Tha last time I was on Circalit, probably eight months ago, I called out a writer for formatting something like this...

Sheila runs towards the woods.

WOLFMAN

jumps out at her and gives chase. She screams.

WOLFMAN should not be a slug IMO. Then, they don't cap the first letter of the following sentence like WOLFMAN was part of the sentence. I've never seen this in a pro script. I'm seeing it more and more in unproduced scripts. Why?

I understand if you want to cap an object to make sure the reader/director pays close attention to it if its important to story, I just don't think you need to space out a character like this. Obviously they're gonna be filmed.

Needless to say, after a lengthy argument, which I so do enjoy, the writer pulled his script. I just read a bit of "Red Butterfly" That just posted in the portal. The writer does the same thing.

I didn't post on it. If this is a new fad, I guess I'm out of the loop. Wanted some opinions.

James

The only argument I can see for formating the way it was written was if the writer wanted to convey a directorial decision (i.e. switching from Sheila to the Wolfman).  But that excuse makes it worse, imo, then a simple stylistic preference, because it's not our job to tell the director what to do.

So, yeah. I agree with you.

That is perfectly allowed.  It simply means the focus is on the subject.  I use it in this script VDGD.

http://www.freewebs.com/mixelpixel/VDGD.pdf

And actually make fun of it a bit...  

But you need to be in an altered state to read this one.

I can see it working but I would probably figure out a better way to do it.  I wanna say it is wrong but it is probably down to preference.

It's not wrong.  It's perfectly acceptable.

Ghost

I think doing it this way implies a shock to the viewer.  I think it's acceptable.


Phil

I agree. There's nothing wrong with it.

I prefer it, in fact. Helps focus the action.

Quoted from mcornetto But you need to be in an altered state to read this one.

Me? In an altered state of mind? Never. That was actually funny though. "Lease Poe"... Ha. Fucken way tripped out script...

Anywho, I guess I just don't get why anyone would want to write like this. It just takes up lines for no real reason IMO.

James

James -

Will you be

ENTERING

the February OWC?


Perhaps that will be the perfect

OPPORTUNITY

to give this kosher format variant a try.


Lettuce see how our fellow readers

ENJOY IT

throughout ten pages.

Funny Ray,

I will churn my brain the next week, but if all i come  up with is shit... I won't be posting.

Or maybe I'll just sober up, then your all fucked.

Probably not.

THANKS

for your comments.

James

Laugh

OUT

loud!

This method definitely creates white space.  

Great, just as I thought I had finally find my writer's voice, now this crops up.     I really hate change.    If I had it my way I'd still be writng in passive verbiage.

Was a pertinent subject to bring up, though.   Good eye, Jwent.

The script in question, Red Butterfly, is written by Gillian Fu, who is 13 years old. Personally, I can understand why a writer does that, even though to me it's not necessary. I don't think it's intended as a mini slug, just written so that it stands out.

Nit picking excessively on script format is like going through Shakespeare's hand written plays looking for the Ts that weren't crossed IMO.

Then again, wouldn't that be considered by many of you to be an "ORPHAN!!!!!!!!!!!"?  Someone's bound to be upset about this somewhere.

Well...no...it's definitely not an orphan, but IMO, it's a waste...and it serves no effective purpose.

You know...seriously...there are so many different styles we can write in, it comes down to personal opinion and what works for the exact situation we're trying to write for.

Basically, this is a form of direction, as the writer is telling "us" and the director" that we're basically looking at a close up and that's all that's important in this "shot".

Write your story/ Write what's majorly important, visually.  Avoid the crappy, smart ass asides and the like.  Write it solidly so that even an astute reader/editor has to say, "Damn, this is well written".

Easy enough, but James, you've brought up something that has to be thought about...you brought this up...you made it a topic.  Any attention is good attention if the script is well put together and well written.

AS I always say, so many piss poor scripts get bought and turned into films because there's something about the writing that makes it seem like more than it really is.  And that's the same fucking reason why most of the scripts that get turned into films turn out to be crapfests...because in reality, what's on the paper that will transfer to film, isn't what the dumbass readers and producers see.