QUESTION about scripts?

[Danreiter]

I have a few questions about script writing because I've NEVER done it before and I really want to get started. Here they are:

1. How far into detail do you go when describing a scene or an action sequence? Do you just write the major details? Or do you actually break it down into camera shots and all that?

2. What is a beat? And where does it go?

3. When do you CAPITALIZE words? Because I have read a couple scripts and have noticed that certain words are capitalized for some reason.

4. About how many lines are on a typical page of a script?

5. When you are describing the way someone or something looks, do you go into a lot of detail like they do in books?

If anyone gots the answers to these questions, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

[Kastman]

ok im not an expert so i wont pretend to be one.

the capitals question.

you capitalise the start of a scene

eg- INT. THE HOUSE - DAY / EXT. THE PARK - DAY

when you mention someone in an action

eg- DANNY closes the door and sees FREDDY staring at him, holding a butcher's knife.

and when you write the name in dialogue

eg-

DANNY
Hey freddy why do you have a butcher's knife?

hope it helps

[Narrator]

Yeah thats about right Kastman, no you dont include camera shots until your shooting script and storyboard- which are right there at the beginning of actual production

[Ronaldinho]

Answers:

1.Don't break it down into camera shots. Do break it down into specific actions. Describe what you want the audience to see without referring to the camera. Really, the only way to get a feel for what's right is to read established scripts--go to www.script-o-rama.com (http://www.script-o-rama.com) and read a bunch.

2. Leave beats out. It's lazy writing. People use (beat) in dialog to indicate a small pause, but this is never neccesary, and often a cheat.

3.Capitalize the first occurance of a character's name. Capitalize the slugline. You can capitalize--occasionally--other things for emphasis but it doesn't really matter that much.

4.Depends. The different elements are separated by different amounts of white space. Write it in Courrier 12, and you'll be fine.

5.No. Give enough detail for the reader to understand, but you don't have to describe every little thing. Once again, reading a lot of scripts will help you get a feel for what's appropriate.

[Ronaldinho]

I realized my earlier answer about beats may be incompelte. The truth is that ab eat means different things to different people. I stand by what I said--indicating a short pause by putting (beat) in dialog is a lazy writing, and should be avoided.

But there are other uses of the term.

Actors will talk about the beats of a scene, meaning, the exchanges of action and reaction. Every time the exchange of action reaction changes, they will describe it as a different beat. In a well-written scene, these exchanges happen very quickly--usually every other line. At the beginning of a scene, one actor may be questioning, and the other avoiding. But after a line or two, the first is demanding and now the second is counterattacking, and so on.

Others will talk about the beats of a scene as being those important moments which need to be emphasized.

I'm sure there are other meanings, as well.