If you want to make a scene where two things are happening at once, but you want them both happening on the screen at the same time, how would you descibe it to where it's a split screen?

Would it be like:

SPLIT SCREEN

The maniac pounds on the front door while the terrified family hides in the closet.

Sean

I would say that but probably state what happens on the right and left side.

Like:

SPLIT SCENE - RIGHT SIDE

The maniac pounds on the front door

SPLIT SCENE - LEFT SIDE

the terrified family hides in the closet.



I might be wrong but it's just a guess of what i would do.

Quoted from Zombie Sean If you want to make a scene where two things are happening at once, but you want them both happening on the screen at the same time, how would you descibe it to where it's a split screen?

You don't.  That's a shooting script direction.

Quoted from Zombie Sean The maniac pounds on the front door while the terrified family hides in the closet.

That's all you have to write.


Phil

Okay thanks for the help you two. Just a concerned question that I may use later in one of my scripts.

Sean

But if you happen to be writing the script for yourself, here's a way to do it.

                                  SPLIT SCREEN

Action 1 goes here and                  Action 2 goes over here
gets one column all to                   and depending on what
itself.

                                                      goes on, the action may
                                                      need to be broken up
Personally, I see no
problem with this sort of
                                                      based on what happens
                                                      when.
thing as long as it is
necessary to the story
you're telling.


I got this from Kill Bill, and whether it is right or not, as long we you use correct spec descriptions, it shouldn't be a huge deal.

Keep in mind that when you write and direct, you write it anyway you want.  Tarantino could've written it in crayon, using haikus.  No one would question it.

According to the Cole/Haag book, you should write it like this:

INTERCUT - MARY'S BEDROOM/RESIDENTIAL STREET

Mary hastefully packs several blouses in a suitcase.

A sedan slowly drives down the street.

Mary shuts the suitcase and locks it.  She jerks it off thte bed.

The sedan pulls up to a red house.

Mary hurries down the stairs, leading to the front door of her house.

NICK BRANSON exits the car and walks to a red house.

Mary opens the front door.

Branson stands there.

She's GASPS.

                BRANSON
  Going on a little trip, Gorgeous?



Phil

True on the writer/director thing. If the online script is a direct word for word transcription, then it was totally a shooting script for him to know what he was thinking. Practically storyboarded on the page.

So an Intercut is the closest your book gets? The Screenwriter's Bible indicats the term SPLIT SCREEN and defines it along with a variety of shooting script directions such as ANGLE, REVERSE SHOT, STOCK SHOT, and ZOOM. This really throws it into the category of shooting directions, and therefore not exactly standard spec writing stuff. Then again, Phil, MOS is also in this section.

Quoted from George Willson So an Intercut is the closest your book gets? The Screenwriter's Bible indicats the term SPLIT SCREEN and defines it along with a variety of shooting script directions such as ANGLE, REVERSE SHOT, STOCK SHOT, and ZOOM. This really throws it into the category of shooting directions, and therefore not exactly standard spec writing stuff. Then again, Phil, MOS is also in this section.

This was just off the top of my head (and a quick look up).  The Screenwriter's Bible does refer to the things you refer to, but I'm talking about a spec script, which doesn't use the directions you listed.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe The Screenwriter's Bible does refer to the things you refer to, but I'm talking about a spec script, which doesn't use the directions you listed.

Right. And it was in the section of things we don't use in spec scripts as well. I was agreeing with you on the spec script thing. The way camera directions are put forth in spec writing in the Screenwriter's Bible are like this: "The spec script style avoids camera angles, editing directions, and technical intrustions. You may use these tools, but only when absolutely necessary to clarify the story."