Screenwriting : How much description you put in for environment that Americans might not be familiar with? by Bernice Ye

Bernice Ye

How much description you put in for environment that Americans might not be familiar with?

Hello fellow screenwriters!

I'm writing a feature where the story happens in 90s/early 2000 China. When I describe the environment, how much should I go in to describe something that American readers who might not be familiar with? For example, a "squat toilet" - might be totally unfamiliar to an American audience, but it's a pretty standard thing in China. How much should I go in to scene descriptions for these type of things?

Bernice Ye

Thank you so much Nick! That's very helpful!!

Evel Louis

There was too much rain then because of the Global warming. I don't know how it was in China then.

Bernice Ye

Thank you Gary! That makes a lot of sense. Very helpful!!

B A Mason

The Script for Slumdog Millionaire described their infamous toilet scene as:

"piers protruding from the slum onto airport land, each with a toilet shack perched right at the end" - some description doesn't hurt as long as it doesn't take up too much page space.

Bill Albert

IMHO brief descriptions, one bit at a time as needed. It's like a constant reminder that it is some place new and unfamiliar.

Craig Prickett

I only use things unfamiliar to American audiences if they're important to the story.Usually to convey something about individual characters,characters relationship/s and tell the audience something about the world.For example I used Cavacello cheese which is a delicasy in Matera Italy but hardly known outside of Matera. So had action line something like. Dom removes a small cheese the shape of an ancient Greek vase covered in twine netting from his pocket. Anabella-Cavicello! Domenico-Only the best for my beautiful Bella When describing a place and objects within a scene I use those descriptions to set tone.And anything that's not needed is removed.I think putting a little desciption is good but be wary of treating your audience as idiots.Maybe within the room desciption descibe the squat toilet is it a high end porcelein type you see in Japan and Hong Kong or is it not much more than a hole in the ground like are common in South East Asia.And is it important to your story.I think most audience members/readers if you just wrote squat toilet would understand what that is as it's self explanitory.

Kiril Maksimoski

End users should see it not read it, right? As for the director/producer as readers don't sweat it, they'll be more focused on other aspects of the story...however I do recommend title to be universal and applicable to multi-culti environment ..there's a reason many Chinese kung-fu movies, for example have word dragon in the title...it instantly associates to power, fight etc although I suspect it covers all the aspects of the themed discipline

Bernice Ye

B A Mason that's a perfect example to illustrate how to handle this. Thank you so much!

Bernice Ye

Thank you everyone for the great tips!

The visual is important to the action (because there are people waiting in line who can see her)... I'm not entirely happy with it yet, but this is the picture I'm trying to paint. Any feedback?

Binbin squats down to pee. In these stalls, it's just a trough that you straddle over. An "L-shaped" half-wall divides the stalls and covers her bottom but not her face.

Craig Prickett

Binbin enters the stalls straddling the trough and squatting down to pee.An L-shaped half wall protecting her modesty with her face clear for all to see.

Bernice Ye

Thank you so much Craig! I love it. That's it!!!

Anita August

maybe describe the process of using a squat toilet by a character. the visual has to be the nucleus of the scene which may ignite a pleasant or not memory.

Other topics in Screenwriting:

register for stage 32 Register / Log In