Tuesday, April 8, 2008
On Feedback
When receiving notes on your script, you should never allow yourself to use the phrase, "well, what I was going for was..." If whatever that is was coming across, then you wouldn't need to explain it.
On Scene Direction
Two words you should never use in scene direction are typical and clearly. Both are the result of laziness. Examples:
"A typical Midwestern home."
Is there such a thing as a typical Midwestern home? And if there is, shouldn't the place where your characters live say something about them other than that they are typical? And if they are typical, why do we want to spend two hours watching them?
"clearly Frank has never been laid."
How is it clear? Is there something the camera can photograph that makes it clear? If there is, then write that. If there isn't, then it's not clear to begin with.
"A typical Midwestern home."
Is there such a thing as a typical Midwestern home? And if there is, shouldn't the place where your characters live say something about them other than that they are typical? And if they are typical, why do we want to spend two hours watching them?
"clearly Frank has never been laid."
How is it clear? Is there something the camera can photograph that makes it clear? If there is, then write that. If there isn't, then it's not clear to begin with.
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