CONCEPT 12 Speaking the Language of Screenwriters

Are you taking a foreign language at school? The study of other languages is not only a culturally enriching experience, but its regular practice and vocabulary building will one day allow you to travel to the countries in which those tongues are spoken and comfortably maneuver your way around like a native. The world of screenwriting has a lot of similarities. You’ve literally seen a lot of the pictures, you’ve read about the people who inhabit this exciting realm, and you’re pretty sure they’d be interested in what you have to say. But just as you wouldn’t trek off to a strange locale without having at least a basic knowledge of the lingo and customs, it would also be foolish to try your hand at writing a film without first understanding how screenwriters translate their visions to the printed page. Unlike a novel or a short story where everything is described in detail, a screenplay is comprised of master scenes and dialogue. Master scenes tell us where and when something is happening; dialogue reveals who is talking and what they’re saying. Within this framework are abbreviated cues that suggest how a shot is set up, including transitions and sound effects. This cinema shorthand not only cuts down on the amount of text on a page but shows a prospective producer that you speak his or her lingo. Just because you can “talk the talk” fluently, however, doesn’t mean you can yak incessantly. This is called “directing on paper” and is something directors don’t like, especially when it comes to excessive inclusions of camera angles. Unless it’s essential that a shot be an ECU (extreme close-up) or a crane view, leave such things to the pro’s discretion. Your job as the writer is simply to tell the story the best way you know how.

LOOK & LEARN

The following is a beginning list of screenplay terms and what they mean. (Some should look familiar). FADE IN, FADE TO BLACK: First and last words in a script. Signal the start or the end. INT. & EXT.: Interior or Exterior V.O., O.C., & O.S.: Voiceover, Off-Camera, Off-Screen SFX: Sound Effects DISSOLVE, CUT TO & FADE: Transitions from one scene to the next CU & ECU: Close-up and Extreme Close-Up INTERCUT: (Used for phone conversations) Switch back and forth between 2 locales. AGLE ON: Draw attention to particular element in scene AERIAL & CRANE SHOTS: Used when height is important in establishing shot. POV: From the Point of View of a character PAN: Horizontal sweep of a scene BRAINSTORMERS Complete the following task. Bring this in for study by NEXT TUESDAY (10-14)! 1. Go to www.simplyscripts.com. Download and print 5-10 pages of any movie script. Circle the above terms whenever you find them. (Note: “Transcripts” are not written in proper screen format, but the terminology can still be studied.)

Screenwriting for Teens, (Hamlett) pp. 23-24