Questions regarding TV script. How do you indicate 3-4 scenes that show a couple doing different things but no dialogue? Also, I was told not to use "cut to" to delineate scenes but to leave 3 spaces between scenes. Is this correct? Thanks for any help.
Screenwriting : Joanna Paxinou by Joanna Paxinou
Joanna Paxinou
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For your scene heading for each one indicate the time as "same time." ie. INT. JOE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Action line is whatever he's doing...
INT. MARY'S BATHROOM - SAME TIME
Action line is whatever she's doing, peeing maybe ;)
Is that what you mean? Or do you mean like a montage?
Or is it to be a split screen?
Montage.
There's many different ways you can do it depending on what you are trying to accomplish.
Here's a good website with many samples: https://screencraft.org/2018/03/16/screenwriting-basics-how-to-write-an-...
Also you can search around on John August's website, but here's one link: https://johnaugust.com/2003/various-locations
I can pm you a sample of one I recently wrote as well. But I'm sure there are many wise people on here with other info and samples too!
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The simplest way is to use SERIES OF SHOTS.
Example:
INT. BOB'S HOUSE - DAY
SERIES OF SHOTS
A. Bob and Mary are watching TV
B. Mary is washing dishes, Bob is drying them
C. Bob is brushing his teeth
D. Mary is brushing her hair
END SERIES
And to answer the other question, yes, it is a no-no to put transitions in (CUT TO, FADE TO, DISSOLVE TO, etc.). It identifies the writer as an amateur.
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Thank you both very much. So helpful. One last question--do we still use FADE IN at beginning of script and FADE OUT at end of script? Thanks again.
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FADE IN - yes, but END is more common than FADE OUT.
Thanks again, John. So very helpful.
What about leaving three spaces between scenes. Is this right?
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Basically as the writer - you get 2 transitions; FADE IN, FADE OUT. period. Feel free to argue with it all you want - but that's just the way it is. (If you write transitions between scenes - the Director will cast an evil spell on you.) A montage is generally used to travel from one place to another, but generally not within the same location, (you can do it, but it's not the best way). You can use a series of shots but 'SERIES OF SHOTS' is not a scene heading and is unnecessary. Scene heading: INT DYLON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Sub Header LIVING ROOM followed by an action line (I assume we already know the characters) - Dylon and Zoe cuddle on the sofa, drink wine, watch tv. KITCHEN - LATER, She washes dishes, he dries. BATHROOM - LATER He brushes his teeth. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS, She brushes her hair. You don't need 'END OF SERIES'... you just go to the next scene.
Everything you write is an action in present tense. Keep it simple and tight.
Thank you very much.
Doug Nelson I actually didn't know that transitions were fading out (punny!). Generally, I use the "Cut to" or the "dissolve to" but it makes sense to just do away with it. I do like to write with leaving room for the producer's or director's imaginations. Which, the transitions is more their department anyhow. Cool beans, thanks for the tip!
Thank you all very much.
Is it correct script format to leave 3 spaces between scenes?
3 spaces is not the best, but not a deal-breaker, either. There have been some solid suggestions on this thread, use the ones that make the most sense. None of them, if used or not, are deal-breakers on an original script (specs of an existing show are different - they generally have very specific formatting rules that you have follow to be considered for that show). The bottom line is, if your writing is great and the story strong, no one is going to ding you for minor formatting variations.
Thanks again, John and everyone.
If your script is brilliant but gets thrown out because you put 'cut to' in it you wouldn't want to work with those people anyway. And unless it's television screenplays are going to get changed all the time by directors.
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Hello everyone. I'm curious about the context regarding the advice not to use transitions. Is this in a "professional writer" assignment, as opposed to a filmmaker or screenwriter who is writing a spec script that will be sent to competitions and maybe through an agent to studio readers? The reason I ask is I've heard lots of rules but they seem to go out the window on spec scripts. I've read some blacklist scripts that seem to be pretty amateurish in many ways, not just the formatting but they are getting picked up. Thanks!
Thanks Bill and everyone.