Quoted from Max But why can't you write a spec script in that style?  It's still the same read.  It's not like the staccato writing changes because the script is spec. Do you like reading the Zodiac script? I personally love it, and the style.

As i said, you can write any way you choose to.  Literally any way at all.

No, I detest that style of writing.

Here's an excerpt from an earlier draft, line for line.

Quoted Text The man turns away from the Corvair.  No emotion.  Walking back to his car.  Satisfied.  Opens the passenger door when... A GROAN.  The man turns at this.  Walks back to the Corvair. Mike.  Still alive.  In agony.

Yeah, it's broken up the same way, and this looks like a way early draft.

Still a brilliant read though, for myself at least.

Anyone else like this style of writing in a script?

Max, if you like that style you should check out Alien by Walter Hill and Near Dark by i forget.

Quoted from bjamin Max, if you like that style you should check out Alien by Walter Hill and Near Dark by i forget.

Got a link brother?

http://home.online.no/~bhundlan/scripts/NearDark.pdf

http://screenplayexplorer.com/wp-content/scripts/Alien.pdf


The Babysitter is another one -- so I'll second what wonkavite wrote.

Near Dark, written by Kathryn Bigelow and Eric Red, both Pros before this was written, came out in 1987 - 28 years ago.

The script is 122 pages long and there isn't a single blank line in the action/description passages.  The movie, including credits, is 94 minutes.  If lines were skipped, as they "should be", this script is close to 200 pages.

To say it's overwritten is like saying Jurassic World's BO performance is pretty good - IT'S EXTREMELY OVERWRITTEN.  It's also extremely dense.

It's a very poor example of how to write a screenplay.

As for Alien, I think enough has been said over the years, but let's understand, it was written close to 40 years ago, and again, written by a Pro.

These are not examples of Spec scripts, nor are they examples of recent scripts.

what does any of that have to do with writing style?  I pointed out two scripts with similar cadence as Zodiac.

Quoted from Dreamscale These are not examples of Spec scripts

I don't know about Near Dark but Alien was a spec script, even the Hill-Giler draft was a spec script - they had not secured any deal with Fox when they wrote it. And for what it's worth, Walter Hill has always written like this, even before he turned "pro".

Quoted from sniper I don't know about Near Dark but Alien was a spec script, even the Hill-Giler draft was a spec script - they had not secured any deal with Fox when they wrote it. And for what it's worth, Walter Hill has always written like this, even before he turned "pro".

Walter Hill does write like that. But so do others.

Had a chance to look at the script for the 2001 movie Dust - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243232/. A few months back. Which was a spec script. Not Hollywood financed. Mainly UK. Budget around 10 mil.

The director who is NY based and has been nominated for an Academy Award, writes in a similar way. Here is an example:

Quoted Text INT. ANGELA'S APARTMENT, NIGHT Underneath the balaclava, a menacing face appears - EDGE. Dangerous, intense... wicked. Adjusts gun in back of pants. Goes through drawers, finds nothing. Three bucks in a cookie jar. Sweeps books to the floor. Straightens slick new suit - his pride. Turns on tv. A locked chest of drawers. Another airplane ROARS overhead. Smiles. Pries it open. A crack and a snap: A pocket watch inside. Pockets it.

Not everyone's cup of tea. But people do it. So... do whatever makes you happy

As long as you're showing and not telling, you're doing it right.  Doesn't matter how you write it, if it's visual, it's correct.  

Quoted from Leegion As long as you're showing and not telling, you're doing it right.  Doesn't matter how you write it, if it's visual, it's correct.

Well...uh...kinda, I guess.

But..as I said earlier, don't write a 200 page script and think it will work as a spec script...cuz...well...it won't.

Quoted from Dreamscale Well...uh...kinda, I guess. But..as I said earlier, don't write a 20m page script and think it will work as a spec script...cuz...well...it won't.

It does work... sometimes.  For specific things.  Action scenes for example.  They work REALLY well with fragmented writing.  Helps the director see it clearer.

Different strokes for different folks though, right?

Quoted from Leegion It does work... sometimes.  For specific things.  Action scenes for example.  They work REALLY well with fragmented writing.  Helps the director see it clearer. Different strokes for different folks though, right?

Right, but not 200 page scripts...they don't work on spec.

Quoted from bjamin Max, if you like that style you should check out Alien by Walter Hill and Near Dark by i forget.

Near Dark! Best vampire movie ever!

Steve

Quoted from Dreamscale Right, but not 200 page scripts...they don't work on spec.

Dreamscale.  You.  Are.  Not.  Far.  Wrong.  Maybe.

BANG.  You.  Maybe.  Right.

FADE OUT: