I'm writing a screenplay where a character is disguised at one point. The thing is, the viewer doesn't realize it is that character until the end. How do I put that in the screenplay? Do I tell the reader right off the bat that it's the same character or do I surprise them later on in the script?

If you can keep it in your head that you are writing your script for the director and not for the viewer then you cannot go wrong. So in this case you certainly say upfront that this is the same character in disguise.

I appreciate that you would like to surprise and trick your readers as though they were watching your movie, it is only a natural thing to do but your script will look much more professional if you can avoid it.

Alright, that's all I needed to know. Thank you for answering so quickly.

You are welcome, and welcome to SS.

I have to disagree, here.  The script is supposed to be written as it is viewed on the screen or recorded by the camera.  This makes for a better read.  If you introduce the killer (who is Shelton in disguise) on page two of your script, but reveal him for who he is on page 95, there's no surprise for the reader.  Depending on the script, it would actually be annoying as you would be reminded of it in every scene he is in.

Imagine how you'd feel if you were reading the original Friday the 13th and Jason is introduced as:

A hooded figure steps out through the brush, carrying a machete in one hand.  It is JASON VORHEES, but it's really his MOTHER.

For the rest of the movie you would think a)  Jason isn't back from the grave, and;  b) Kevin Bacon got killed by a little old lady.


Keep the cloaked figure's identity a secret until you reveal it in the story.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Imagine how you'd feel if you were reading the original Friday the 13th and Jason is introduced as: A hooded figure steps out through the brush, carrying a machete in one hand.  It is JASON VORHEES, but it's really his MOTHER.

If I was the director of the movie I would feel quite good knowing who was playing what part. If I was anyone else I would be watching the movie and thus would not have a clue (as long as make-up were doing their part correctly).

I did think about your response for a few minutes thinking I had got it wrong, but no, scripts are written for filmmakers and not audiences. I would agree 100% with you that yes it would be better for someone who read your story to not know the twist ending if possible, in that case it would be better to write a novel. A script is not a novel.

Ok, I am not sure this can be correct, GM.

Have a butchers at the 'Scream' script for example - there is no revelation of the killers until the point we as an audience realise this.

I don't understand how the script can reveal the killer, but not reveal on screen? Isn't the script the direct blueprint, thus you show it on the page - you show it on the screen?

Andrew

As the director (or anyone else, for that matter), you would want to experience the surprises and twists that everyone else would.  And a director would not agree to shooting a script without reading it atleast once.  He would know who the mystery character is before signing on.

By revrealing the masked man right away, you reduce the impact that the director would feel.  And this knowledge might also affect said director's judgement on how big of a surprise he sees the ending having.

Did you ever see the Kevin Costner movie No Way Out?  In it, he plays an intelligence officer investigating the death of the mistress of one of the heads of the Department of Defense (or some department).  Unknown to everyone, Costner was having an affair with this mistress.  His bosses want to blame her death on a Soviet mole named Yuri.  It's not even known if Yuri is real or if he is just a mythical figure; there's never been any real proof of his existence.  In the end, Costner proves that his boss was responsible for the mistress' death.  Lots of twists and turns in this movie.

The last one revealed is that Costner is really Yuri.

Don't you think that any director would like to be surprised at this?  Instead of having that little nugget bouncing around his head while reading the script?


Phil

But we are not talking about a twist ending, or whether Bruce Willis is dead or not.

If we have an already introduced character who is wearing a disguise are we not supposed to point that out?

I am forever being told (and I will go searching for a post where you have said this) that if we have an unknown character start a narration for example and we find out on page 4 that his name is Bob then we should call him Bob from the beginning.

Surely it works the other way round?

I ditto Andrew.  Here's the script for the original Friday the 13th.  No reveal.

Besides, a director doesn't have to use the same actor for the killer in costume and out of costume.  And most of the time, they probably don't.  Particularly when there are stunts.

It depends on what the OP meant. What I got from his question was that we have a bunch of characters who we have been introduced to already. One of them appears in a scene wearing some kind of disguise. I think that that character should be named for that scene. Everybody involved with making this movie will need to know that the dodgy looking cocktail waitress in scene 54 is actually Billy the butcher in drag. The audience may not need to know but it should be in the script.

Quoted from Murphy It depends on what the OP meant. What I got from his question was that we have a bunch of characters who we have been introduced to already. One of them appears in a scene wearing some kind of disguise. I think that that character should be named for that scene. Everybody involved with making this movie will need to know that the dodgy looking cocktail waitress in scene 54 is actually Billy the butcher in drag. The audience may not need to know but it should be in the script.

Isn't the point that they've already read the script? Therefore they're aware of each character and what their role is.

Your comment suggests they work from the script without having read it already.

Just chucking in my 0.02 'cos if you are correct, that would fundamentally alter my view of how a script works!

My interpretation is that the OP was referring to a character who is a surprise - not a character who is merely wearing a mask having already been identified. To me, it seems the OP is trying to keep the identity a mystery, hence a mystery in the actual script.

In the end, I don't think there's a hard and fast screenwriting rule that you have to adhere to in regards to this.  It just boils down to how you can best tell your story.

Quoted Text I'm writing a screenplay where a character is disguised at one point.

This tells me that it is a character we have already met, not a surprise character we meet at the end and not a Scream or Jason type thing where the disguise is the major character of the whole movie.

I guess it depends on exactly what form the disguise character takes, is it a totally different character with the mask on - like every example people have given so far. Or is it just the same character wearing a false beard?

In the case of two personalities, Batman/Bruce Wayne type characters then it would be something that could be done.

Quoted from Murphy I guess it depends on exactly what form the disguise character takes, is it a totally different character with the mask on - like every example people have given so far. Or is it just the same character wearing a false beard?

Completely agree. If the character has Machiavellian intentions, and it's important to keep his identity secret - irrespective if we've met him already; or if the character has merely popped on a mask for a scene - then there is definitely a different approach.

Looks like we're on the same page after all.

:)

No worries Andrew, I am beginning to worry I have got this wrong and don't like to give bad advice, especially to newbies. I did think I was answering correctly. It may well be that I have misinterpreted the question.

I think Phil made the classic error of responding to what I said rather than responding to the original question and everybody has followed on from that. That is my fault because my answer to the OP's question could well be taken to mean something else too.

Jason's mom and the killer are two different characters, it does not matter that once the mask is off they are the same, throughout the movie they are different because they have different personalities. Same goes for Scream. The kevin Costner example has nothing to do with this, just like Kevin Spacey is not Kaiser Souze during the movie either, they are two different characters again. It is only at the end do they become the same character.

I think this is very different to what the OP actually asked which I took to mean the same character in disguise.

To EP Jones, don't let this put you off, there are no experts here, just a few people who will give you totally different answers. The answer is that there are no answers, just write the best script you can, post it here on Simply Scripts and wait for Dreamscale to rip it to shreds. You will learn the hard way! ;-)

Quoted from Murphy It depends on what the OP meant. What I got from his question was that we have a bunch of characters who we have been introduced to already. One of them appears in a scene wearing some kind of disguise. I think that that character should be named for that scene. Everybody involved with making this movie will need to know that the dodgy looking cocktail waitress in scene 54 is actually Billy the butcher in drag. The audience may not need to know but it should be in the script.

Those involved in the movie will know everything about said movie prior to shooting it.  You don't think the crew from Friday the 13th knew it was Jason's mom until the revealing scene was shot, do you?

Knowing the twists ahead of time ruins the story.  How can the director tell how much impact a plot twist has if he knows it all along?


Phil

Phil, use some sense and try reading the previous post before you start asking stupid bloody questions that have already been answered.

Quoted from EPJones I'm writing a screenplay where a character is disguised at one point. The thing is, the viewer doesn't realize it is that character until the end. How do I put that in the screenplay? Do I tell the reader right off the bat that it's the same character or do I surprise them later on in the script?

If the viewer doesn't know who is behind the mask, it remains a mystery in the script.

Happy now?


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe If the viewer doesn't know who is behind the mask, it remains a mystery in the script. Happy now? Phil

No, you are a tool.

I clearly said in my post last night that I may have misinterpreted the question and yet you still chose to come back and disregard my previous post and continue to bang on about Friday the bloody 13th and ask stupid questions that I have already clearly answered in an effort to make me look bloody stupid and inflate your ego even higher than it already is.

There was no need for anymore comments, but you had to have the last word.

Funny how you complain about my having the last word after you call me a tool.  I clarified my point after you complained that I wasn't paying attention.


Phil

Um, guys.  The OP disappeared 18 replies ago.  I think he was happy with Gary's initial answer.



Last word!  :)