camera angles

[jmein63]

I'm wondering if camera angles are a must have in a script. I struggle with them and find them to be a distraction. I've written in what may be called Master Scene style but do not know if this is acceptable for a screenplay. Any thoughts, insights or suggestions?

[William Haskins]

camera angles should be used extremely sparingly, if at all. don't try to direct with the script. write what can be seen and heard, and leave the rest to the director and DP.

[Deus Ex Machine]

Just write what you see in your mind and don't get hung up on trying to include technical stuff like camera directions.

ECU of Jack's angry eyes.

is the same as:

Jack's eyes flash with anger.

When you read the last version you imagine being close enough to his eyes to see the emotions in them. The only way to film this would be to shoot an ECU of his eyes. We don't need to know that an ECU is called for to capture this shot, we can imagine it just fine without the ECU.

It is important to write cinematically but that doesn't mean you write a shooting script with camera direction, it means writing a story that uses images to advance the story and gives the reader the same filmic experience the audience will have. Audience's don't say, cool tracking shot, all they see is a guy walking down the street.

Describe the action in your script as if you are sitting in a theater describing the film to your blind friend. You'd wouldn't say "now there is an ECU of his pen as he signs the paper" you would just say "he signs the paper".

HTH

[Buckwheat]

You are the writer.
Use camera angles only if it is important to the script.
You are not the director.
Good luck!

[Jack0902]

I agree with everything that has been said, but want to note that I do think POV can be used appropriate in scripts by writers.

[TheKeenGuy]

If you know how to tell your story, you will never need to indicate a camera move/angle/whatever.

There are ways of telling the story that get people to picture it in the way you want them to... withholding descriptions of people or objects until the time when the camera would reveal them, for instance.

You can even subtly suggest what should be done in two shots or one...

#1: Peter looks over the balcony. He sees a swimming pool beneath him.

#2: Peter looks over the balcony and sees the swimming pool beneath him.

In the first version, I picture on shot of Peter looking over, and then a second POV shot of the swimming pool. But by bridging it with the "and" in the second version, that's a subtle way to suggest that it should all be done in one shot without specifically saying so.

But of course, if someone else directs the film, he/she is going to do it whatever the hell way they want to.

[Webs]

If I wanted to imply a cut in shots, I'd switch PoVs completely, like this:

Peter looks over the balcony. In the swimming pool beneath him, Ham and Clary cavort in almost-fitting Speedos.