Screenwriting : Montage by Surina Nel

Around page 6 maybe page 7

No rule, as such, Surina. But it needs to FEEL right. Does it work structurally? Does it work as part of the story narrative as a whole? Does it need to be a montage? Is this the best way to show what you're showing in order to deliver the most dramatic impact? Try asking these questions of it.

Thanx to everyone who took the time to answer my question. I think I have found my answer through a combination of these answers

it's often done disguised as news or news coverage. Quick montages to setup. Example is Citizen Kane. The montage comes after the opening scene of Kane dying alone in his mansion,

Agree with Dan about how news coverage in some films are montage, like Dawn of the Dead and World War Z (if I recall correctly). The beginning of the original Road Warrior is a montage with a narrator. The film UP begins with a great montage. Ghost in the Shell begins with a montage. Some might call that a "series of scenes", but I think it's more of a montage. All of those films are great, and all begin with a montage. Many more do, too.

Best fortunes to you in your creative endeavors, Surina!

Doesn't Up have a beautifully executed montage near the beginning?

Nope. Just don't use more than one, and have a good reason for your choices.

Ain't no stikin' rules!

Stinkin' either, except the hard and fast rule of no montages before page 11. Doing so is an immediate Pass in the US and illegal in many countries.

GEEZE Tony, I didn't know that. The only script I gave a 'recommend' to in the past six months had a well written full page 3 montage. I suppose I'll sizzle in hell for that.

Anybody else love Rocky and Creed movies? They have multiple boxing montages. Rocky 3 begins with a montage of Rocky fighting in the ring and the villain, Mister T angrily watching.

There is no rule about when and where to use a montage. There is no rule about how many you can have in a screenplay. Whatever you choose to do in your script: Just. Do. It. Well. Write effectively. It's really HOW you use montage that matters.

Surina, just to add... look for great examples of montage, the films Up, Creed, and Rocky were mentioned above. The Big Short used montage and cutaways and voiceover to great effect. Seek out films with something similar to what you wish to do and study shooting scripts to see how montage was employed and how they structured it on the page. How was its timing used? The placement? Where did it fall in the structure? Consider if it worked well or if it didn't. Consider how it moved the story forward or not. Consider the impact. Consider genre, comedy often uses montage. It really depends on the specific creative intent and the context in which montage is being utilized. :) Hope that helps!

Burn, Baby, burn.

Of course there aren't "rules" about montages...but it's one of those things you can do that makes the Writing Super Noticeable. So if there's a link between genre and structure, then it's probably less advisable to use more than one in a horror film. On the other hand, using more than one like the reverse telescoping ones in Shaun of the Dead is clearly a deliberate break with the rules, because it's done for comedic effect. But on the other other hand, if you do that yourself, it becomes derivative. So there again it's a question of utility and effectiveness.

Do whatever you want in your first draft. Go in messy. Don't stop to obsess about this stuff -- it's nearly always better to ask forgiveness (so to speak) than permission in the first drafts. I personally prefer a Series of Shots because it's 1. easier for a lazy bum like me and 2. because it stands out on the page as a montage-type set. I can see easily if my script is likely to become overburdened by them.

Dan Guardino I've seen them used interchangeably. It could be that the writer I learned that from preferred them as shorthand for what would be more broadly covered by locations/actions in another draft, but honestly from a reader's perspective it doesn't interrupt the read as much.

More often than not, montage is an editorial decision. I know I've pulled montages together out of scenes that weren't originally intercut in the script at all. The only other signal I might use is a slug line or a transition, but mostly I couldn't care less if a reader or producer tossed my script out over that because they're reading it in order find a reason to toss it anyway.

In one of my franchise scripts, the opening scene is a prologue, and I use a montage of still photos next to show time passing. For the story, that fits because the montage gives the audience points of references for the different characters. In the finished film, this montage would more than likely intercut with the titles.

Victoria: Understand this! READERS DO NOT READ SCRIPTS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF TOSSING THEM OUT! In fact, finding a worthy script is so very rare that when one is found - it's a celebratory event. If done well, inclusion of monologues has no influence whatsoever on making your writing 'Super Noticeable' - one way or the other.

Doug Nelson I didn't say it was the sole reason, but it's unreasonable to expect someone who reads hundreds of scripts not to look for reasons not to have confidence in someone -- or at least that's the supposition. I happen to agree: unless someone's formatting is egregious, the content is all. All the same, I know in the first 3-5 pages whether what I'm reading is worth my time. If I'm doing a pro-bono feedback or coverage read, I'll fight my way through it. But if I was reading professionally? More likely I'll listen to my first instincts and move on.

It won't be concerned with whether there's a montage on the first page, or whether that montage is formatted according to a specific expectation, though. It'll be on whether the things happening are interesting and engaging.

Cast & Crew know the difference between montage and series of shots. We're screenwriters, that’s our job to know.