tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post2494033357881182899..comments2024-03-07T20:15:45.996-08:00Comments on The Bitter Script Reader: When to capitalize and underlineThe Bitter Script Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-90584808116192238932017-10-17T09:58:05.508-07:002017-10-17T09:58:05.508-07:00"WHICH is easier TO READ? A sentence WITH A L..."WHICH is easier TO READ? A sentence WITH A LOT of capitalizations and LOWER CASE WORDS - plus some UNDERLINING.... (OOPS! Blogger APPARENTLY won't LET me UNDERLINE!)<br /><br />Or a more conventionally written sentence that rarely employs those gimmicks, if AT ALL, and only for emphasis?"<br /><br />You have no idea how much I agree with your reasoning here, Naughty Book Watcher! It still remains to be seen however whether it is valid advice. So sayeth the newb currently on the cusp... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-46391188319229000152012-04-07T01:28:49.164-07:002012-04-07T01:28:49.164-07:00I know this is nearly three years later but I am w...I know this is nearly three years later but I am writing a script that is essentially centred around its music. The music, while mostly incidental bar a few exceptions, sets the theme of the film.<br /><br />Think of 'Love Actually' and how there was a minute amount of specially-written music for it but the rest being actual songs. That's the way this one's written.<br /><br />I know Richard Curtis has earnt the right to do that in his scripts but this script wouldn't have the same impact without the actual pieces of music specified as they set the mood of the scene rather than being truly incidental.<br /><br />How would one get this around a producer?Patrick Sleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00789380524075424619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-91242077730367948712009-08-31T01:19:26.484-07:002009-08-31T01:19:26.484-07:00pearsonx - Same rules apply regardless of the cont...pearsonx - Same rules apply regardless of the context. If the song is that germane to the plot, you could be shooting yourself in the foot if you don't get it cleared. No amount of mood-setting is worth that. <br /><br />I should stress that this limitation is mainly for writers who've yet to sell a script. I wouldn't be surprised if Cameron Crowe's first draft of ALMOST FAMOUS specifically mentioned "Tiny Dancer." But he's Cameron Crowe. He doesn't have to prove himself. He's earned the right to bend the rules.<br /><br />Until you sell a script, you're nobody in this business - and that means that when you make indulgencies like including several songs you don't own the rights to, you look like an amateur.<br /><br />And if the best thing about your script is the soundtrack it will facilitate - no one probably will buy it.<br /><br />This is why I say it's best not to name songs at all. Say, "A song like 'Satisfaction' plays." Or make sure it's a case like Rabi's - a throwaway where the song can be swapped out for a thousand acceptable replacements.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-89684757378505505312009-08-28T22:45:42.803-07:002009-08-28T22:45:42.803-07:00What if you have a nite club scene that names one ...What if you have a nite club scene that names one or two songs germane to the plot and also sets mood?<br /><br />Or if you use a diegetic song that functions as a synchronicity for a character's internal state?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076572335595212636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-83956107724579590402009-08-24T14:01:12.385-07:002009-08-24T14:01:12.385-07:00Rabi - I'd worry less about that example. It ...Rabi - I'd worry less about that example. It probably wouldn't raise a red flag for me, largely because I'd assume if Mariah wouldn't let the performance rights go (which are cheaper than the synchronization rights) the joke could easily be replaced by a cheaper song... maybe something by Ashlee Simpson.<br /><br />Plus it's a throwaway joke as opposed to saying, "The entire climax is edited in time with 'Bittersweet Symphony'" and then including cut-by-cut instructions for what images go over what lyrics.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-11280007962670208212009-08-24T11:51:29.064-07:002009-08-24T11:51:29.064-07:00What if you use music as a joke.
For example, in ...What if you use music as a joke.<br /><br />For example, in my script I have a masculine character ridicule another male character for liking Mariah Carey. Later, I have a scene where the other character is in the shower singing Mariah Carey. The premise being that no manly man would dare like Mariah.<br /><br />Should I jettison this joke just for fear of losing a script reader?Rabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09007184448430535191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-3299605408290499682009-08-21T17:34:02.930-07:002009-08-21T17:34:02.930-07:00Never use "cut to." People are going to...Never use "cut to." People are going to skip over them anyway.Important Hollywood Agenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15255646300968486082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-8092009496299623252009-08-21T11:49:57.073-07:002009-08-21T11:49:57.073-07:00Here's the only place where I use a CUT TO: Wh...Here's the only place where I use a CUT TO: When I'm cutting from a location to a close up. For example--<br /><br />INT. MOB BOSS OFFICE - DAY<br /><br />Mob Boss pounds his desk as his tody cowers.<br /><br /> MOB BOSS<br /> Who's cracking my safes??<br /><br /> CUT TO:<br /><br />THE SAFECRACKER'S HANDS<br /><br />As they crack yet another of the Mob Boss's safes. <br />A smiley-face pinky ring, the only identifier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-44832304297110951862009-08-21T11:17:07.463-07:002009-08-21T11:17:07.463-07:00Good point Alex! I completely forgot to mention c...Good point Alex! I completely forgot to mention capitalizing names upon their first introduction. This is a MUST! One of my big pet peeves is when writers forget to do this because then I'm stuck wondering "Did I just miss where this guy turned up before?" And it gets harder to skim through the script looking for that first appearance.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-29818095719120260152009-08-21T11:02:44.965-07:002009-08-21T11:02:44.965-07:00In my experience, I've seen capitalization lim...In my experience, I've seen capitalization limited to maybe two scenarios (acceptably), introduction of a character and physical descriptions that are of key importance. What someone is wearing (and that may be intentional and critical to the plot itself or to assist with establishing the physical appearance of a character) or an action (also intentional and critical, to describe the specifics, often found in horror, but other genres do find the benefit).Broken Synapsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16959043725842150473noreply@blogger.com