Hi,

 I am Eswar, from India. Yep! The same country that dishes out a sh!tload of movies every year. Nope! I am not interested in writing Bollywood musicals.

 Thanks for this wonderful website. I am VERY new to script writing, but have been writing short stories for a long time. I hope to post my first script soon - I am thinking of writing a short first. Let me see how I get along.


Best Regards,
Eswar

Cool, welcome to the board.

Welcome to the site. Always interesting to see new people joining from all over the place.

Thank you all for a warm welcome. I have my first question for writing scripts. I will put it in once I get some time out of my work schedule.

That's strange...  

I know it is strange. It is just that I am at my work and I didn't want to draft an e-mail while I am solving problems with computers - will not be able to do justice to both

Ok here is the question. I managed to correct my script a bit before posting here. This is the opening sequence. My question is how do I present the idea that from the distance when the characters walk towards the camera they come into focus. Meaning a blurry out of focus in the distance and as they walk towards the camera their outlines are much more clearer. I hope I am presenting it right. Also, is the usage of the word "camera" OK in the script. Does it sound too specific?

EXT. VILLAGE IN KASHMIR - DAY

Titles roll on a view of a narrow lane winding up a hill. It is winter and traces of snow dress the corners of the lane. In the distance, a bunch of school children walk towards the camera, chattering away. MEHER (9) and her brother AHMED (19) walk much slower than the rest, and are talking to each other. The words are inaudible. They move towards the camera slowly as the last of the titles roll by....

I wouldn't say CAMERA... I'd say they draw closer and closer as the credits roll by.

Or something to that nature. CAMERA isn't a good word to use in writing a screenplay. It shouldn't feel as if you are reading one but rather reading what you see in a movie.

You get what I'm saying? As if you are just reading thru the paces of action and dialouge on film, only on paper... I believe so anyways.

Balt~

Thanks Balt, you have been helpful. But what about the "out of focus" thing? Do they usually specify that in the script? I want that effect to be there if a movie is made on the script. That part is important. So, how do I tell the reader that the 2 people seem out of focus in the picture and then when the slowly move towards the camera they come into focus?

See how it plays out in your head. The mental "camera" will focus on something to through everything beyond that something out of focus. This is difficult to do in a spec without breaking my personal cardinal rules of 1) no camera direction, 2) no "we see", and my newest addition 3) no non-visual adverbs. If the scene above is where you want your blur to be, I think you can pull it off something like this:

"Traces of snow dress the corners of a narrow lane winding up a hill blurring out of focus in the distance. As a group of SCHOOL CHILDREN pass over the hill, they only come into focus as they pass by the nearest traces of snow. Following them, walking much slower, MEHER (9) and her brother AHMED (19), pass over the hill but also remain out of focus until they near where the children passed by."

It's not perfect, but I also don't know your story. But there's my thought on it.

Thanks George,

Here is my "corrected" version

EXT. VILLAGE IN KASHMIR - DAY

Titles roll on a view of a narrow lane winding up a hill. It is winter and traces of snow dress the corners of the lane. In the distance, a bunch of school children walk into focus, chattering away. MEHER (9) and her brother AHMED (19) walk much slower than the rest, and are talking to each other. The words are inaudible. They slowly come into focus and their words become more clear as the last of the titles roll by..

Cheers,
Eswar

Hi we are two students from India are want to take up film making as our career. We are amateurs however have written and directed a short film as a college project. We would post the script very soon to the site and would appreciate all suggestions and criticism.We would also like to know what exactly is screenplay and what are the basics of writing one?

Thanks a lot and looking forward to all your replies.

Shubhendu
Aparajita.  

'What exactly is screenplay?'  Could you explain this part?

Post your script and we'll take a look at it.


Phil

Hi Phil,
Thanks a lot. We would surely post our script soon. Since we are quite new in scriptwriting we wanted to know how do you actually write a screenplay? Looking forward to your reply.

Shubhendu
Aparajita.  

You may want to pick up the Cole/Haag book, 'The Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats.'

In the meanwhile, read some of the scripts on the boards.


Phil

Thanks a lot, Phil. We will surely read the book as also the scripts on board.

Thanks a lot,

Shubhendu
Aparajita.

I also recommend David Trottier's Screenwriter's Bible.

Hi George,
Thanks a lot. We will surely look up that too. Could you please tell us how to post a script on board?

Thanks a lot,

Shubhendu
Aparajita.

Just go to Submit Your Script and read and fill out the information.

Don