Screenwriting : Format clarification by Martina Cook

I use it and I've never been told not to. Fade in at beginning, fade out at end.

It's either, yes and/or no. ;) You can certainly use them, or omit, or just use one and not the other. Or use some other combination. I see all kinds of use differences... Some scripts begin with BLACK SCREEN, or begin with some other device or with a scene heading. On the last page: FADE OUT, or THE END, or both of those together, or nothing after that last line, or FADE TO BLACK, etc. So, writer's choice. Of course some folks have a more strict preference to formatting, prefer to go "by the book." Personally, I never use "FADE IN." I find it redundant. ;)

don't need

If you live in Europe, the proper European Version goes like this:

AND SO SHALL THEE TALE COMMENCETH.....

and then....

AND SO SHALL THE ROAD OF OUR JOURNEY CEASE FORTHWITH

I prefer "FADE IN" and "FADE OUT"....those nutty Europeans....I'm telling ya.....heh-heh.

I use it too, but as I posted in another thread recently, not everyone does... if your story is compelling enough no one will care.

I finished a script recently in which the last scene ends with the main character blowing out a lantern and pitching the scene into darkness. So what did I write? "Fade out" before "The End." Gotta change that!

Eric, you don't have to change your ending. Lol! As said previously, writer's choice. ;)

Thanks all, help appreciated

Eric it doesn't matter, really. As long as you're consistent, it's perfectly acceptable to use fade in/fade out.

I'm reading the spec script of SCORN (before title was changed to John Wick) and the Writer uses about (20) fade in/fadeout in between scenes changes, lots of CUT TO's, CAMERA suggestions, POV, "We See" prose..

Nobody making movies for a living cares about that stuff- fade in, cut to's. The script is gonna be revised by the original Writer or by somebody else. Format will be fixed for scheduling. Just tell your story. Make it worth reading.

Depends on the script for me. If it's an "ease into" intro then we are fading in. But in some cases, if it's a jarring intro, then it doesn't make sense IMHO to use Fade In: (ie. Fade in: on all the mayhem and noise of a Michael Bayish car chase)

You won't get agreement on this. Go with your own preference.

There is no hard & fast rule; we all have our individual takes. I tend to take a more traditional stance. I open with FADE IN, on the left (the comma suggests something to follow) and close with FADE OUT. on the right (the period suggests a positive stop. But I have overlaid dialog onto a black screen after FADE OUT, - the comma suggests something to follow.) But you do it your way and nobody will care except a few toe sucking Creatins.

Dan M, is my preaching story above all else beginning to rub off on you brother?

My novice sensibilities has me leaning towards traditional: Fade in/ Fade out. Plus as a screenwriter, we don't get many chances to put in camera directions. Call me crazy but those directions make it feel more like script. To each their own!

I've never used FADE IN on a screenplay. It's clunky, It's artificial and it's, frankly, an editing choice. Use it if you wish, but it's almost as archaic as reel changes.

Craig

I always knew most of the format stuff was bullshit but it's good to know who is reading your stuff before you go crazy. So format counts. So does presentation. Script has to look like a pro script.

When Shane Black wrote Lethal Weapon, he did stuff nobody else did and he was 21-years old, he either didnt care or didn't know screenplay format. But he knows how to tell an engaging story, with his unique voice. Shane Black is still working.

I say "Yes!" It's the norm in the industry and lets us/audeince/reader/manager/producer know we are about to sit down and watch a movie. I usually, do Fade In. Then END. I use Dissolve. I also work on making my transitions key for the flow.

Martina... got your answer yet?

It's the norm to do so. But you can use "cut to/from black" too.

Thanks Dough - I think I will give it a try...So far I've never used them as I agree they feel a bit redundant, but I like traditions - we have a saying in Italy that it's better to burn a house than losing a tradition...so... FADE IN and OUT is! :)