Numbers

[SimonB]

Don't recall, but when writing screen plays, do you "spell" out numbers, or just use the symbols?

Examples-

Alex, a 27 year old

or

Alex, a twenty-seven year old?

 

[David W. Richardson]

I always spell out numbers -- in both action and dialogue. But I think it's especially important in dialogue, for a couple of reasons. First, it helps with the whole "1 page=1 minute" thing. But more important, it takes the guesswork out for the actors. Say you write in dialogue an apartment number -- 1415. Do you want your character to say "one-four-one-five"? Or "fourteen-fifteen"? It might be important in some cases. I always try to write it the way I envision the character saying the words.

Hope that helps!

 

[SimonB]

Awesome, thanks.

One more question.

If there is a scene inside a car, would the scene heading be INT. CAR?

or EXT. INSIDE CAR?

 

[Blaine]

It should be:

INT. CAR - DAY

 

[SimonB]

Gotta love the quick responses.

Thanks Blaine.

 

[Erik Olson]

From AMPAS, the Academy Award® people.

http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/format.html

e

 

[SimonB]

Thanks Erik!