SUPER WITH PASSAGE OF TIME

[jimb11]

I would appreciate some ideas on how to write a scene where my main character sits at a desk typing a novel while smoking a cigar. Superimposed over this image is a passage of a year, whereby newspaper headlines flash by that relate the outcome of some important events that will wrap up the loose ends that have been dealt with throughout the story.

This scene is nearing the end of the story.

[DUCPHO]

Based on my understanding of the question I would suggest this as one possible way;

Ed, sitting at his desk typing.

MONTAGE
1. Headline One
2. Headline Two
3. Headline Three
END MONTAGE

Then either back to original scene or transition to another, which eliminates the need for END MONTAGE. For additional clarity you can make sure the dates are visible with each headline.

I'm sure you'll get many other opinions, but that's one way you could accomplish it.:smokin

[DUCPHO]

I think the really cool part is having the knowledge of this "limited tool availability", while operating in a very structured format for an artform!

Then being able to pick from many of these tools that are applicable in similar situations and thus develop your own style!

The tools available are always changing and evolving, as I was recently taught by Mr. Kocaine!

Become successful and you can improvise and experiment like QT and others that can lead to possible permanent changes in formatting guidelines and craft.

Many, you will find,think they can assimilate this knowledge from these boards alone but that's not correct.

You've got to supplement it with studies of formatting texts and story structure development, even if your a very talented writer.

Some of the best writers I know are not film school graduates. A very successful writer I knew worked for years for Steven Cannell on efforts such as "The Rockford Files"-"The A Team" and he had only a high school G.E.D, but was a very talented writer, much more so than any of his graduate peers!

It's all about taking those "finite number of tools" Comic Bent referred too and combining them with your God given talent to create a project that will be different, unique and most of all... carry your own personal signature style which eventually can be recognized!

I think that's what separates, (one reason alone), successful and exceptional screenwriters from the rest of the pack.

Just my own opinion!:smokin

[Deus Ex Machine]

I think the tools remain constant, it's how you use them that changes. You can use a hammer and saw to build a dog house, a barn or a ship. How the tools work remains constant, what you create with them is limited only by your imagination.

As to the FORMAT issue, I think you can write it without indicating a montage and still get across your intention.

INT. ROOM - NIGHT

X sits at his desk, lights a cigar, rolls in a blank page and types.

A stack of typed pages grows beside him as a year passes.

Outside the window, the Summer's green leaves on the trees turn brown and flutter away on the Fall wind. Bare branches claw at the Winter sky as snow falls. New buds bloom in the Spring rain and grow into lush green under a clear Summer sky.

As X types, Newspaper headlines appear: "Man walks on Mars.", "Dog plays fetch on Mars." , "Mars Attacks!".

HTH

[DUCPHO]

Dues, no offense but I think it would be difficult to separate the passage of time issue from the fact that the poster indicated that they wanted to (their own words) "Super the headlines" over the scene with the writer at his desk.

Now, you could certainly indicate passage of time by including a window in the shot and depicting the seasonal changes you mention, but you still have to lay the headlines(the description the poster used when stating what they wanted to incorporate), over the scenes.

The headlines (the poster stated), cleared up or brought closure to issues addressed in the script earlier, hence the logic of they're choice.

I can see them MONTAGED over a scene such as you set up with the seasonal changes, however, you still have to MONTAGE with the headlines even in that scenario, you just don't include the dates on the headlines... as I suggested.

To indicate the passage of time, your right, you wouldn't want to MONTAGE, however, the poster stated they wanted to incorporate the headlines themselves.

You could just write;

Various newspaper headlines appearing.

But regardless, these headline shots are done in a lab and constitute a MONTAGE when finally edited, so why not call it what it really is?;)

[Deus Ex Machine]

Ducpho,

Superimposing the headlines technically is not a montage. Technically a montage is and editing technique to "assemble" or compose a sequence by juxtaposing images to create content that is not inherently found in each shot of the composite. For example: Two people go into a bedroom in Shot A. Shot B is of a train going into a tunnel. The juxtaposition of the two shots creates the dramatic content that they had sex but that content is not found in either individual shot.

But for the sake of argument let's call it a montage. Even if that was what it was called, a writer is not required to use editing terms any more then a writer is required to use dolly and camera directions. You may use them but you can also express the same thing without the technical terminology. My example expresses the exact same thing as your example did: certain headlines appear over the scene of a man typing as a year passes but it does it in a different style than yours. Both are perfectly valid and acceptable. It's a matter of taste.

I offered my example as one possible alternative to your own fine example to give the poster choices and demonstrate how problems like these are easily solved in a simple non-technical way by just telling your story and writing what you see in your head without worrying about using technical jargon.

[DUCPHO]

Dues... he said (SUPER) not me. I know the difference between the two. The MONTAGE makes the most sense because you are blending and overlapping these headline shots and your going to have to do it in the editing process in the lab!

The only reason I ever mentioned MONTAGE was the fact that the poster stated they wanted to incorporate a series of these headline shots in way to both indicate passage of time and the headlines themselves!;)

I certainly agree that there are a myriad of ways to express the passage of time, the trick here was to bring the headlines up in a sequentialized fashion and still express that passage of time. The necessity of using the headline shots(to which I suggested be formatted as a MONTAGE) was that's how I immediately envisioned writing it from his description.

I chose a MONTAGE because you are dealing with two or more related "subjects"(in this case headlines) on the screen at the same time and blended into a MONTAGE effect. The elements of content in each shot contained within the MONTAGE may be different(such as the headlines themselves), but they have to be related!

I see your point however and it's a good one!;)

[jimb11]

I really appreciate the ideas so far on this topic. To make the vision a little clearer w/o giving away too much.

My character has solved a mystery, in the storyline. Near the end, he takes this experience and writes a novel. This is where the SUPERIMPOSE comes in. While he sits typing, there are certain newspaper headlines that will wrap up what has happened to a suspect (he's shut away from the light of day), the victim (leaves the hospital but has a long therepy ahead) and so on.

At the end of this passage of time. The scene will focus on the character's desk and the completed manuscript with title. Then the shots will go on to normal action within the scene.

Does this clear anything up?