The Hitchcock zoom, also known as the contra-zoom or the Vertigo effect is an unsettling in-camera special effect that appears to undermine normal visual perception in a way that is difficult to describe. STREET - CONTINUOUS) and represents no time passing between changes in location. Here CONTINUOUS is used for the slugline (EXT. A car SWERVES to avoid her! She GASPS, looks back.
As a bus flies by, blasting her with wind, she steps out into traffic. Janet stumbles to the curb, stopping short of the honking traffic. She apologizes and pushes through the glass doors. Janet faces forward again and nearly runs smack into a nun. The MEN IN BLACK are still after her, toppling innocent passersby and sending luggage flying across the linoleum floor. CONTINUOUS is generally optional in writing and can be dropped altogether. The sequence may include cuts, but the audience would perceive the action as a continuous sequence of events from the terminal to the lobby to the street to the garage to the second floor to a car etc. For example, in an action movie, the hero may run from the airport terminal into a parking garage. Sometimes, instead of DAY or NIGHT at the end of a SLUGLINE/Location Description, you'll see CONTINUOUS.īasically, continuous refers to action that moves from one location to another without any interruptions in time. This is more of an editing term, but can be mentioned in the screenplay when necessary. We move in for a new angle nearer to the subject. Here's twenty dollars.ĬLOSE ON is a shot description that strongly suggests a close-up on some object, action, or person (an expressive body part such as the face, or a fist). Character's names always appear in all CAPS when speaking. Daisy is dressed in evening-wear, ready for an Opera. DAISY, an elderly woman sits in the car as MORGAN, the driver, steps out and opens the door for her. In a screenplay, the name appears in all caps the first time a character is introduced in the "Action." The character's name can then be written normally, in the action, the rest of the script.įor Example: The limo pulls up to the curb. For example: two people talk as Bill and Ted fight in the b.g.
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Always use this term in lower case initials or written in full ("background"). Used to describe anything occuring in a rear plane of action (the background as opposed to the main action or attention is focused in the foreground). "Beats" are often interchangeable with ellipses "." A "beat" suggests the actor should pause a moment, in silence, before continuing the scene.
Many scripts will use the parenthetical (beat) to interrupt a line of dialogue. Note: this is often implied by simple scene description. You're still in the same location, but the director knows to point the camera a different direction. To get from a detail shot of Billy playing to Jenny playing you'd use "ANGLE ON STRUCTURE" to suggest a new shot featuring Jenny. This usually occurs in scenes taking place in large settings.įor example: if you're at a playground and little Billy is playing in the grass while his sister Jenny is playing on the structure. For example, if a scene takes place on a tall building, you may want to have an aerial shot of the floor the action takes place on.Ī type of shot. This suggests a shot be taken from a plane or helicopter (not a crane). The sounds of TYPING rise above all the rest as MAX sits at his computer writing his essay. The scene description, character movement, and sounds as described in a screenplay. Screenwriting Terms & Filmmaking Terminology
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When you are writing a script there are certain technicalities you need to understand outside of the creative process such as script formatting and using the correct film language, and while at first learning the "rules of screenwriting" may feel like a distraction from actually writing your story and script, it won't take long for you to get into the groove, especially if you let screenplay writing software such as Movie Outline do most of the work for you. This comprehensive glossary is provided as a reference for novices learning the craft of screenwriting or professionals with a limited understanding of film-financing and production terminology.