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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board / Screenwriting Class / Format-action block sequence
Posted by: Gerasimos, June 24th, 2018, 11:50am
I have a script with a few battlescenes. One of them includes a naval battle and I want to show what is happening here and there. Do I use a series of shots formatting?
For example a sub fires up a torpedo against a destroyer.
I have a 'description' of the launch, the torpedo view until it hits the target, the blast of the destroyer.
Considering that most of the scene headings would be something like INT./EXT. all the time for the destroyer/sub etc, can I just use (is it better/the correct method) something like this ?:
Scene heading- ext. north atlantic-day
....
THE SUB
...
THE DEEP
...
THE DESTROYER
...
THE SUB
...
Or can I use a single action block for everything that occurs till the torpedo hits the mark, without constantly changing scene headings from the sub to the destroyer and vice versa?
Posted by: Philostrate, June 24th, 2018, 2:45pm; Reply: 1
Hey Gerasimos,
I've never written a battlescene myself but I remembered there's a similar battle sequence at the script of Game of Thrones for the "Battle of the Bastards".
It's written by the series showrunners David Benioff & D. B. Weiss and it starts with a battle sequence involving two armadas of ships, dragons and people on mainland.
You can take a look here:
Emmys websiteThey simply use a series of scenes and cut between them. I think it's easier and cleaner and you can combine it with mini-slugs, as you suggested, so it keeps the focus on the action.
Hope it helps.
Posted by: Gerasimos, July 1st, 2018, 1:00pm; Reply: 2
This doesn't feel 'right' in my case.
I went through various famous movie scripts with battles and I came to the conclusion that both styles of montage/series of shots are both 'correct', or at least not false.
Just finished my script, I used the one-scene action block for the small battle scenes, the other SHOTS approach for the big one.
I think it's gonna be even more clear for someone to check the scenes on the actual script and give me his opinion about the formatting.
Posted by: tjalex, August 3rd, 2018, 7:31pm; Reply: 3
Love for you to email me the scene so I can look at it and see what you came up with: tjalex01@gmail.com
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