Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

Collapse

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

    There has to be a simple way to do this but I can't find an example.

    We're in Scene A

    We switch to Scene B (which has no speaking characters) but a speech from Scene A continues V.O.

    We switch back to Scene A as the speech continues.

    It seems clumsy to put in the speaking character's name three times. Can I say "During this speech - " and then interpose the next scene heading? It's something that happens a lot in films but hard to locate in the scripts - often done during editing, I guess.

    Any suggestions?


  • #2
    Re: Audio & Video swith scenes at different points...

    My suggestion would be to go with V.O. for the part of the speech overlapping the intercut scene, for clarity. And because it should be important which lines overlap the other scene, for irony, foreshadowing, or whatever your purpose for the overlap is.
    Patrick Sweeney

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

      Put in the character name three times. It's not clumsy. It provides clarity.
      "Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.-
      ― Ray Bradbury

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

        What the others said.

        Always try to avoid explanations and notes about what is happening. Instead, just show it through action and dialogue.

        "The fact that you have seen professionals write poorly is no reason for you to imitate them." - ComicBent.

        Comment


        • #5
          A Suggestion

          INT. COURTROOM - DAY

          LAWYER
          How can you identify the defendant as the bank robber if he wore a mask?

          WITNESS
          He was very close--
          (continues into next scene)

          INT. BANK - DAY

          A robber wearing a mask walks past the Witness and looks, with menace, into her eyes.

          WITNESS V.O.
          (continued)
          --and I saw his eyes. I'll never forget--
          (continues into next scene)

          INT. COURTROOM - DAY

          WITNESS
          (continued)
          --those eyes.

          LAWYER
          What colour were they?

          WITNESS
          I don't remember.
          JEKYLL & CANADA (free .mp4 download @ Vimeo.com)

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

            Since there seems to be agreement about this I will do as instructed. Thanks!

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: A Suggestion

              Originally posted by Fortean View Post
              INT. COURTROOM - DAY

              LAWYER
              How can you identify the defendant as the bank robber if he wore a mask?

              WITNESS
              He was very close--
              (continues into next scene)

              INT. BANK - DAY

              A robber wearing a mask walks past the Witness and looks, with menace, into her eyes.

              WITNESS V.O.
              (continued)
              --and I saw his eyes. I'll never forget--
              (continues into next scene)

              INT. COURTROOM - DAY

              WITNESS
              (continued)
              --those eyes.

              LAWYER
              What colour were they?

              WITNESS
              I don't remember.
              "Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.-
              ― Ray Bradbury

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

                I agree, Fortean's example would be visually funny. Nice setup and punchline.

                However, imho, it reads better without the (continues into next scene) and (continued) under dialogue.

                A CUT TO would also work here. And, finally, starting the second scene with dialogue. IMHO


                INT. COURTROOM - DAY

                LAWYER
                How can you identify the defendant as the bank robber if he wore a mask?

                WITNESS
                He was very close--

                CUT TO


                INT. BANK - DAY

                WITNESS (V.O.)
                --and I saw his eyes. I'll never forget--

                A robber wearing a mask walks past the Witness and looks, with menace, into her eyes.


                INT. COURTROOM - DAY

                WITNESS
                --those eyes.

                LAWYER
                What colour were they?

                WITNESS
                I don't remember.
                Last edited by jonpiper; 03-07-2010, 03:23 AM. Reason: add () around V.O.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

                  Different roads lead to the same place, grasshopper.

                  "The fact that you have seen professionals write poorly is no reason for you to imitate them." - ComicBent.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

                    "A Few Good Men" and "Ghostbusters" used this technique. Here is a snippet from their scripts:

                    KAFFEE
                    Joanne!

                    JO
                    What?

                    KAFFEE
                    He's gonna be fine.

                    They turn and head into the courtroom as we HEAR MARKINSON in
                    VOICE OVER ...

                    MARKINSON (V.O.)
                    "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Santiago..."

                    CUT TO:
                    INT. MARKINSON'S ROOM - DAY

                    MARKINSON is writing a letter and we HEAR it in V.0.

                    MARKINSON (V.O.)
                    I was William's company commander. I knew
                    your son vaguely, which is to say I knew
                    his name...
                    and

                    INT. BASEMENT -- WEAVER HALL -- DAY
                    At one end of the dingy corridor is a door marked PARANORMAL STUDIES
                    LABORATORY. A sign dangles from the doorknob: Maid -- Please Make Up This
                    Room. Scrawled across the door is a line of student graffiti that reads:
                    "Venkman Burn In Hell!" It looks like it's been written in blood.

                    VENKMAN (V.O.)
                    Now I'm going to turn over the next card and
                    I want you to concentrate and tell me what
                    you think it is.

                    INT. PARANORMAL STUDIES LAB -- SAME TIME - DAY
                    DR. PETER VENKMAN is administering an ESP test to two student volunteers,
                    a boy and a girl, who sit across the table from him separated from each
                    other by a screen.
                    There are plenty of examples out there.

                    Good luck !

                    Mac
                    New blogposts:
                    *Followup - Seeking Investors in all the wrong places
                    *Preselling your film - Learning from the Experts
                    *Getting your indie film onto iTunes
                    *Case Study - Estimating Film profits

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

                      Personally, I don't see a need for a CUT TO here - the new slugline tells us it's a new scene. I generally also don't like naked sluglines, that is, going straight to dialogue. Probably more personal preference than anything, though.
                      Patrick Sweeney

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Audio & Video switch scenes at different points...

                        I don't like to use CUT TO's either, but I thought in my example, even though the new slugline signals a new scene, the CUT TO emphasizes the change and grabs the reader's attention.

                        As you said, a judgment call, as to what is best for the Read.

                        As for the naked slugline issue, I envision the dialogue continuing into the next scene as that scene comes to life. So in this case, beginning with dialogue is a judgment call.

                        Comment

                        Working...
                        X