As screenwriters, we're constantly told to "think in film" — to imagine each scene unfolding in our mind as if it's being played out on the big screen. To complicate that sagely advice, we're also told not to use camera angles or shot descriptions in our scripts.
So what can you do?
Simple: skip the camera directions and find better ways to convey the same imagery.
Here are some examples:
Let's say you're writing a script about a burglary and you want to open the scene with the image of the burglar's gloved hand. You have two choices: use the camera directions or not. (Hint: Always go with "or not".)
An example of how NOT to write the scene:
Close-up on a gloved hand spinning a combination dial.
Pull back to reveal MARTY, a thief, standing before a large wall safe with an ear to the dial.
Instead, convey the same imagery without the camera directions:
A gloved hand spins a combination dial.
MARTY stands before a large wall safe with an ear to the dial, concentrates as he goes for the last number in the combination.
Voila! Same imagery, no camera directions.
Another example of how NOT to write a scene:
A rooster crows as the sun rises. A slow pan across the horizon reveals a farmhouse nestled in the hills.
What does a slow pan have to do with the story? Absolutely nothing. Remember, it's the story you're concerned with, not the filming of the story. If something isn't integral to the storyline, remove it. If it is integral to your story, find a way to weave those words without referring to camera directions.
As a general rule, the easiest way to convert your script to spec-friendly format is to eliminate any and all filmmaking terminology that falls between FADE IN and FADE OUT. Delete the CUT TOs, strike out the CLOSE UPs and remove the PANs. Avoid using anything other than the required sluglines.
Direct your film by writing in the visual style of shots and camera directions without referring to the shots and camera directions themselves. For a more detailed explanation of how to direct your script by writing your action in a style that automatically flows from shot to shot, also check out the previous article called Using White Space to Hold a Reader's Attention.
Standard disclaimer: Please note, web browsers do not allow for the presentation of a screenplay in its correct format. Excerpts and examples of screenplays found in these articles should not be used as examples of proper screenplay format. To learn how to properly format your screenplay, David Trottier's The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script is an excellent reference.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
As a non-writer, it was neat to see the camera shot version of the bank scene. It made me realize how the parts of a scene the writer chooses to write about (like the gloved hand) work like closeups, directing your attention to details of the scene.
I'm taking a class at the JC for script writing and this is exactly what we went over today, but what took my instructor 30 minutes to convey you did in just a few minutes. Thanks
@ Mike – I've been studying cinematography lately and it definitely has made me more aware of how to translate visual imagery into words and vice versa. It's a fascinating process.
@ William – Thanks for your comment. I'm so glad you found the article helpful!