f.g. and b.g.

[trigger]

Firstly, hello all! I'm from Sydney, Australia, and have only been writing for a short time. I've been looking into this screenplay biz for maybe a year or so, and am thoroughly enjoying it so far.

I have a varied background; acting and music primarily. As far as screenwriting is concerned, I'm in the process of writing my first feature screenplay (still writing the overview for each scene).

Anyway, I've read quite a lot of screenplays over the last year, and the one thing that *still* bugs me is the use of 'f.g.' and 'b.g.'. Now I understand that these abbreviations are considered quite standard, but every time I catch one in an action description it causes a "stutter" in the flow of my reading. Because action descriptions are typically quite prose-like in their structure, I am sure that I would prefer it to just be spelled out!

How many of you use these abbreviations during action descriptions, and does this bug anyone else??
Cheers,
Scott in Sydney.

[Bill Marquardt]

Trigger,

Welcome to the board. Feel free to leave out any and all camera direction in your script. I'm not the expert, but everything I've read lately discourages the use of direction in the "modern" screenplay. Of course, most screenplays you read will have some anyway.

I don't personally find it distracting. I have only one script out there that has been widely read, by a few pros and many amateurs. The one common remark that I receive is that they can easily visualise the scenes. I use some direction, but keep it minimal. There's usually a way to depict the scene in the prose rather than specifically call for a camera angle or shot.

[Steve]

You don't have to use the abbreviations. It depends on how long your action descriptions are. If they are longer than 4 lines, do anything you can to shorten them.

[trigger]

Thanks for the replies. I see how it should be used now!

:)