Shooting scripts use camera angles, which is why you see the occasion 'we see.'  Spec scripts shouldn't include such things.

If you are going to direct the film yourself, or if you are an in-demand Oscar-winning screenwriter, you can write your scripts on toilet paper with the blood of a newborn.  When you're just starting out, you have to follow the rules.  And one rule is:  don't use 'we see' in the script--

Blood of a newborn?  What the hell...?



Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Shooting scripts use camera angles, which is why you see the occasion 'we see.'  Spec scripts shouldn't include such things. If you are going to direct the film yourself, or if you are an in-demand Oscar-winning screenwriter, you can write your scripts on toilet paper with the blood of a newborn. Blood of a newborn?  What the hell...? Phil

You're just in the groove with all of the horror of Halloween.  I'm heading to get the toilet paper now and I think this handy dandy toddler-size Red Crayola ought to do the trick.

Scripts written by professionals and their little formatting quirks should be out of sight and out of mind for budding screenwriters as far as I'm concerned. I've seen lots of shoddy scripts on this site and when they're slammed for bad formatting and/or rule breaking, the writers always refer to scripts written by professionals in their defense. If you want to learn how to write a script, your best bet would be to read a book or something. In fact, you'd probably learn a lot more here about screenwriting than flipping through produced scripts. Trying to learn from professionals, ironically, is usually the wrong way to go

So I was sitting in film study class today as our teacher explained how to write a script:
"The first thing you'll notice is that everything in a movie script is centered . . ."

I timidly raised my hand:
"I'm pretty sure nothing is centered, and the dialogue is just indented . . ."

"No, Tyler, I'm pretty sure you're wrong.  I've never seen it like that."

I was bitter the rest of the period.

Tyler, or Higgs, I'd say you need a new class, if the teacher is ignorant enough to tell you that.

Quoted from Higgonaitor I was bitter the rest of the period.

You are so obligated to correct her ignorance.  You are in high school, not kindergarten.

Do not be intimidated -- or whatever else it was that kept you silent -- when you know that you are correct.

Quoted from bert You are so obligated to correct her ignorance.  You are in high school, not kindergarten. Do not be intimidated -- or whatever else it was that kept you silent -- when you know that you are correct.

I'll agree with that. You've worked hard to attain your level of expertise, and there's nothing wrong with showing what you know so long as its done in a respectful manner. Your classmates should thank you for it.

My question is this regarding we see's and other formatting things...

Are some of those elements added by the director and/or others on the production team while the final shooting script is being prepared?

The whole business aspect of screenwriting is real cloudy to me. (Selling your spec and what happens after that...the production process).  I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions for a good book on the matter.

Thanks!

Joe

Quoted from Higgonaitor So I was sitting in film study class today as our teacher explained how to write a script: "The first thing you'll notice is that everything in a movie script is centered . . ." I timidly raised my hand: "I'm pretty sure nothing is centered, and the dialogue is just indented . . ." "No, Tyler, I'm pretty sure you're wrong.  I've never seen it like that." I was bitter the rest of the period.

Just bring the Screenwriter's Bible to class and quote it to your teacher. hell, bring more books if you'd like. If there's one thing I've learned it's that teachers aren't inherently knowledgable about what they're supposed to teach.

One time I was corrected in History class for saying Amsterdam is the capital of Holland. My Social studies teacher chimed in as well and told me, like my history teacher, that it was The Hague. But I was positive I was right so I mailed the Dutch tourist council and asked them, and took a transcript of the mail to class. Turned out I was right.

The moral of the story is, you shouldn't pass up an opportunity to nail your teacher. You may misinterpret that anyway you want. Especially if she's hot

Higgs,

I see you have a teacher like a few that I had in school.  
I, like you, sat quietly in class from that point on. My grades in those classes ended up being bad, too, because I saw things differently than the teacher, and I wasn't one of "the pets".

**I suggest that you print out a couple pages of a few different scripts, and take them to her or him privately, before the class.**

That way you won't embarrass the teacher in front of the class, and then the teacher will know that you know what you are talking about.

Good luck,

Cindy

I'm wondering what you're doing participating in class instead of just staring out the window.

Mike Shelton, Former C Student.

Well first off, he's a guy.

Secondly, he's pretty cool, so I don't want to contradict him in front of the whole class, but I also don't want to seem like a pretensious know-it-all who doesn't let things go.  I already brought it up, and he's lettimg me write it "whatever way I want, so long as the dialogue is seperate from the descriptions" so I think I'm just going to let that be that.

Thanks, though, for the advice everyone.

Tyler Higgins, current C student.

Quoted from Higgonaitor Well first off, he's a guy. Secondly, he's pretty cool, so I don't want to contradict him in front of the whole class, but I also don't want to seem like a pretensious know-it-all who doesn't let things go.  I already brought it up, and he's lettimg me write it "whatever way I want, so long as the dialogue is seperate from the descriptions" so I think I'm just going to let that be that. Thanks, though, for the advice everyone. Tyler Higgins, current C student.

Higgs,

I didn't mean for you to come off as a know-it-all.

I work with one, and it's all I can do to walk away from her...

Like your teacher who is teaching your class wrong, this girl started bragging to another worker that she wrote "movies".

When I heard her say that, I excitedly asked her what genre she wrote in? Did she belong to a writing group? And I suggested she come here. I told her that she could post her scripts here and do some reading...

I got some really odd looks from her...
and then she said, "What I meant to say is that I write so detailed that it could be a movie".

I was like, "What!?"

but she does know eveything else. Just ask her, and imagine, she's only 19.

But to get back on subject, I think your teacher would respect you if you bring it to his attention "in private"...

You would be doing your classmates a favor, too.

Just trying to help.
Cindy

Quoted from Higgonaitor Well first off, he's a guy. Secondly, he's pretty cool, so I don't want to contradict him in front of the whole class, but I also don't want to seem like a pretensious know-it-all who doesn't let things go.  I already brought it up, and he's lettimg me write it "whatever way I want, so long as the dialogue is seperate from the descriptions" so I think I'm just going to let that be that. Thanks, though, for the advice everyone. Tyler Higgins, current C student.

I was kidding though.

TJ, pretentious know-it-all who doesn't let things go. Ever.

Quoted from CindyLKeller But to get back on subject, I think your teacher would respect you if you bring it to his attention "in private"... You would be doing your classmates a favor, too.

I think I might.  I think I'll just say I was looking it up to be sure and found "this site" that explains it.  Then I'll just hand him an explenation from one of the many websites that explain script formatting.

I think that's what I'll do.

Thanks for the help,
Tyler

A quote from Albert Einstein:

Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

Perhaps one can have respect for another and still know they're wrong.  My understanding of Einstein's quote is that we shouldn't just follow blindly what others might say and believe is truth-- always questioning: "why" or "how so".

One screenwriting book that I've found to be extremely well written is Syd Field's "Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting.  This is a gentleman with lots of experience in the industry and an honest voice on some of the finer points as well as a general overview and examples of typically studied screenplays.

Sandra



Sandra