Screenwriting : Should A Screenwriter Write Direction? Camera Movements? Fade In, Fade Out? by James David Harris

All the rules I've read says that unless you're the director, you should NEVER write in camera shots, lighting, FX, blocking, etc... in scripts.

A writer paints a picture with words. They don't need to know and use camera shots.

The only exception is in a case where it's becoming a production script and the director asks you to write in certain camera moves. Or, in my case I was hired to write a found footage and the director/producers decided to make it a regular film, but they wanted certain POV shots from the handheld camera since the camera figures prominently in the script.

A funny story involving this...When I was a total newbie and being mentored by my partner, we discussed whether or not I should ever have camera direction in a script. He said to me, "Which sounds better? 'A woman sits at a bar. She becomes aware a man has entered, she reacts.' or, "Close on a the wine glass in front of her. His reflection can be seen there. Close on her eyes...etc' " He then went on to say that some producers really need to be shown the scene step by step to sell it. Okay, so I wrote a script on a project we were hoping to be hired for...I added camera directions as he said.. "LISA! What are you doing? Why do you have camera directions? You never do the job of the director!" I said, "What about what you told me!? Remember the whole wine glass scene?" "Ugh! That's when you are writing for ME!" LOL!

Generally the Director will have their own idea of the film (and hopefully your script will put it there) but the director will take it to the art director, they will have thoughts about sets and settings and the whole thing may change around and then after the production secretary will put in the camera shots just to count scene breakdowns for budgeting, etc etc Remember a script is written three times, first by the writer then the director and then the editor. If you are two or more of these then you will have control (except when the producer tells you can't afford a location or CG

I've now written a couple screenplays. The first draft of my first spec I included a lot of directing components. On the rewrite, they all came out, and the amount of extra dialogue and action I could replace it with was shocking. That's the beauty of a spec...purely creative and visual.

No!

Of course, Lisa. When a writer is hired they should write what they are hired to write. Can you imagine how quickly you would be replaced if the producer who hired you asks you to write in every camera angle and you said, "No. That isn't done."? Hell, if a producer hires me to write in all upper cace Ariel bold, I'll write the script that way. But I'm not presenting my spec script like that.

I agree with Jeremy but I don't see those as blocking or camera movements, they are suggested highlights that the director can pick up on and make decision, like "the knife glistens" or as you say "A woman's feet". ECU Bomb under her chair is not as good as "4:59, the timer is counting down, bomb hidden, under Pamela's chair"

Advice I 've received from script consultants suggests avoiding camera directions unless absolutely essential. Too distracting to the reader who's trying to decide on the value of the script. Best to avoid any distractions...