leads the eye *away* from the action." Whenever writers have to cut down on pages the first thing they will do is cut down on the amount of superfluous lines of action, or condense them.

No one is saying that actions written in a script aren't as important as the dialog, only that the formatting lends itself to dialog lines more than action lines.

As can be demonstrated at any table read or audition. The actor's eye will usually skip over the action.
 
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