Sound effects

[timmytoo]

Hi,

I responded to a post in the script pages section. I told the writer that he needed to use all caps on his sound effects. I had read a few books that mentioned that. I've also read a few scripts that does that.

I was corrected and told that isn't done anymore. They said that hasn't been done for 30 years. Granted the main script I'm referring to is "Chinatown", and the two books I'll reading was writen in 1988 and 1984.

I need to find out if we do not use caps on sounds. Because I've written two scripts using caps on sound and if we don't anymore. I need to change them.

Thanks Tim.

[Steph76]

Who ever told you that is wrong. Sound effects are still put in CAPS. But just like everything else, it should be minimized. CAP only the most important sounds. Included in the list of people who will need a copy of your script is the sound technicians. In order to know what sounds they need to come up with, they have to pick out these sounds quickly, hence the reason for CAPS.

Steph

[ComicBent]

This matter of CAPITALIZING sound effects (and other things) is one of the perennial questions.

Originally the purpose was to alert the sound guy that the alarm clock was going to RING at a certain place. It was a convenience, so the effect would be easy to spot.

With the way production is done these days, and all the rewriting that a script undergoes to come up with a production script, I question whether a spec script needs CAPS for sounds at all. But if you are going to follow that tradition, be consistent: Put all the true sound effects in CAPS. Sound effects are things added to the action. It does not include things like:

The clown begins to SCREAM in pain.

That would be a direction to the actor, and there is no need to capitalize it.

[Deus Ex Machine]

For a spec, the only reason to capitalize (underline/bold/italics/etc) anything is for the effect is has on the reader's (anyone who reads the script) interpretation of what's on the page.


If you capitalize everything, the effect it has on the reader is diminished.

Be selective.

Be judicious.

Be intelligent about why you capitalize and you won't have any problems.

HTH

[timmytoo]

thanks for the insight.

If I follow you correctly. I should only use caps on sound effects that can not be preformed by the actor. Leave everything else alone.

Thanks again.

[PainTed]

I read somewhere that you should use caps on sound effects and also the object/device that made the sound such as: The GUN went BANG. Sounds that are made by humans are not included. Someone let me know if I'm wrong.

[Deus Ex Machine]

Once upon a time there was a practical necessity for a shooting draft to have capitalized props and sounds in order to alert the various departments of special requirements for a scene.


But we are not writing shooting draft, we are writing a "reading" draft (spec). You can use conventional (and somewhat out dated) shooting draft practices and capitalize all sounds and props, but there is no need to do it. Here's why.

The reason props and sounds were capitalized was so they would be easy to see if you skimmed over the script. Capitalized words are easy to pick out because they STAND OUT and are hard to miss.

You can use this fact to your advantage by only capitalizing those things that you feel are so important that the story would not progress properly if it is missed. You can also use the fact that the mind interprets capitalization as SHOUTING to make certain beats have heightened dramatic impact on the reader which can help create a cinematic experience for the reader.

Remember that the spec draft is meant to be read. Long before it becomes a shooting draft, it must be read by many people. Your goal in a reading draft is to make your story as cinematic and compelling as possible. Capitalization is one of many tools that you can use to help you.

If you simply use it to capitalize every prop and sound you won't be using it to make the story easier to follow or more cinematic for the reader - you will be making it easier for the head of the props department to locate important props the story uses.

At the reading draft stage - it is more important that you make the story easy to read and cinematic in style than it is to make life easier for the the props guys.

My .02