tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post6863076376555925019..comments2024-03-07T20:15:45.996-08:00Comments on The Bitter Script Reader: ParentheticalsThe Bitter Script Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-49139853405054865972010-09-09T19:42:17.930-07:002010-09-09T19:42:17.930-07:00The best example I've found of a line that nee...The best example I've found of a line that needs a parenthetical is from The West Wing. The Palestinian president is talking to Bartlet and saying that all Palestinians condemn the bombing that killed Bartlet's friend. He says "Not the perpetrators, Mr President". The actor says the line in a distinctly weary way that I'll bet was mentioned in the script. Without any parenthetical it would play as simple anger or maybe a bit of black humour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-11911786745337946682010-09-09T05:22:39.940-07:002010-09-09T05:22:39.940-07:00From what I've read online, parentheticals are...From what I've read online, parentheticals are not commonly accepted today, though they were previously. Obviously, Chinatown had a great script, but it's also not being made today.<br /><br />We keep hearing: less is more. Less is more.<br /><br />Less pages. Less parentheticals. If readers/studios don't want them, I'll take their advice.Carlos Matthews Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844149114686947104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-60539201851380401332010-09-09T03:20:00.959-07:002010-09-09T03:20:00.959-07:00Examples from Chinatown:
CURLY
I'll pay the r...Examples from Chinatown:<br /><br />CURLY<br />I'll pay the rest next trip -- we<br />only caught sixty ton of skipjack<br />around San Benedict. We hit a<br />chubasco, they don't pay you for<br />skipjack the way they do for tuna<br />or albacore --<br /><br />GITTES<br />(easing him out of his<br />office)<br />Forget it. I only mention it to<br />illustrate a point...<br /><br />GITTES<br />(glances back, hums, then)<br />Mulwray? I thought you said Cross<br />owned the department.<br /><br />CROSS<br />I said horseshit.<br />(pointing)<br />Horseshit.<br /><br />I've noticed in old scripts they do stuff like that in parentheticals a lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-76109979667355998252010-09-08T13:02:01.756-07:002010-09-08T13:02:01.756-07:00If it relates to dialogue - such as delivery, indi...If it relates to dialogue - such as delivery, indicating to whom the line is address, a pause or a laugh, then it's fair game.<br /><br />"He points" probably belongs on its own action line, though.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-8340121952798008692010-09-08T12:59:08.662-07:002010-09-08T12:59:08.662-07:00Bitter.
I find myself using parentheticals as act...Bitter.<br /><br />I find myself using parentheticals as actions all too often. Like:<br /><br />(he points), (to her), (laughs), (to Robert), and (pause).<br /><br />I guess most of these guide the dialogue, but do you, as a reader, prefer reading it all in an action line? <br /><br />I tend to use them more for cutting down space.Peter Dwighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01468813181562549863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-49464461721442844972010-09-08T12:39:34.969-07:002010-09-08T12:39:34.969-07:00LFGabel - it's also a complete misuse of paren...LFGabel - it's also a complete misuse of parentheticals. Parentheticals are for dialogue-related functions only. Direction like "He lifts a glass and drinks" is something that belongs on an action line.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-19271385436004206852010-09-08T12:36:08.988-07:002010-09-08T12:36:08.988-07:00I've also seen parentheticals used to to repla...I've also seen parentheticals used to to replace an action description in the middle of dialogue. It's economical and saves space.LFGabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08027408656249484282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-55684541051764973442010-09-08T11:59:56.233-07:002010-09-08T11:59:56.233-07:00I feel like a good rule of thumb is that you shoul...I feel like a good rule of thumb is that you should only use parentheticals if you feel there is a strong chance the line will be misread and misunderstood.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09634357013795422788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-44120165648311883492010-09-08T06:52:42.162-07:002010-09-08T06:52:42.162-07:00I read a lot of television scripts for reference a...I read a lot of television scripts for reference and it varies by show. Knots Landing scripts had a lot of parentheicals and Dollhouse didn't. I guess it can also vary by the cast you're working with as they get to know the characters.Alex Onghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17338429566010013769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-51179654845671741822010-09-08T06:34:50.689-07:002010-09-08T06:34:50.689-07:00Interesting. This is an old quote, and it is from ...Interesting. This is an old quote, and it is from an established professional, but it illustrates the difference between the script that is to go to production, and what amounts to the sales piece that the "suits" read:<br /><br />Screenwriter, Judith Rascoe, (A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN, WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN, HAVANA) in her interview in American Screenwriters, p. 146, “...I’ve been browbeaten into putting in... description. I’m always being told more, more. Is this being said with a smile? Does he stare at her when he says this? I’m actually encouraged to write the performance. I’d think it would make the director and the actor crazy, but I know what’s happening is that, first of all, there are a lot of studio executives. They need storyboards. They sure need parentheticals. And I’ve seen in rehearsals that lots of actors are not going to bear down on the right words in that sentence unless it’s underlined. And if they misread it, the line won’t make sense... Sometimes, even with very solid actors, there are misreadings.”<br /><br />Spec scripts especially, are sales documents. They have to get stuff across to people who are more comfortable reading P/Ls than they are literature with deliberate subtleties and sub-text. Specs don't have the benefit of performance, the visual frame, direction, music, editing, etc. All of those create a totality that can "say" what, on paper, isn't necessarily clear unless spelled out by things like parentheticals. Nonetheless, I would err on having less, rather than more. So I support the suggestion that no more than 5-6 in a script is probably wise.Lee Matthiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09895022308149992154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-42386720141897873372010-09-08T05:27:10.560-07:002010-09-08T05:27:10.560-07:00Well, this is good to know. I can admit I have a l...Well, this is good to know. I can admit I have a liking for the action parenthetical but never even noticed till now as I look over previous work. That's a habit I'll kill starting today.Carlos Matthews Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844149114686947104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-82234407185433305302010-09-08T01:25:11.958-07:002010-09-08T01:25:11.958-07:00I have had an actor say a line completely wrong fo...I have had an actor say a line completely wrong for the context - so I had a quiet word with the Director and the Director had a quiet word with the actor...<br /><br />However I completely agree. And sometimes an actor will surprise you by saying it differently to the way you expect - but exactly right.Adaddinsanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10577587188266580561noreply@blogger.com