"Montage" help...

[Daughter of Lir]

hey all, I have been told about the whole "dont use camera directions, dont tick off prospective directors, etc" thang... I have a question on how to write a "montage" scene. I have some heavy visual montages, a couple of them actually, and I'm not quite sure how to write them... Can I either have a *brief* example, or can you point me elsewhere to see an example? I'm trying to nail this right...

Muchas smoochas,
DoL

[Steve]

You can do a montage without getting into camera angles and stuff. Rule of thumb -- briefly describe what the viewer will see onscreen. Give the important details so it remains interesting and it's clear how the montage is advancing the story but don't get bogged down in over-describing. You can use "BEGIN MONTAGE/END MONTAGE" and use slug lines as in:
BEGIN MONTAGE

INT. SEEDY BAR - NIGHT
Rick shows a photograph to the BARTENDER, who shakes his head.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Rick stops a TALL PROSTITUTE and shows her the picture. She stares him down. He reaches into his pocket and hands her twenty dollars. She examines the picture, shakes her head and strolls off.

EXT. CAFE - NIGHT
Rick shows the picture to a WAITRESS. She nods and points to a cheap hotel across the street.

END MONTAGE

Or you could say: "We see a montage of Rick showing a photo of Ashley to various people: a bartender, a prostitute, a teenaged runaway, but they all shake their heads."

If that's not helpful, give us an idea of what kind of montage do you want to do and I might be able to give you a more specific example.

[Daughter of Lir]

Nah, that was a great tip, thanks! I like your second suggestion better, though, without all the INT, EXT, etc... and is, in fact, how I wrote it...

Cheers, Steve!

[sarumu1]

hey Daughter. I had this exact same question a while back. Steve's giving you the legit 411.

But if you want to see an example, check out the script for Chasing Amy by Kevin Smith. He's got a web site...

I'm not sure of the address (you can find it by entering "kevin smith" into a search engine) and he has copies of all his screenplays available to read/download free of charge.

You're looking for the scene where Affleck's character and Joey Lauren Adams(not sure of the last name) are doing their getting to know each other/multiple dates through time montage.

Good Luck.

[lilybet]

Steve, would you care to elaborate on when you might use SERIES OF SHOTS instead and if you would ever number or letter them?

[Nemesis Unbound]

Lilybet,
"Series of Shots" and "Montage" are interchangable, yet another formatting quirk to drive people nuts when they are still learning. I wouldn't number or letter them. You can either not describe the shots in detail or you if its important to do so then you would just use brief lines of description.

[Steve]

What Nem said.

And speaking of montages, I don't know how it was written in the script but the most powerful montage I've ever seen is at the end of "The Pawnbroker."

[GirlinGray]

Well technically, a series of shots and a montage are not the same thing, they have subtle differences in definition -- but few people even know the difference and no one is going to call you on it for using them interchangeably.

[lilybet]

I thought so too, Gig. I use them in slightly different ways but I may be all screwed up. Would you want to elaborate on what you think the differences are.

Thanks,

lil

[dude]

if i may...

series of shots is exactly that-- a series of shots or action forming a scene or part of a scene (think of the series of shots that might illustrate several people entering and robbing a bank at night)

a montage is french for "series of tiny scenes making one big one" or im my words--several smaller scenes showing progression in more than one location...

in websters words:

1 : the production of a rapid succession of images in a motion picture to illustrate an association of ideas

2 a : a literary, musical, or artistic composite of juxtaposed more or less heterogeneous elements b : a composite picture made by combining several separate pictures

3 : a heterogeneous mixture : JUMBLE <a montage of emotions>


dude

[Nemesis Unbound]

The only difference between the two that I can think of is that when I think of "montage" I think of something that transcends time and/or space whereas a series of shots sounds more immediate. So a montage might be appropriate for showing a couple falling in love with shots of them walking in the park, feeding each other, making love etc., while a series of shots might be more appropriate for a police chase. However since in both cases you are using images/action to tell the story they are essentially two examples of the same thing and in a broader sense interchangeable. You can use both if it suits your writing but I think anyone reading your script will understand what you mean even if you use only one term.

[BigBadDrew]

I would use Montage in reference to a group of related shots depicting something like a couple falling in love or a cop showing a picture to assorted neighborhood lowlifes. I would use "Series of shots" for a sequence where the shots are seemingly unrelated, such as where a character remembers things in a dream that don't tie together except that they are part of that character's dream or vision.

Not sure if that's the exact definition of either, but that's the way I have used them.

It doesn't really matter, though, as long as you get your point across. Unless it's in the first few pages, if the reader finds it awkward, they're not going to put it down just because you used the term "montage" incorrectly. (I find it hard to believe that any of them would know the answer to the question either):)

[GirlinGray]

Well Dude defined them. Series of shots is sequential events in one time/action sequence and often but not always one location that speed up film time -- the shots are specifically related to each other in subject matter. Montage is a group of shots that are not necessarily related in subject matter and may or may not be related in a time line but that combined build a whole thought or impression. That's the technical difference. But most people don't really know the difference and they are used pretty interchangeably at large.

[Bill Marquardt]

I would take it then, that the series of pictures where Sundance and Butch are on there way to Bolivia on an ocean liner, etc. would be an example of a "Series of Shots"? I can't think of a montage example, offhand.

[MattPhew]

Opening credit sequence to Se7en. Quick, seemingly unrelated shots. . . sharing a common thread. The killer 'prepping' for his journey. Very effective.

[Bill Marquardt]

Thanks, Matt, and welcome to the board.

[Zeeman13]

There's a variation on the format of a montage from Steve's example. I use this one because it saves space:

BEGIN MONTAGE

Late night. Michael stares at his computer screen, eyes scorched.
He types a brief and chugs a Jolt cola.

Hannah does the Macarena with a partner at the Firm anniversary party.
The sweaty, drunk lawyers have absolutely no rhythm or shame.

Michael sleeps under his desk as the sun rises in his office window. His
secretary knocks, startling him. He rises and smacks his head on the desk.

Hungover, Hannah reviews a document as Michael tries to stay awake in a
chair facing her desk. Hannah smiles fakely, hands the document back to Michael,
and shakes her head.

END MONTAGE

[Daughter of Lir]

hmmm... okay, I are a little confused. I get the point of montage/ series of shots, I just want to clarify which it is that I'm using: Its in the same place and relative period of time (maybe with a month, maybe a couple months) and is showing what is going on in the town, with various unrelated people, then showing them setting off to sea, the subsequent sinking of the ships, the aftermath in Boston Harbour...
Do I put, for example:

"SERIES OF SHOTS: A landlord evicting tenants. Children starving in the village. Cottages burning. Fields standing empty. British soldiers throwing rocks at villagers...

A ship setting sail. Family left on land are crying and weeping. Handbills are posted everywhere reading: "FREE PASSAGE TO AMERICA!" ...

Ship is caught in storm. Women and children below decks are screaming, leaks are springing through the rotting wood...

D'ye ken my point? Thanks *so* much for all your help. It is honestly appreciated.

[Zeeman13]

Just think this: montage generally spans broader times and different places; a series of shots is usually in a single place over a shorter time.

[Daughter of Lir]

Hokay, then I reckon its a montage. :) Thank you! I'm a "show-me"/hands on learner rather than one who learns by reading, so sometimes I have trouble seeing to the heart of the meaning in a post, and you just put it into simple sentences. <grin> Thanks again (and thanks everyone for the other posts -- I was just being "thick" and not getting it)...

;)

[Meltdown]

Another new format for monatge is

IMAGES: list of images - point form.

This was used recently in the script for The Rock.

I was told that montage is used more for time compression. I haven't had a chace to use it yet. I have used a series of shots for two current events happening at the same time in one script.

Without any set up...


SERIES OF SHOTS - TIM IN FOREST/DEVON AND TRISHA IN NIGHTCLUB

CHANTING pulses in the b. g.

1) Tim runs through the forest.
2) Devon and Trisha dance in a nightclub.
3) Tim runs to his window.
4) Devon and Trisha dance in a nightclub.
5) Tim climbs through his window.
6) BRETT VEYOR, 20, old bruises, and MAN, 40s, bearded, sit in corner of the nightclub watching Trisha.
7) Tim inspects the demon-handled knife.

CHANTING ends.

BACK TO SCENE.

The use of IMAGES seemed pretty slick though

[GirlinGray]

Well, technically, (yipes, here we go again), "montage" is a fancy term for a specific type of shot series. So you are not wrong if you say "series of shots." It is a series of shots. You are just not being as specific and fancy as you could be if it is a montage series. Whereas, if you say montage and it is not a montage, well, you've misused a term. But most people won't know.

Next I will confound people with my dollar bill in a biscuit trick. (wink)

[ksk2]

"I'd buy THAT fer a dollar!"

(coal; definately coal in my stocking...)

[Daughter of Lir]

gah.... can I just WRITE it and not put a "specifier"??

<eyes bugging out from all the info>

[GirlinGray]

You can just call it a series of shots. Or you can do what Kasdan does, I forget how he heads them, but he just writes a paragraph of different scenes.

[Daughter of Lir]

Thanks, Gig. "Series of Shots" it will be. ;)