IN THIS ISSUE• Summer Classes – Register Now! |
 |
Summer Classes – Register Now!
SCREENWRITING FUNDAMENTALS MASTER CLASS PRIVATE CONSULTATION & INSTRUCTION TO REGISTER |
|
Screenwriting Tip: Format FilmicallyWhen I discuss screenplay formatting, I encourage writers to use conventions that best mimic the film-viewing experience. When it comes to scene headers, for example, I suggest that they stick strictly to ending with DAY or NIGHT. Now if you look at professional screenplays, many do not stick to only DAY and NIGHT. You’ll see specific times (NOON, 5 PM). You’ll also see things like LATER and CONTINUOUS which tells the reader whether additional time has passed since the last scene ended or not. The problem that I have with all of these is that they don’t mimic the film experience. The moment when in a film we cut to a new scene, in that instant I can (usually) tell if it’s DAY or NIGHT, at the most. If we need to know that it’s a more specific time (and do ask yourself if we truly need to know it), the screenwriter should put it in the action/scene description (“The wall clock says it’s noon”) or in dialogue (“hey buddy, you got the time?”) Likewise regarding whether this scene occurs immediately after the preceding one or if some additional time has passed: this is something in a film that the viewer has to figure out from context. I want the reader to experience the story the way the film viewer would, as much as possible. So I don’t put CONTINUOUS or LATER in scene headers. The reader will have to read the scene and find out from the context which it is, just like the viewer has to watch and figure it out in a movie. |
|
Alumni NewsHannah Feller was a Finalist in Final Draft’s Big Break Competition. Her screenplay The Money Flight was named one of the Top 3 feature screenplays in the Action/Adventure category. Shruti Saran‘s Mindy Project spec script Money For Sharknado was a Sitcom Finalist in the Scriptapalooza Competition Katherine Craft was accepted into UT’s MFA in Screenwriting program. She applied withThe Storyseekers, a script she workshopped in Winter 2015 Master Class. Angela Briones was accepted into a juried workshop in advanced screenwriting with Pamela Ribon, the best-selling novelist, screenwriter and TV writer (most notably the Emmy award-winning Samantha Who?) Keaton Smith‘s short film The Story of Christopher Jenkinswas an official selection in the Philip K Dick Film Festival in New York City. Laura Menghini has written, directed, and stars in her own comedy series Marsha Has Class now airing on cable Channel Austin 16. Check your local listings. Alumni: be sure to email us about your news. We love to hear from you! Email news@thescreenplayworkshop.org. The Screenplay Workshop is on Twitter as @jillchamberlain. To follow The Screenplay Workshop on Twitter, you need to follow @jillchamberlain. Have you “liked” The Screenplay Workshop’s Facebook page yet? Do so by clicking here and you’ll get automatic program updates in your News Feed. |
New classes begin the last week of May and first week of June. Register ASAP for the best selection and to ensure your choice is not filled or cancelled! Here are our Summer offerings:
Leave a Reply