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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Screenwriting Class  /  POV
Posted by: Bojangles, October 5th, 2006, 5:42pm
How would you go about changing from a person's point of view to normal view? For example:

POV OF PERSON

(Action)

(Then how do I switch back to normal)?
Posted by: Helio, October 5th, 2006, 8:19pm; Reply: 1
Here is an excerpt from Thelma and Louise:

A huge semi-tanker carrying gas passes them on the highway
and HONKS.  The mud flaps are the shiny silhouettes of
naked women.  There is a bumper sticker on the back that
says:  "Lick you all over -- ten cents."

                         LOUISE
          One of your friends?

Thelma is watching herself in the side mirror, pretending
to smoke a cigarette.

THELMA'S POV OF A SIGN alongside the road that reads "See
you in church on Sunday!"

Thelma pushes in the lighter and waits for it to pop out.
Louise gives her a sidelong glance, but does not say
anything.
Posted by: Zombie Sean, October 5th, 2006, 8:39pm; Reply: 2
I usually write it as:

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

Five campers sit around a fire, making s'mores.

UNKNOWN BEING'S POV

It crawls on the ground, peeking through the bushes, and looking at the oblivious campers.

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

There is a crackle. The campers become silent and look around, confused and afraid.


Or I sometimes write it as:

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

Five campers sita round a fire, making s'mores.

UNKNOWN BEING'S POV

It crawls on the ground, peeking through the bushes, and looking at the oblivious campers.

BACK TO SCENE

There is a crackle. The campers become silent and look around, confused and afraid.

Sean
Posted by: dogglebe (Guest), October 5th, 2006, 10:23pm; Reply: 3
Using POV in a spec script is very taboo unless you really really need a particular viewpoint.

Editing Sean's example a little and you have:

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

Five campers sita round a fire, making s'mores.

An UNKNOWN FIGURE stands in the dark woods.

He watches them, studying every move they make.

Shifting his weight, he steps on a twig--

CRACK!

The campers become silent and look around, confused and afraid.

The director decides what the shots are, not the writer.


Phil
Posted by: George Willson, October 6th, 2006, 8:09am; Reply: 4
I'm with Phil on this one. Just say someone watches them from the shadows or whatever. One way to emphasize this is to sue secondary headings. You can write it almost exactly as Phil has it with a slight variation.

EXT. CAMP - NIGHT

Five campers sit a round a fire, making s'mores.

AN UNKNOWN FIGURE

watches them from the dark woods, studying every move they make.

Shifting his weight, he steps on a twig--

CRACK!

The campers become silent and look around, confused and afraid.

Secondary headings are a way for us to control the perspective just a little more thatn just using action paragraphs and focus on something specific.
Posted by: Bojangles, October 6th, 2006, 8:09am; Reply: 5
Okay, so no POV unless it is needed. Thanks a lot, and sorry for all my questions. I finally have a chance to learn from real screenwriters.
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