Spaces between shots

[Ranyleb]

I recently had my script read by a consultant and was told that there should be two blank lines between shots, not one. I been writing most of scripts with one blank line. Has anybody heard of this?

[BROUGHCUT]

the consultant is talking nonsense. you don't even need to leave two blank lines between scenes, double spacing (one empty line) is sufficient. Who says you have to break paras into shots in a spec? It's only important to do so if you want to draw attention to a specifc shot without resorting to camera angles. If it's overdone (line breaking), then it loses it's impact. Others may differ on that point, but I'm sure everyone will agree that treble spacing is incorrect (at least in a spec, but I'm pretty sure the same applies to shooting scripts, too).

[Ranyleb]

That's what i thought, every script that i've ever read has one space and that's how I've written all my scripts. Thanks BROUGHCUT.

[wcmartell]

In the old days (ten years ago) 2 spaces was standard... now one space is probably standard and two spaces makes you look like an old timer.

Either way - nobody's gonna kick you out of Hollywood.

- Bill

[BROUGHCUT]

standard for shots? I know it was/is standard for scenes.

edit: could the consultant be referring to several big "shots" that are actually unslugged sub-scenes -- in which case following the chosen spacing format for master scenes (be that double or treble spacing) would make sense. I thought this concerned ALL shots, but this may not be the case? Not that it matters.

[SAC]

My FinalDraft 6.0 automatically puts two line spaces between scenes. And I can't find where to change that so it doesn't add the extra line. The only line spacing options are 1, 1.5, 2 ... but these don't refer to scene breaks.

Anyone help me out?

[SAC]

Never mind, I found it.

[Ranyleb]

He told me the whole script needed it.

[wcmartell]

PS: Cool Shadow art - Steranko?

[BROUGHCUT]

maybe the script's running a few pages short and he's too lazy to give proper notes!

Seriously, I hope you received some helpful feedback and you didn't waste your money....

[SAC]

PS: Cool Shadow art - Steranko?

Actually, it's a George Rozen cover of The Shadow from 1948 ("Dead Man's Chest"). The whole piece is beautiful. But, yeah, I love Steranko's work, too.

[ShaneBlackFan]

Single spacing is fine. Only need to double space when adding a new slug line.

[SAC]

Single spacing is fine. Only need to double space when adding a new slug line.

It seems like we have disagreement on how many spaces are needed between scenes (the appearance of a new slug line). Bill's post suggests that you DON'T need to double space when adding a new slug line. This was new to me, but as someone who learned his screenwriting ten years ago, I guess that makes me an old timer. Then again, I like anything that brings my page count down.

[BROUGHCUT]

you don't need to either way, but I'm not sure if Bill was referring to scenes or shots in his first post.

Double space = one blank line
Treble space = two blank lines

[Ranyleb]

yeah, some of the feedback was helpful to me.

[Hassan_Chop]

The Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain :)

[sasqits]

Good call, Hassan.

[ShaneBlackFan]

It seems like we have disagreement on how many spaces are needed between scenes (the appearance of a new slug line). Bill's post suggests that you DON'T need to double space when adding a new slug line. This was new to me, but as someone who learned his screenwriting ten years ago, I guess that makes me an old timer. Then again, I like anything that brings my page count down.

I might try the single spacing. I'm imagining the stereotypical, bleary eyed executive reading the script -- they love white space, so I figured: double space those slugs.

[TwoBrad Bradley]

I know I’m opening a can of worms here, but would someone define “shot” for me.

The way I think about shots is there are no spaces between them. Example:

Bill steps from his car, lights a cigarette and flicks it into a trash can full of newspapers.

That could be one shot, three shots, or even more.

If there are several scene beats (paragraphs) in an Action block I would put a single space between them. I can’t think of any instance where a double space is required.

[English Dave]

I honestly am of the opinion that it doesn't matter how you do it. If you want to highlight your shots then seperate them, one space, two spaces, whatever. Just make sure that

a] there is a good reason for doing so

and
















b] it doesn't look fvcking stupid like this.

[VickiLee]

b] it doesn't look fvcking stupid like this.



hahahahaha - I almost spewed soda out my nose.

There are way too many technical opinions that vary from person to group - if your story sucks it won't sell, if it rocks it will. Very simple. Don't get so caught up in the 'technicalities' that you forget you are trying to create an emotional and mental impact on the reader. You are trying to make them FORGET how it looks on paper and just feel the story you are telling.

V

[ComicBent]

The way I think about shots is there are no spaces between them. Example:

Bill steps from his car, lights a cigarette and flicks it into a trash can full of newspapers.

That could be one shot, three shots, or even more.
You are correct. But you are not specifically writing shots here; you are describing some actions which will be turned into shots. Since I do not write scripts at the production stage, I am not completely familiar with the techniques, but I think it works something like this:

FULL-LENGTH ON BILL GETTING OUT OF CAR
Bill gets out, leaves the door open, and reaches into his shirt pocket.

MEDIUM ON BILL LIGHTING A CIGARETTE
Bill flips open an old-time cigarette lighter and nonchalantly lights a cigarette. He takes a long drag.

WIDE ON BILL FLIPPING CIGARETTE
Bill flips the cigarette into the trash next to the car.

However, I think most people, when talking about shots, really have MINISLUG scenes in mind. A MINISLUG scene can have several true shots within its actions.