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Forgive me if this has been discussed, but I have run into a little bit of a snag in a short I'm writing.
The story requires that I specify the exact time down to the second and I was wondering what the appropriate way to do that would be. I've been cautioned not to use numerical symbols in my scripts before so I wonder if that still applies here. Any help is appreciated!
Felipe
'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you.
My understanding about numerical symbols differs slightly...
I've been told that some folks consider numbers in dialogue chains is a no-no. BUT... I've never heard that numbers are poo-poo'd in action descriptions. That's new. I see them in descriptives all the time.
Regards, E.D.
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In either case, should I write the time as 6:45:23 or actually write out Six forty-five blah blah blah?
Write it whatever way is clearest. Personally, in this case, I think the numbers look better. I usually only spell numbers out when it's in dialogue and I need to make sure the actor knows how to say it.
Write what "we see" in the action (that's why we don't use we see because it's redundant). If we see numbers then write the numbers as we would see them. See?
It was in my first OWC (the unofficial December one).
I wrote "3" instead of "three" several times without realizing it and several people called me on it.
In either case, should I write the time as 6:45:23 or actually write out Six forty-five blah blah blah?
Definitely use the numeric symbols in action descriptions. I see it all the time in specs... as a matter of fact... EVERY TIME there's a ticking bomb in a spec!
Regards, E.D.
LATEST NEWS CineVita Films is producing a short based on my new feature!
Definitely use the numeric symbols in action descriptions. I see it all the time in specs... as a matter of fact... EVERY TIME there's a ticking bomb in a spec!
Regards, E.D.
Felipe I went back to check up on who these people were who called you out for using numeric symbols, and it looks like it was only 1 person, in the final comment on the thread and I'm not sure how you used these numeric symbols.
As to what it is we're actually discussing here, I think it needs to be made clear when numeric symbols are acceptable and when they aren't.
If you're writing action prose and you write,
"The giant octopus is now only 5 miles away from Brett's new house on the shore.", it is incorrect, IMO.
But, if you write,
"The evil looking Jack-O-Lantern clock on the wall reads 4:20.", then you're cool.
Incorrect - "Felipe runs 15 feet at full speed and collapses."
Incorrect - "Brett holds 18 Polish sausages in his hands."
Correct - "The sign above the door reads 666 Park Avenue."
Correct - "Brett raises his arms in question. The vendor points to a sign that reads 4 for $4."
That makes sense. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't some secret "rule" I'd be breaking.
I showed some other people the script and they brought it up. I'm sure I carelessly used it incorrectly in that script considering I submitted it on New Year's Eve.. in Rio... right before I went out to party. =D
Thanks for the help, everyone!
'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you.