I know this topic has been done to death in here, and I apologize for bringing it up again, but I'm over analyzing something and I need to hear from the masters.

I want to start this script off with a montage, while the opening credits roll, and the theme song plays in its entirety (3 plus minutes).

Please note that this is the very opening scene, so no characters have been intro'd yet...but will be in this opening montage.

First of all, since I want this to run some 3 minutes or so, I think I need to fill up 3 pages somehow, right, or is that my first mistake?  I just can't see opening with a 3 page montage (in terms of on paper...in a filmed version, I see no problem whatsoever).

I don't want to reveal the characters identity immediately, either...as in their identity will be vague at first, as if in a distant memory without details, and then clearer, as we near the end of the song and sequence.

It will cover numerous years (so in each little scene, they'll look younger or older, based on when it took place.  It will also cover numerous locations and activities, but each will be brief, and no dialogue will be used.

Not sure why I'm making this so difficult, but it's bugging me how best to accomplish this, so it's clear, and correct.

Any help/advice is very welcome!  Thanks!

I am not sure what you mean about the ambiguous characters -- with the distant memories and all that -- but I do have some advice about using a montage that lasts for a specific period of time.

You have already been told that inserting specific music in a specific way is frowned upon, but are electing to do it anyway for your purposes here.

Fair enough -- so what you do now, since you are playing director, is buy into it fully and be crystal clear with your intent.

In instances such as this, at the beginning of the montage, you would add a statement that says (more or less), "The song plays out in its entirety over the course of this montage".

In this way, the number of pages becomes less of an issue, and the individual segments of the montage are edited to fit.

FADE IN:

EXT.  SMALLVILLE - DAY

START MONTAGE

various shots

END MONTAGE

INT. HARDWARE STORE - DAY

I opened my feature The Burnout with such a montage.


Phil

Sweet!  Thanks, guys.

Bert, I like your idea here very much about not worrying about the page count here and going completely into Director mode.  Over the years, I've come to agree about not using actual songs in scripts, but in this instance, it's just way too perfect not to at least attempt it and see how it flies.

In response to your question about ambiguity of the characters, I mean that this opening montage is a memory...a memory of good times with other people.  But, it's a clouded memory, because the main protag here has a bout of amnesia, and things are foggy at first.  So, what I mean, is that I don't think I want to actually intro the characters properly at first, but I fear it will be confusing, or downright incorrect.  I guess I'll just come right out and state that it's foggy/dreamy/whatever, and as it clears, I'll come out and intro the characters, later in the montage.

Phil, your example, as show here, isn't going to work, as it's literally the opening scene...I can't start with a SLUG, as far as I can tell, as the actual montage is the very first image we see.  Guess I'll check out your script and see if it's what I'm looking for.

Thanks guys!  Much appreciated!  This script will be my Frost Bite!

Quoted from Dreamscale   This script will be my Frost Bite!

I hope not - i wanna read the fucking thing...

Ha!  That's fucking funny, Stevie!  Very funny...

You will be able to.  It's my 7WC and I'm gonna hype it like the Baltis penned Frost Bite!

Quoted from Dreamscale Funny!  Very funny is my 7WC

You're writing a comedy? I thought the genre was thriller...

Oh boy, here we go again with the messin' with the quotes stuff, huh?

No, you A-Hole, Beatle Loving Homo, it's not a comedy!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Thriller, baby...it's a thriller!

Sorry! I forgot...the ol' amnesia is kicking in again.