What is proper when using caps on a minor character?

Example:

DAVID EDWARDS, 35, lights a smoke, takes a deep drag. A MAN strolls up.

MAN
Gotta a light?

David hands the Man a book a of matches.

Question: Even though the minor character doesn't have a proper name, do I cap the "M" as I refer to him in this scene?

What's the accepted rule on this in the world of scripts?

Yeah. You keep capping the first letter of whoever's name.

Gabe

I'm not sure which is 'right' but I do it the way you do. All caps first then Cap the first letter just like  a name...we still do not try to remember that character when reading because he isn't named.

I really really like use of a descriptive word to name the minor characters. If I'm reading a script with a lot of characters...it makes it so much easier to know which to concentrate on. This may be 'against' some of the old rules...but I love it as a reader.

I've seen it done both ways in pro and amateur scripts.

I personally keep capping the character's name because, after all, it is their name.

You want to CAP the initial intro of all characters, named or not.  This includes animals, birds, fish, insects.  That means CAP every letter in whatever it is.

Is the question, should you continue to cap the first letter of "man" or whatever, as in a name?

I say no, as it's not a name. You could also have multiple "man" or the like in your script.  No need to cap the first letter over and over, IMO.

I think my point's being made here. Mixed respones. Interesting stuff. Personally, I cap the first letter, but I've seen it done both ways. That, of course, is why I posed the question. :)

You're going to learn that right or wrong is kind of muddled when it comes to descriptions. Format is stricter.

Agree, Mr. R, I've been writing scripts for years and never seen a concrete answer on this subject. Thanks for your input. You and I do it the same way - the right way, of course. LOL!

Quoted from insider901 Agree, Mr. R, I've been writing scripts for years and never seen a concrete answer on this subject. Thanks for your input. You and I do it the same way - the right way, of course. LOL!

Just be careful that you don't have more than 1 "MAN" speaking or being described in action/description lines, because then, it would be the wrong way.   ;D ;D ;D ;D

I recall some advice here on SS once about this. And it was you perhaps should only cap anyone who is gonna have dialogue. If you have say, a backpacker in a scene who walks past the hero and spits at him then isnt in the script again, and doesn't speak at all, then don't worry about it?

Over to you, Jeff old buddy!

You should still capitalize the backpacker when you first see him.  Otherwise, readers will wonder where he first appeared.

When I wrote The Devil's Jokebook, I had unnamed priests up the wazoo.  I capitalized PRIEST each and everytime.  If the director wants to use the same background actor in several scenes, that's his choice, but you still have to introduce each character in your script.



Phil

When you CAP a character's first intro, you're doing 2 things:

First, you're helping out your readers who don't have the luxury of having any actual visuals.  This way, the reader knows whether or not this character has been onscreen before.

Second, you're using a standardized method for production/pre-production on just exactly what's necessary to shoot the script.  Same goes for animals and the like.  If your script calls for a herd of deer, you'll want to cap that, so when the peeps in charge of putting it together read it, they'll know what's going to be needed.

Yeah, goodl point Phil.

I realised after I posted that I have this similar 'problem' in my nearly finished new horror feature.
The creatures in it ( technically zombies but I don't use that word in the script) aren't capped when I intro them mainly because there's a heap of them.

I just checked and no, I didn't cap the undead warriors when they first appear. Obviously they aren't going to speak.

What about in something like World War Z? Would it just have an action scene like...

Hundreds of ZOMBIES swarm from Lambeau Field towards the soldiers.

On second thought, that would happen at EVERY home game the Pack have, lol

In the case of World War Z, I imagine they stopped the uppercase just to save on ink.  Technically, you would probably have to capitalize ZOMBIE once in each scene.


Phil

You CAP for three reasons, and they are all script breakdown reasons as Jeff said.

1) Foley (sound effects).

2) Props (sometimes) - if there is something that is needed, that should appear (an object).

3) Characters.

Pre-production requires that all these factors, and the cost of them, be taken into account. If you're going to be an a$$ and make it difficult for these people to produce your work, don't be suprised when it gets rejected

For clarity, my orginal question wasn't regarding character intros. It was about using caps on the first letter of a non-proper character after he's introduced.

Quoted from insider901 For clarity, my orginal question wasn't regarding character intros. It was about using caps on the first letter of a non-proper character after he's introduced.

If you do use a Cap, make sure you don't have more than 1 of that "name".  Otherwise, it will come off as the same thing that already spoke or did something.

You know what I mean?  It's no big deal either way, really, IMO, at least.

Quoted from Forgive You CAP for three reasons, and they are all script breakdown reasons as Jeff said. 2) Props (sometimes) - if there is something that is needed, that should appear (an object). Pre-production requires that all these factors, and the cost of them, be taken into account. If you're going to be an a$$ and make it difficult for these people to produce your work, don't be suprised when it gets rejected

I use this one A LOT to creatively combat the nameless character blues.
Here's a snippet from the script I'm currently working that illustrates...

Meanwhile...
Tim watches the couple from afar, shoots pool with some buddies.
One pal wears a wool cap with big EAR FLAPS.

EAR FLAPS
Guess it was Pippa in that Porsche after all.

All of Tim’s buddies have a big laugh at his expense.

Just one of the little tricks I use to stand out to readers. ;D

Regards,
E.D.

Okay, so if you refered to ear flaps again in that scene or another, would it be Ear Flaps of ear flaps?

In one of my scripts, a lot of the characters have platinum-colored hair.  I wrote this description in upper case each time.  It showed an unexplained unity of the characters even before I explained their common link.


Phil

Quoted from insider901 Okay, so if you refered to ear flaps again in that scene or another, would it be Ear Flaps of ear flaps?

If that nameless character returns...
I would call them EAR FLAPS .
But anything more than a couple lines and I give them a name.
Just as a general rule.

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from Dreamscale You want to CAP the initial intro of all characters, named or not.  This includes animals, birds, fish, insects.  That means CAP every letter in whatever it is. Is the question, should you continue to cap the first letter of "man" or whatever, as in a name? I say no, as it's not a name. You could also have multiple "man" or the like in your script.  No need to cap the first letter over and over, IMO.

This is the way I would do it.

-- Curt