The complete screenwriter's manual : a comprehensive reference of format and style / Stephen E. Bowles, Ronald Mangravite, Peter A. Zorn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bowles, Stephen E., 1943-

Contributor:

Mangravite, Ronald.

Zorn, Peter A.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Motion picture authorship--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Motion picture authorship.

Genre:

Handbooks and manuals.

Physical Description:

xvi, 220 pages ; 28 cm

Other Title:

Screenwriter's manual : a comprehensive reference of format and style

Place of Publication:

Boston : A & B Pearson, [2006]

Summary:

The world of screenwriting is extremely competitive. Only the best and most savvy will succeed. To get to the top, you need the ultimate guide. The Complete Screenwriter's Manual is packed with only the most essential information, giving you the confidence and skills to succeed. Using insider information on what works and what doesn't, this book explores a wide range of format and style situations to help you transform your story from imagination to the page.

This step-by-step guide includes: Numerous templates and examples throughout, All format and style issues-from the basics to advanced topics like slug lines and enhancing the narrative, Handling special situations like unusual effects, time-shifts, flashbacks, and dreams, The latest information on industry practices, How to create professional-looking scripts, backed up with abundant examples. The Complete Screenwriter's Manual will put you on the road to a great and successful screenplay.

Contents:

Part 1 Basic Format and Style 1

Guides to the Appearance of the Screenplay 2

Sample Screenplay Pages 2

The Format Box 23

The Header 23

Margin Settings 23

The Elements of a Screenplay 24

How Screenplays Begin and End 24

1 Scene Lines 25

General Rules 25

The Staging 25

The Location 25

The Time 29

Adding Specifics to the Scene Line 30

General Rules 31

Introducing Characters 34

Identifying Character Names to the Audience 38

Limitations and Liberties on Introducing Characters 39

Words That Get Capped 40

Using a Note 44

Refining the Writing of Instructions 45

3 The Dialogue-Block 49

General Rules 50

Character-Names 50

Dialogue 51

Parentheticals 60

4 Transitions 64

General Rules 64

Scenes, Sequences, and Transitions 66

Page Breaks 70

Unacceptable Page Breaks 71

Scene Numbers 72

The Title Page 72

Final Touches 75

Protection of Screenplays 75

Part 2 Advanced Format and Style 77

Enhancing the Narrative 78

All About Slug Lines 79

The Master Shot 79

Slug Lines 79

Three Types of Slug Lines 82

What Utility Slug Lines Do 82

What Visual Slug Lines Do 82

What Non-Visual Slug Lines Do 83

Utility Slug Lines 84

Return to Scene 84

Establishing 85

Intercut as Needed 86

Superimposed Words 88

Visual Slug Lines 89

Isolating Characters and Objects 89

Point of View (P.O.V.) 91

Cutaway 97

Series of Shots 100

Inserts 104

Subdividing a Scene into Two or More Activities 106

Subdividing a Multi-Room Structure into Specific Rooms 108

Non-Visual Slug Lines 110

Identifying a Critical Sound 110

Emphasizing Something Dramatic 112

Indicating a Lapse of Time 113

Part 3 Special Format Situations 115

Parallel Action 116

Telephone Conversations 120

1 Situation Only One Side of the Conversation Is Seen and Heard 120

2 Situation Only One Side of the Conversation Is Seen but Both Sides Are Heard 121

3 Situation Both Sides of the Conversation Are Seen and Heard 123

Car Scenes 128

1 Situation Both the Car and Location Are Important 130

2 Situation Two or More Cars Are Engaged in a Chase 132

3 Situation Activity Occurs Both Inside and Outside a Car 134

4 Situation A Car Passes by a Fixed Position 136

Televised and Projected Images 136

1 Situation Televised Images 137

2 Situation Projected Images 139

Time-Shifts and Flashbacks 141

1 Situation Time-Shifts 141

2 Situation Flashbacks 143

Unusual Scene Beginnings 148

1 Situation A Scene That Begins with Sound before the Image Appears 148

2 Situation A Scene That Begins with Text before the Image Appears 149

3 Situation A Scene That Begins with a Visual Slug Line before the Master Shot 149

Unusual Effects 150

1 Situation Special Effects 151

2 Situation Strange Creatures 152

3 Situation Strange Environments 153

Unusual Character Introductions 153

1 Situation An Environment Is Described before the Character Is Introduced 154

2 Situation A Character Enters the Story before Being Named 154

3 Situation An Imaginary Character Appears 156

4 Situation A Character Is Introduced by a Still Image 157

5 Situation A Character Is Introduced by a Voice 159

A Character's Appearance or Demeanor Changes 160

1 Situation A Character Appears at Different Ages 160

2 Situation The Audience Is Aware the Character Is Disguised 163

3 Situation The Audience Is Unaware the Character Is Disguised 163

4 Situation A Character Has Multiple Identities or Personalities 165

Dreams and Fantasies 166

1 Situation A Dream or Fantasy That Is Clearly Identified 167

2 Situation A Dream or Fantasy That Is Disguised as Reality 168

Written Material On-Screen 168

1 Situation The Content of a Letter Is Read Aloud 169

2 Situation The Content of a Letter Is Heard Through the Mind of the Reader 170

3 Situation The Content of a Letter Is Displayed On-Screen 170

An Emblem or a Sign 171

Stock Footage 171

Foreign Languages (With or Without Sub-Titles) 172

Title Cards 173

Part 4 Common Format Mistakes 175

General Mistakes 176

Using Incorrect Line Spacing 176

Using an Incorrect Typeface 177

Confusing Real Time and Screen Time 178

Scene Line / Slug Line Mistakes 180

Writing Inaccurate Scene Lines 180

Confusing Scene Lines with Slug Lines 182

Confusing Locations 184

Improper Intercutting of Visuals 185

Confusing Slug Lines 188

Creating Unclear Cutaways 189

Using the Incorrect Format for a Series of Shots 191

Instruction Mistakes 192

Writing Instructions in the Past Tense 192

Using Illogical Wording 194

Using Illogical Actions 194

Capping Words Excessively 196

Providing Unknowable Information 197

Providing a Premature Description 198

Over-Describing a Basic Activity 201

Neglecting an Important Description 202

Introducing Too Many Characters Too Quickly 204

Introducing a Character Incorrectly 205

Not Clarifying Who Is in a Scene 207

Neglecting Character Exits 209

Dialogue-Block Mistakes 210

Improperly Formatting a Song or Poem 210

Creating Unwieldy Parentheticals 212

Summarizing Dialogue 213

Splitting Words with Hyphens 215.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

0321397932

9780321397935

OCLC:

70217118