How would you write in dialog a censored beep as in cursing?

Why would you bleep out words in a screenplay?

It could be like Family Guy or South Park where they say bad words but bleep them out just to make it funny. I think.

Sean

I could see this being done in a comedy to some extent. Since it's rather unorthodox, I would suggest writing *bleep* (with the astericks). I think the reader will get the picture. Get the *bleep* out of here. What is all this *bleep*? Like that maybe.

Yeah, I agree with George on this one.  You're basically writing sound effects into dialogue, which is pretty difficult, but if I were to do it I'd use the asterisks.

The only other thing I can think of, which would be a total mess, is this.

Guy

What the --

A Beep

-- are you talking about?


It's almost like the beep is interrupting the character's dialogue.  Just another suggestion, but I myself wouldn't use it.

I've tried writing out censored words before on Word, and if you say *bleep* using asterisks, it would make the word "bleep" bold.

So instead of

PERSON

What the *beep*?


It would be:

PERSON

What the beep?


But I would use asterisks. It seems easier.

Sean

Quoted from Zombie Sean I've tried writing out censored words before on Word, and if you say *bleep* using asterisks, it would make the word "bleep" bold.

And this is why one of the first things I do when I get to a new computer with Word, the first thing I do is turn off all the automatic functions. I can handle my own formatting, and I end up (in the early days) trying to undo everything Word screws up than it helps. I even delete several words out of the auto-correct list because that gets annoying after awhile too.

Quoted from George Willson And this is why one of the first things I do when I get to a new computer with Word, the first thing I do is turn off all the automatic functions. I can handle my own formatting, and I end up (in the early days) trying to undo everything Word screws up than it helps. I even delete several words out of the auto-correct list because that gets annoying after awhile too.

This is an off-topic question:

Is there any way you can make that stupid paper clip or computer thing go away?

Sean

Quoted from Zombie Sean This is an off-topic question: Is there any way you can make that stupid paper clip or computer thing go away?

Sounds like you're referring to the "Office Assistant." Click Help and then Hide Office Assistant. My little guy never came back.

I did this very thing in an episode of my series in which they were testing out the censors put on by the damned cable television people... I just use F**k like that and people know what the word is and yet don't get the payoff of the cursing.

For the most part you shouldn't need to censor dialogue, in South park scripts (At least ones I've seen the words were not censored) maybe they did later on or at the beginning but I've seen some without and even understood Kenny which was cool.

I use "f**k", "s**t", "a**hole", "G*ddamn", et cetera.

I figured the idea here was to use it for comedic effect, not necessarily to have it clean enough for the kindergarten class to go through.

There is a movie called "What the bleep do we know?"  Actually imdb has it listed as "What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?"
http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt0399877/

I think if you used it for ironic effect it might work...as long as you didn't overdo it :)

Quoted from Zombie Sean This is an off-topic question: Is there any way you can make that stupid paper clip or computer thing go away? Sean

Sean I feel your pain LOL!! I just normally exit out of it, the little paper clip dude, he seems to vanish.

Seethe perfect example in Tarentino's Kill Bill script

                              THE BRIDE
                  Hello sweety, I'm *(BLEEP)*, what's your name?

* Whenever during the picture somebody says The Bride's real name, it will be BLEEPED OUT ON THE SOUNDTRACK, ...that is, till I want you to know. *