Comments on: Using White Space to Hold a Reader's Attention http://www.kriscramer.com/using-white-space-to-hold-a-readers-attention/ writing on the edge Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:46:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kris http://www.kriscramer.com/using-white-space-to-hold-a-readers-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-1869 Kris Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:35:05 +0000 http://www.kriscramer.com/?p=55#comment-1869 Hi Norton, The <em>Die Hard</em> script is a great reference for learning about white space and certain other aspects of screenwriting, but you're right about it not being a good example of avoiding the use of capitalized words. It's important to keep one thing in mind: there are trends in screenwriting just like in anything else. As I mentioned in <a href="http://www.kriscramer.com/dont-let-these-problems-ruin-your-screenplay/" rel="nofollow">Don't Let These Problems Ruin Your Screenplay</a>, capitalizing words for emphasis was very popular in the 80s and early 90s, but it has become less popular since then. Back when <em>Die Hard</em> was written, it was common to to come across scripts with several capitalized words on every page. That trend has mostly faded now. The changing landscape definitely makes it challenging to stay up-to-date on which practices readers like versus which practices they don't like. The best way to do that is to read scripts for new movies as often as possible. If your screenplay is terrific, readers won't mind a handful of capitalized words one way or the other as long as you don't go overboard. ~ Kris Hi Norton,
The Die Hard script is a great reference for learning about white space and certain other aspects of screenwriting, but you're right about it not being a good example of avoiding the use of capitalized words. It's important to keep one thing in mind: there are trends in screenwriting just like in anything else. As I mentioned in Don't Let These Problems Ruin Your Screenplay, capitalizing words for emphasis was very popular in the 80s and early 90s, but it has become less popular since then. Back when Die Hard was written, it was common to to come across scripts with several capitalized words on every page. That trend has mostly faded now.

The changing landscape definitely makes it challenging to stay up-to-date on which practices readers like versus which practices they don't like. The best way to do that is to read scripts for new movies as often as possible.

If your screenplay is terrific, readers won't mind a handful of capitalized words one way or the other as long as you don't go overboard.

~ Kris

]]> By: Norton http://www.kriscramer.com/using-white-space-to-hold-a-readers-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-1867 Norton Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:09:42 +0000 http://www.kriscramer.com/?p=55#comment-1867 As an aspiring screenwriter, i often notice contradictions in lessions or rules, even from the same source, like this one. I linked to this article from "Don't Let These Problems Ruin Your Screenplay", where one of the rules was about not using CAPITALIZED WORDS as they distract the reader and "reminds them they're reading a script". Yet here, you use an example that uses all caps 4 times, 3 being in 1 sentence. I googled "screenwriting, capitalizing words" and found "DLTPRYS", read the bit about it, linked here, showed the near opposite. Still, i wonder about the limits of proper capitalization. Hoe-hum. As an aspiring screenwriter, i often notice contradictions in lessions or rules, even from the same source, like this one.

I linked to this article from "Don't Let These Problems Ruin Your Screenplay", where one of the rules was about not using CAPITALIZED WORDS as they distract the reader and "reminds them they're reading a script".

Yet here, you use an example that uses all caps 4 times, 3 being in 1 sentence.

I googled "screenwriting, capitalizing words" and found "DLTPRYS", read the bit about it, linked here, showed the near opposite.

Still, i wonder about the limits of proper capitalization.
Hoe-hum.

]]> By: H.L. Sorrell http://www.kriscramer.com/using-white-space-to-hold-a-readers-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-1386 H.L. Sorrell Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:55:02 +0000 http://www.kriscramer.com/?p=55#comment-1386 Mr. Cramer, I owe you a debt of gratitude. I am not green as a screenwriter, however, as I am rewriting the first draft of my first spec, pilot script for a dramatic television series, I have encountered a few challenges. I am happy to state that I'm confident that when I apply the principle of the White Space Technique as described by you, it will overcome them all. Thank you for the assistance to a fellow artist and God Bless you for your generosity. --H.L. Sorrell Mr. Cramer,
I owe you a debt of gratitude. I am not green as a screenwriter, however, as I am rewriting the first draft of my first spec, pilot script for a dramatic television series, I have encountered a few challenges. I am happy to state that I'm confident that when I apply the principle of the White Space Technique as described by you, it will overcome them all.

Thank you for the assistance to a fellow artist and God Bless you for your generosity.
–H.L. Sorrell

]]> By: ScriptoManiac http://www.kriscramer.com/using-white-space-to-hold-a-readers-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-1149 ScriptoManiac Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:06:02 +0000 http://www.kriscramer.com/?p=55#comment-1149 Excellent post..Keep them coming :) Thanks for sharing. Excellent post..Keep them coming :)
Thanks for sharing.

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