Hello Stage 32ers! I have a formatting question. I want to acknowledge the presence of facemasks in our world without describing them in every scene where they might play a role in giving the scene a realistic look.
Can I write a general statement at the beginning of the script that some background actors will wear masks and some won't? The decision will be left up to the director and producers. There are principal actors that will put on or take off masks during scenes and those will be written in the action lines.
Thanks in advance.
Dana
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Personally, I would open the first scene with a mention that this is a pandemic world that the story is set in within the description. That should set the tone when it comes to things like masks and people keeping their distance. You can make establishing statements like this within scenes. It's fine.
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Thanks, CJ. That's a simpler/better version of what I was thinking. That was I won't need to address it again. Again, thanks for your response.
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I like that -- say the use of masks is still in place.
Thanks, Kim. Acknowledge it but don't make it a big deal.
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When you are first describing the people in your world you can mention that everyone is wearing masks and will do so throughout.
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Allow your characters to express their feelings about masks and observations....
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Personally I wouldn't do it unless there was a good reason because it would date your screenplay. That is just my opinion.
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I have a question what software are you using? Final draft? I think if you describe it once, that they're in a situation like the current pandemic. The actors and directors will fill in the rest, you're just making a moving script, not a final shooting script the actors and directors will fill out their notes at the end. That's what most screenwriters, the biggest issue. Is determining are they writing a final shooting script or a final draft to present to production companies, producers, and directors. I'm writing a book about this, the writer just has to write a great moving image, not a final shooting script.
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Thank you all for your responses!
Ewan Dunbar, I will put the mask wearing in the description of the first appropriate scene. Not all actors will wear them. My script is a romance/drama with restaurant/bar scenes. I want to describe on the page what I see when I go out.
Paskael Tyiska, there is no dialogue in this second draft that addresses the pandemic. Characters may speak up in future drafts. Main characters might even start or end a scene with a mask. I'll see where they take me.
Dan Guardino, I had the same thought and decided since this is not a main theme of the story and commenting on it only if needed, it can be removed easily without ruining the integrity of the script.
Richard Encarnacion, for the reason you mentioned I didn't want to weave masks too deeply into the story. I agree with you that when it goes into production the current state of the world will dictate what ends up on camera.
James Scott, you're absolutely right. I just put it on the page to remind the reader what our world looks like at this point in time. During production the director and their team will decide what the look should be.
Thanks again for your help!
Dana
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It can sometimes take years to sell a script - as Dan mentioned, it can date your script and that means that your script has gone 'stale' in the market place.
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Why don't you make facemasks important part of the story? Because it they ain't what's the purpose of having them in the first place?
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It sounds like you have made the masks significant throughout. As long as the dramatic purpose and impact is apparent, and as long as it happens often enough, the reader should get that it's part of the world of the film.
Sounds fascinating! Kudos to you for exploring this interesting idea!