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Specifying the time in an action line (currently 1894 views) |
Felipe |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 1:01pm |
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LocationLos Angeles, CA Posts437 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
Hey everyone,
Forgive me if this has been discussed, but I have run into a little bit of a snag in a short I'm writing.
The story requires that I specify the exact time down to the second and I was wondering what the appropriate way to do that would be. I've been cautioned not to use numerical symbols in my scripts before so I wonder if that still applies here. Any help is appreciated!
Felipe |
| 'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you. |
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leitskev |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 1:03pm |
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Posts3113 Posts Per Day 0.64 |
How is the time shown in the film? A title? A clock in the background?
Or is it not shown, but the director needs to know?
Maybe you could give an example. |
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Felipe |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 1:11pm |
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New
LocationLos Angeles, CA Posts437 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
We are looking directly at a clock as the time changes. We need to know where the hands started and where they ended up, so two different times. |
| 'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you. |
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bert |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 1:17pm |
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AdministratorBuy the ticket, take the ride
LocationThat's me in the corner Posts4232 Posts Per Day 0.61 |
If it is critical, of course you say it. Describe the clock (if necessary) and simply state what time it shows.
I've been cautioned not to use numerical symbols in my scripts before so I wonder if that still applies here. |
Who on earth told you that? Poppycock. |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 1:26pm |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
My understanding about numerical symbols differs slightly...
I've been told that some folks consider numbers in dialogue chains is a no-no. BUT... I've never heard that numbers are poo-poo'd in action descriptions. That's new. I see them in descriptives all the time.
Regards, E.D. |
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Felipe |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 1:28pm |
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LocationLos Angeles, CA Posts437 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
It was in my first OWC (the unofficial December one).
I wrote "3" instead of "three" several times without realizing it and several people called me on it.
In either case, should I write the time as 6:45:23 or actually write out Six forty-five blah blah blah? |
| 'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you. |
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Breanne Mattson |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 2:44pm |
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Old Timer
Posts1347 Posts Per Day 0.20 |
It was in my first OWC (the unofficial December one).
I wrote "3" instead of "three" several times without realizing it and several people called me on it. |
Where do people come up with this shit? Haha. I used to have hangups like that until I realized how silly it was.
In either case, should I write the time as 6:45:23 or actually write out Six forty-five blah blah blah? |
Write it whatever way is clearest. Personally, in this case, I think the numbers look better. I usually only spell numbers out when it's in dialogue and I need to make sure the actor knows how to say it. |
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Revision History (1 edits) |
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Forgive |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 6:46pm |
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Old Timer Let The Sky Fall
LocationVarious, exotic. Posts1373 Posts Per Day 0.27 |
I wouldn't poo poo so readily.
If you are looking at a clock or a digital interface, then you can legitimately go for:
CLOSE (ON): Clock reads "3:45" - or similar.
If it is part of the dialogue (which it doesn't appear to be), then the numerical is written:
Dale Three forty five. |
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mcornetto |
Posted: September 27th, 2012, 8:14pm |
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Write what "we see" in the action (that's why we don't use we see because it's redundant). If we see numbers then write the numbers as we would see them. See? |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 2:48am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
It was in my first OWC (the unofficial December one).
I wrote "3" instead of "three" several times without realizing it and several people called me on it.
In either case, should I write the time as 6:45:23 or actually write out Six forty-five blah blah blah? |
Definitely use the numeric symbols in action descriptions. I see it all the time in specs... as a matter of fact... EVERY TIME there's a ticking bomb in a spec! Regards, E.D. |
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Dreamscale |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 11:26am |
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Definitely use the numeric symbols in action descriptions. I see it all the time in specs... as a matter of fact... EVERY TIME there's a ticking bomb in a spec! Regards, E.D. |
Felipe I went back to check up on who these people were who called you out for using numeric symbols, and it looks like it was only 1 person, in the final comment on the thread and I'm not sure how you used these numeric symbols. As to what it is we're actually discussing here, I think it needs to be made clear when numeric symbols are acceptable and when they aren't. If you're writing action prose and you write, "The giant octopus is now only 5 miles away from Brett's new house on the shore.", it is incorrect, IMO. But, if you write, "The evil looking Jack-O-Lantern clock on the wall reads 4:20.", then you're cool. Incorrect - "Felipe runs 15 feet at full speed and collapses." Incorrect - "Brett holds 18 Polish sausages in his hands." Correct - "The sign above the door reads 666 Park Avenue." Correct - "Brett raises his arms in question. The vendor points to a sign that reads 4 for $4." Are we in agreement, or no? |
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Felipe |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 11:43am |
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New
LocationLos Angeles, CA Posts437 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
That makes sense. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't some secret "rule" I'd be breaking.
I showed some other people the script and they brought it up. I'm sure I carelessly used it incorrectly in that script considering I submitted it on New Year's Eve.. in Rio... right before I went out to party. =D
Thanks for the help, everyone!
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| 'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you. |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 2:08pm |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
Quoted from Dreamscale
If you're writing action prose and you write,
"The giant octopus is now only 5 miles away from Brett's new house on the shore.", it is incorrect, IMO.
But, if you write,
"The evil looking Jack-O-Lantern clock on the wall reads 4:20.", then you're cool.
Incorrect - "Felipe runs 15 feet at full speed and collapses."
Incorrect - "Brett holds 18 Polish sausages in his hands."
Correct - "The sign above the door reads 666 Park Avenue."
Correct - "Brett raises his arms in question. The vendor points to a sign that reads 4 for $4."
Are we in agreement, or no?
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Seconded! Except I live a mile from the beach, not five. |
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Dreamscale |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 2:33pm |
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Felipe |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 2:33pm |
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New
LocationLos Angeles, CA Posts437 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
You assume the giant octopus has reached the shore. |
| 'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you. |
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Dreamscale |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 2:42pm |
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Felipe |
Posted: September 28th, 2012, 2:44pm |
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New
LocationLos Angeles, CA Posts437 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
Oh, no. I was saying that to Brett. We both typed our responses around the same time. |
| 'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you. |
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Steex |
Posted: October 3rd, 2012, 8:50pm |
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New I drink your milkshake.
LocationLos Angeles by way of Chicago Posts263 Posts Per Day 0.06 |
Dreamscale is 100% correct. At least from what I've read/heard. I asked this question before.
If you're describing an actual number, it's okay. |
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