door knocking... is it important?

[David Alin]

I read some scripts where suddenly there is a visitor standing at the front/back door of someone's house... Although, the introduction of the process is never revealed, I was wondering, compared to the lines below, a line from "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and one which I am trying to figure out, on my own script. What is best to make the point clear?

First, the lines from "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (Simon Kinberg)


They lean in a nice lingering kiss.

INT. SMITH HOUSE - FRONT HALL - LATE NIGHT

The door opens on Suzy and Martin Coleman, in their night-clothes. Flanked by two RENT-A-COPS.

John and Jane are wearing their post-coital attire. Hair wild. Eyes calm. They have a blised-out after-sex vibe.

SUZY
Is everything okay? We heard an
awful ruckus.

Suzy tires to peek in the house, get a glimpse of the destruction inside.

JOHN
Oh, we were just watching TV.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

So, as we can see there wasn't a door bell chime, or a knock at the door, they suddenly appear. However, we know before they did this, there was some distrubance going on inside. Are we to assume in the way the script was written that the purpose of us seeing the Coleman's ring the door bell was just a bit too much? In other words, I saw this example and my script is dfferent, but is it important to have the door bell or knock being told in the script?

Take a look.

//////////////////////

JESSICA
He wont. I'll take that.

Jessica takes the glass from her.

And there's a knock at the kitchen's back door.

INT. KUBRICK MANOR - KITCHEN - DAY

The door opens to see Melanie, standing in her white business suit. Jessica invites her in.

WE CUT TO JARVIS

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

I have introduced Melanie as driving up into the driveway and getting out of her car, and Rachel and Jessica taking over the kitchen's sink about Jarvis. It's when Melanie knocks on the door, where they confront.

Is the purpose of Melanie knocking important to keep, or like in "Mr.& Mrs. Smith" to just assume that she knocked on the door? Even though I explained she (has) arrived in the driveway and walking to the house?

I am open to kind suggestions on which method is okay, best, or not correct to use?

[Marine66]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't imagine it makes any difference at all.

[James McMurray]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

If it's not obvious why they'd be going to the door I'd add the knock. If there's been a lot of noise and the door opens on rent-a-cops we can tell instantly why they're there. If we're in the middle of a conversation and suddenly jump to a door being opened it might be a bit jarring and not make sense.

[Jcorona]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

I usually use A KNOCK or A KNOCK AT THE DOOR unless the scene calls for something else. Just play your scene out in your mind's eye and go from there, David. That'll tell you.

Corona

[deadeye]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

It depends on the circumstances. In Mr. and Mrs. Smith there was most likely a CUT TO implied to show the contradiction to the preceding scene. A knock on the door followed by the registering and answering takes away from the contradiction between the intrusion of the normal neighbors and the sado-masochistic sex that preceded it.

[Marine66]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

Why don't they have a door bell?

[David Alin]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

In the script, there isn't a CUT TO: before or after the moment of the Colemans.

It's just that a similar situation occurrs - two people are conversing, and an inturrption... I think the door knock breaks the tension in my opinion... but, I was wondering if it was important or not to have it. Although, cutting it will move the story quicker... but does it have enough impact to the scene?

In my opinion, I think keeping it works.

Unless, anyone feels differently about it, I like your opinion.

Thanks!

[deadeye]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

In the script, there isn't a CUT TO: before or after the moment of the Colemans.

I should have written 'an implied CUT TO'

[David Alin]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

I should have written 'an implied CUT TO'

What do you mean?????

'an implied CUT TO' ?????

[deadeye]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

What do you mean?????

'an implied CUT TO' ?????

As a writer you can direct without seeming to.

INT. SMITH'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Brad and Anjie bang each other's brains out after deciding that sex is one up from violence. Noise ...blam blam etc



EXT. SMITH'S HOUSE - NIGHT


Neighbors are at the front door looking nervous. It's answered by Brad and Anjie looking blah blah blah.


An Implied CUT TO.

[gregsonfilm]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

It depends on the impact you want. IN the Mr. & Mrs. Smith example, it's used for comedic effect to cut (implied or not) from the SEX, to the Neighbors on the door step, to the Couple after sex. If there was a doorbell/knock, it would ruin the moment. Part of the comedy (imo) is that for a split second, we don't know what the Neighbors are seeing (becasue the shot before it showed the COUPLE gettin' it on. When the door open to reveal the Neighbors.. are they catching the couple in the act?! Oh my G-- oh wait (cut to the Couple at the door), they have their clothes on... but look at them! Their clothes are strewed, hair messed up.
If the doorbell/knock was used in the preceeding scene, then it's no longer a surprise (for Couple, or audience), and that kills the affect I was trying to describe above.

So, you have to figure out exactly the kind of effect you want your scene to have. Do you want Rachael and Jessica to be surprised by Melanie? Will a confrontation follow? By showing chots of Melanie approaching, are you trying to build suspense in a thriller way, or a comedic way?

But seriously I doubt one line that says "There's a knock on the door" will make or break your script. I can easily see it being changed by the director or editor to adjust mood and/or pacing.

my .02

[James McMurray]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

First, the lines from "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (Simon Kinberg)

They lean in a nice lingering kiss.

INT. SMITH HOUSE - FRONT HALL - LATE NIGHT

The door opens on Suzy and Martin Coleman, in their night-clothes. Flanked by two RENT-A-COPS.

John and Jane are wearing their post-coital attire. Hair wild. Eyes calm. They have a blised-out after-sex vibe.

SUZY
Is everything okay? We heard an
awful ruckus.

Suzy tires to peek in the house, get a glimpse of the destruction inside.

JOHN
Oh, we were just watching TV.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

So, as we can see there wasn't a door bell chime, or a knock at the door, they suddenly appear. However, we know before they did this, there was some distrubance going on inside. Are we to assume in the way the script was written that the purpose of us seeing the Coleman's ring the door bell was just a bit too much? In other words, I saw this example and my script is dfferent, but is it important to have the door bell or knock being told in the script?

I just happened to be watching Mr. and Mrs. Smith last night. While the script might not have a knock, the actual movie does. The scene that made it to film starts with a knock and shows the two neighbors with a single cop in the background.

[deadeye]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

The reason it didn't have a knock in the script is because the time isn't continuous. It happens during a passage of time that wasn't shown. When would you have put the knock? To interrupt the kiss? As the door is already opening?

The reason is about drama, story and audience interest.

[Marine66]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

For the love of God, can it really make that much of difference?

[Laura Reyna]

Re: door knocking... is it important?

LOL. I think this thread is a bit overkill too.

There is a whole lotta room in description of action. A scene or small action can be described a gazillion different ways.

The main thing to remember is to make it CLEAR to the reader, in a logical way, what's happening, & not to confuse them.