Quoted from Stoneyscripts Steve. Adding SFX and Bts is not clutter. In fact it is space saving action scenes. And it tells the reader exactly where they are within a script. Don't be fooled by those cretins who tell you that you are cluttering your script, or that your dialogue isn't realistic. People watch movies with their eyes and ears. Even the actor has to portray that otherwise what is the point of dialogue?

All due respect, I know all this. What it sounds like to me is you’re talking more about a shooting script with directors notes or whatever. Notating every sound with SFX is tedious to read, and your initial goal is to tell a story, not notate every sound. And I will use back to scene in my scripts, but only when I’m showing something, hence the “no service” phone in this script, but I chose not to do it as it’s only a four pager I wrote for shits and giggles and didn’t want to get too technical or anything. So, there’s that. Maybe at some point I’ll go back to your script to get a better handle on what you’re talking about and why you think you had to use it.

Why would you include SFX and complex slugs in a spec scripts? You're not developing a plan for shooting or production.

I reads Steve's script three times trying to figure out what is supposedly missing in terms of technical formatting; it's fine. It absolutely would clutter the script to do so.

Quoted from AlsoBen Why would you include SFX and complex slugs in a spec scripts? You're not developing a plan for shooting or production. I reads Steve's script three times trying to figure out what is supposedly missing in terms of technical formatting; it's fine. It absolutely would clutter the script to do so.

My thoughts exactly.

A few notes as I go...

• You title this Flatulessence yet a quick Google search reveals that this word is actually not a real word. My superior knowledge of screenplay format and specialized lexicography genius allow me to elucidate this egregious error. You're welcome.
  
• You use Written by to insinuate that this script is in fact created by a person who goes by the name of Steven Clark. But how do we truly know you're Steven Clark. Perhaps you're actually Stephen Clark. Or Steevan Clark. Or maybe even this fictitious Paul Revere character. Furthermore your surname sounds suspiciously like Clark Kent. Perhaps your true identity is that of none other than Superman...? I'm certain I've never seen the twain in the same room. I have my eye on you.
  
• Curious... you use the email address of steamroller138 as your contact... but without a doubt I know factually that you are neither made of steam nor rollers, let alone that you are indeed the one hundred and thirty-eighth steamroller.
  

Until you rectify the issues noted above you will not receive any further guidance from my vast well of knowledge.
I know this comes as a tremendous blow to your soul but fear not... for with decades of practice and perseverance you may one day begin to almost barely have a little tiny miniscule bit of my genius.

Again... You're welcome.

---

Okay... seriously though...

My only gripe was the last bit of dialogue where he calls his wife a "bitch".
This seemed more family-friendly-fart-joke kind of style until that line. It felt out of place.

Either add more vulgar language earlier on to change the tone, or omit the "bitch" in the last block of dialogue.

-Jordan

P.S. Please read the top portion of this comment in sarcastic font.

Quoted from Nomad A few notes as I go... You title this Flatulessence yet a quick Google search reveals that this word is actually not a real word. My superior knowledge of screenplay format and specialized lexicography genius allow me to elucidate this egregious error. You're welcome. You use Written by to insinuate that this script is in fact created by a person who goes by the name of Steven Clark. But how do we truly know you're Steven Clark. Perhaps you're actually Stephen Clark. Or Steevan Clark. Or maybe even this fictitious Paul Revere character. Furthermore your surname sounds suspiciously like Clark Kent. Perhaps your true identity is that of none other than Superman...? I'm certain I've never seen the twain in the same room. I have my eye on you. Curious... you use the email address of steamroller138 as your contact... but without a doubt I know factually that you are neither made of steam nor rollers, let alone that you are indeed the one hundred and thirty-eighth steamroller. Until you rectify the issues noted above you will not receive any further guidance from my vast well of knowledge. I know this comes as a tremendous blow to your soul but fear not... for with decades of practice and perseverance you may one day begin to almost barely have a little tiny miniscule bit of my genius. Again... You're welcome. --- Okay... seriously though... My only gripe was the last bit of dialogue where he calls his wife a "bitch". This seemed more family-friendly-fart-joke kind of style until that line. It felt out of place. Either add more vulgar language earlier on to change the tone, or omit the "bitch" in the last block of dialogue. -Jordan P.S. Please read the top portion of this comment in sarcastic font.

Haha! Brilliant. Honestly, I think more thought went into your response than I put in this script. A funny read.

The reason for that line of dialogue at the end was that I was kind of setting up Patrick as almost a sympathetic figure, then he calls his wife a bitch and you kind of realize why he may have gotten such a crappy penance. It was kind of out of character for him, for sure, but that’s what I liked about it. Not to mention, I laughed when I wrote it. The only laugh I got out of this, to tell the truth.

Thanks for reading!

Steve