Special effects recomendations

[theseagypsy]

Anyone have a sug. as to a script that could be viewed for special effects formatting?

OR

Please give an example of how a superimposed effect would be written into a script.

Thanks so much!

[kleptomaniac]

Please give an example of how a superimposed effect would be written into a script.

Wouldn't it just be something like:

A Pan Am Clipper flies into the sunset.

SUPER: A red line traces the plane's route on a map of Nepal and neighboring countries.

Actually, my copy of Raiders doesn't even feature the redline, and map supered over the plane shot. (Is it in any version of the script?)

[warmgoodness]

SFX

While everything I've done, and both of the things I've sold rely heavily on sfx, I never bring special attention to the fact that it is an effect. I just write the story. It is pretty clear to studios/filmmakers what can be done "for real" vs. what must be done as a special effect. I've always felt that underscoring a particular shot as an F/X shot, took the reader out of the story.

[joe44nyc]

Special effects

In some older scripts special effects would've been indicated like this:

SPFX: SMOKE BILLOWS FROM UNDER THE DOOR.

-- Now you can just write what's going on without the need to point out it's a special effect.

Smoke billows from under the door.

SOUND EFFECTS would've been indicated like this:

SFX. GUNSHOTS.

Now you can write it without the sign post.

[theseagypsy]

Thanks you guys! Warmgoodness, we think the same on this one. I think I'll let things remain as originally written.

[BlueParrot]

Shanti,

If you read Lawrence Kasdan scripts of the Star Wars series, you will find that there is no mention of special effects. However, you will see a bunch on screen.

Even in the Matrix, it's pretty bare.