Camera Directions

[spotted_leaf]

I'm a bit confused. I hear different things from different people. Some people say to not include camera directions in your spec script and some say you should. Which is it? Clarifications would be great!! lol thanks

 

[ConspiracyPenguin]

I usually like to include them because I see the story playing out a certain way and want to document it, but most will tell you that is the DP's job and that you should leave them out. That being said, my rule is this: if you are writing for someone else, leave them out; if you are writing for you, feel free to put them in because you are the one who will be using it.

 

[seunosewa]

I don't think you need camera directions in any script.
There's a way to write shots without explicit camera directions.
Just use one paragraph for each shot and mention what will be visible on screen.

 

[brianluce]

Normally it's not something you want to do unless you're self producing.

 

[ProfessorU]

There's an awesome sample from the Academy here that talks about formats and expectations (super useful if you're not using Final Draft):
http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/script.pdf

 

[craigbowman]

Don't include camera directions in an original script. There comes a time when a director and dp will breakdown a script for blocking. I've seen scripts with too much crap in them already and scripts are not shot in the order they're written anyway.

Keep descriptive information to a minimum. Concentrate on writing great dialogue as this is where most narrative style scripts fall down on their face. Go online and read at least a couple of dozen feature scripts before you even crack open you're writing software for the first time.

 

[JasonFox]

As others have already said (I just love repeating folks), skip them if you're writing for someone else. And not just because they'll be ignored and you'll look like a noob -- camera directions add length. Length is the enemy of all scripts. Despite the spate of 2 1/2 hour+ films out there now, readers freak out at spec scripts over, say, 110-120. So save all the scenes you have to cut, and once you sell your script and get hired to do the rewrites, put them back. Ha! Like I know what I'm talking about.

 

[gi-jones]

I definately think camera directions should be left out of anything, that you expect other people to read. So should stuff like:

"Steve walks into his dark livingroom. He's been here a hundred times before and knows every bit of furniture by heart."

Theres no way that sentence can be translated into film, and therefore it belongs in a novel - not a screenplay.

Whenever I read a script containing those kinds of things I tend to think, that whoever wrote must be either a noob or is insecure of himself and the project. That's not what you want people to think.

 

[Ted Spencer]

I definately think camera directions should be left out of anything, that you expect other people to read. So should stuff like:

"Steve walks into his dark livingroom. He's been here a hundred times before and knows every bit of furniture by heart."

Theres no way that sentence can be translated into film, and therefore it belongs in a novel - not a screenplay.

Agreed, and that's a perfect example of the kind of thing that should never be in a screenplay for many reasons, not the least of which that it's completely unplayable for an actor.

IMO, a general rule for camera, stage or acting direction is this: it should only be there if it's *absolutely necessary* for clarity. That's it.

And again, actor-wise, you're going to mess up you actors, not help them, with directions like the above, or things like:

"Larry wrings his hands, glances at Sharon furtively, his eyes full of doubt, then runs his hands through his hair before standing, turning his back to her and nervously clearing his throat."

If an actor tries to do all of that it will pretty much guarantee a fake looking performance. Actors need to be alive in the moment, not following a recipe.