Depicting mailed letters

[jmanas]

Hello. I'm a newbie screenwriter and feel I have a good story idea (based on a true story). However, although many of the elements are visual, a key part of the plot involves a series of bizarre letters that follow each murder.

Is anyone aware of any films that handle this well (the reading of letters)? Are voice overs the only way to handle that? Or someone perhaps reading it aloud (or part of it)?

Would this necessarily preclude this from being a good story for the screen?

[dk23]

I would think the best way is an INSERT to show the content of the letter and a narrator reading it aloud. Should be pretty clear what's what.

Dan

[jmanas]

Thanks! Pardon my ignorance. but is an INSERT similar to showing a closeup of the letter, with a voice over reading it aloud? I guess it would be similar to movies where notes from a killer come over a fax machine, etc. I can't think of one offhand, but it seems they do show the paper in closeup.

Since these letters are from a murderer, and we don't know who he is yet, I wouldn't want to have a voice over of the murderer. Maybe someone reading them aloud if needed, but that seemed a bot obvious to me (that someone's reading it aloud merely for the sake of the audience). I was afraid it would bring too much attention to the fact that it's a movie (since how often do people read letters aloud in real life).

That was my dilemma.

[dk23]

is an INSERT similar to showing a closeup of the letter
Correct.

I guess it would be similar to movies where notes from a killer come over a fax machine, etc. I can't think of one offhand, but it seems they do show the paper in closeup.
The end of Usual Suspects would be a good example (Soze).

As for how to have it read aloud, I suppose it could be from a narrator used throughout the movie, if you have one. I would probably try setting it up so there's a reason for reading it aloud, such as a cop on the other side of the room, juggling donuts and coffee plus a note pad, asking what it says.

Dan

[Deus Ex Machine]

I'd avoid using an insert, people hate reading at a film. Notice how Sixth Sense was written with Malcolm writing notes and us reading it butt he film wisely used the device of the personal tape recorder to allow him to speak his notes and play back old notes. My advice is to stick to having a character read it or using the VO of the character who writes it as they write it or of the character reading it.

Look at films like:

Shop Around the Corner
You've Got Mail
Dances With Wolves
Talented Mr. Ripley
Shakespeare In Love
Silence Of The Lambs

They all have written material as important plot points but none of them use an INSERT to express it.

My 2 cents.