How much do you need to explain or define about a situation where the reader may not have working knowledge?
i.e. your character is piloting a sailboat
Would you have to explain what a "main sheet", "tacking", "tell-tales", "jib-sheet", "shrouds", or "self-tailing winch" are or do? Or do you assume the reader will infer, from the description of the item or action, what these items are and do?
Check "Platoon" script....I never served in 'Nam, but I understood it perfectly.
1 person likes this
Read the Master and Commander script. You don't have to explain anything.
4 people like this
It depends. If your script is technically focused, it will most likely only attract others with some technical knowledge. This stuff can also be important to second-unit, props, safety personnel, consultants, etc.
Fast & Furious infamously messed up with the nature of nitrous delivery due to a communications mix up. The first movie really paid a price for that when it was released.
The mistake is alienating people unnecessarily, especially in a spec. I've written produced films with sailboats, yachts, and speedboats in without having to use much technical lingo at all. "Preparing the boat", "at full sail", "dropping a hook" are all terms that are easy to understand.
Thanks, all!
4 people like this
If it is simple enough to pick up from the context of the scene you don't need to over explain things. This will help keep the flow of the script.
1 person likes this
You carefully word the sentence so that the meaning of the jargon is clear.
I look at “action - outcome” balance.
They’re catching us, raise the main sail.
Most people would figure out, main sail equals speed.
Give them as much info as they need. I leave stuff out. Most people just assume the characters know.