Facial Expressions

Collapse

Announcement

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

  • Facial Expressions

    I'm a newb working on my first script. Something annoying that I've noticed with my own writing is the use of facial expressions.

    What is the right way to use them, or should I just not use them at all? Would really like a blast of light on this topic because it drives me crazy. I just don't know if I should use them, or how to use them well, and when I read them in my own stuff I definitely don't like them. What are some good alternatives to using facial expressions?

    Items that I feel are okay at times are things like, "Raises or furrows eyebrow," "grits teeth," "smirks/grins (sometimes)

    But things like, "with an angry expression," or "looks sad," or "with a sad expression," or "with a furious countenance..."stuff like that drives me insane. And I've done crap like this. Of course I remove it immediately on the re-read, but I'm looking for awesome alternatives from other writers.

    Yes, the no brainer answer is, show it visually with how the character behaves and maybe with what they say -- but something's not clicking in my brain here.

    How many clean ways are there for someone to "Look sad" I can think of plenty but there comes a point where it seems like I'm just making stuff up to avoid using the term 'looks sad', and that effort comes through, at times, as ungainly on the page.


    Y'know, typing this out I've come to a small eureka in my head. Thanks for providing the space.

    I'm still interested in everyone's thoughts on this.
    -chris

  • #2
    Re: Facial Expressions

    A great script to read is Casablanca. There aren't many facial expressions written. But the script is so layered with conflict and subtext that you know by their actions what their facial expressions will be.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Facial Expressions

      Actions are best, but if you must use facial expressions, at least use more descriptive facial expressions.

      Scowls
      Mopes
      Grins
      Chicks Who Script podcast

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Facial Expressions

        I try to keep away from them because I think they stick out like sore thumbs. But when I have to I'll write something like. "She's not amused." Or, "She doesn't like surprises." Or, "He didn't expect this." Or, "He's clueless." To me - and I may be wrong - it isn't as jarring as She frowns, she narrows her eyes, he raises an eyebrow, etc.
        Advice from writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick. "Try this: if you can replace your female character with a sexy lamp and the story still basically works, maybe you need another draft.-

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Facial Expressions

          Originally posted by sc111 View Post
          I try to keep away from them because I think they stick out like sore thumbs. But when I have to I'll write something like. "She's not amused." Or, "She doesn't like surprises." Or, "He didn't expect this." Or, "He's clueless." To me - and I may be wrong - it isn't as jarring as She frowns, she narrows her eyes, he raises an eyebrow, etc.
          In the thread about screenwriting quirks, I wrote that whenever I write characters doing some weak facial expression to convey emotion, I stop writing.

          That's my quirk. But I agree with you.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Facial Expressions

            Originally posted by Hamboogul View Post
            In the thread about screenwriting quirks, I wrote that whenever I write characters doing some weak facial expression to convey emotion, I stop writing.

            That's my quirk. But I agree with you.
            Me too. However, if there's no way around it, I hide it in a wrylie.

            sc111
            (smiles)
            If there's no way around it, I hide it in a wrylie.


            Because -- I'm even more annoyed when I have to add something to an action line due to my pet peeve about facial expressions. So I split the difference.
            Advice from writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick. "Try this: if you can replace your female character with a sexy lamp and the story still basically works, maybe you need another draft.-

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Facial Expressions

              it's the actor's job to really execute the facial expressions. your job is to write characters and their relationships with others they encounter so well that they automatically know what their facial reaction should be. the same goes for how they deliver their lines... and their body language.

              set them up right in the beginning and then for the rest of the script -- less is more!

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Facial Expressions

                Thanks for the suggestions all.

                It's actually good to know that this is definitely just one of those no-no's that we must fight against. I wasn't 100% sure on that.

                A sore thumb is a great way to describe how I feel when I see it in my own writing and others.

                I'll check out Casablanca as well.
                -chris

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Facial Expressions

                  Originally posted by NikeeGoddess View Post
                  it's the actor's job to really execute the facial expressions. your job is to write characters and their relationships with others they encounter so well that they automatically know what their facial reaction should be. the same goes for how they deliver their lines... and their body language.

                  set them up right in the beginning and then for the rest of the script -- less is more!
                  Absolutely. I'm just finding that at times this is a frustratingly difficult concept to execute. Wincing as my fingers ready themselves to type crap like, "She looks at him, furious"

                  gawd that's awful.
                  -chris

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Facial Expressions

                    I've seen writers put words to a look or facial expression. From a draft of The Hangover:

                    Alan: Tracy's dad still hate you?

                    Doug: Oh, yeah.

                    Alan: Any closer to figuring out why?

                    Doug: Eh, I think he wanted more for his girl. I mean, I'm a teacher who makes 45 grand a year, and he's a titan of industry who makes 45 grand a day, you know? I sort of get it...(beat brushing his teeth) Also, I'm banging his daughter. I'm not sure you ever get past that.

                    Alan smiles, yeah there's that.




                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Facial Expressions

                      Originally posted by sc111 View Post
                      I try to keep away from them because I think they stick out like sore thumbs. But when I have to I'll write something like. "She's not amused." Or, "She doesn't like surprises." Or, "He didn't expect this." Or, "He's clueless." To me - and I may be wrong - it isn't as jarring as She frowns, she narrows her eyes, he raises an eyebrow, etc.
                      yea some of my favorite scripts i've noticed use this technique. seems more effective to me and reads better. although sometimes it's cool to mix it up.

                      Originally posted by Hamboogul View Post
                      A great script to read is Casablanca. There aren't many facial expressions written. But the script is so layered with conflict and subtext that you know by their actions what their facial expressions will be.
                      man i think i've watched this 20 times now just for the reason you mentioned alone.
                      One must be fearless and tenacious when pursuing their dreams. If you don't, regret will be your reward.

                      The Fiction Story Room

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Facial Expressions

                        My theory: The actor controls their face, I control the rest.

                        I can write "smiles" all I want, but if they cast Clint Eastwood, he's not much of a smiler. So I need to make sure either the "smiles" is so critical to the story that even Clint will have to smile, or find some way to get his happiness across with his body (not in a porny way).

                        One thing that may be an issue - often "smiles" and stuff like that are used to break up huge blocks of dialogue so that they don't look like huge blocks of dialogue. If you are using "smiles" to disguise a problem, always better to fix the problem instead. If not, disregard this paragraph.

                        - Bill
                        Free Script Tips:
                        http://www.scriptsecrets.net

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Facial Expressions

                          I think they work best if they are either very specific or kind of vague - specific to give a precise visual, vague to ignite the reader's imagination and help them play along.

                          'Smiles' is just...there.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Facial Expressions

                            I have problems with this kind of stuff too.

                            I've decide that as an experiment, I'm going to eliminate all facial expressions & small "reactions" in my current script. Gonna see how it reads.
                            Last edited by Laura Reyna; 02-23-2011, 06:38 PM.

                            "Trust your stuff." -- Dave Righetti, Pitching Coach

                            ( Formerly "stvnlra" )

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Facial Expressions

                              What confuses me, so to speak, about this subject is whether we always have to describe emotions visually. "Joe's confused" or "Joe looks confused?" "Jane's toying with him" or "Jane has this look like she's toying with him"?

                              Or, about smiling -- "Joe's happy" or "Joe looks happy"? As someone with an OK command of the English language, I get a pretty good image of Joe when I read "Joe's happy". I see Joe smiling or some-such. Same with "Joe's confused". "Joe looks confused" is just a waste of space. And if I write, "Joe furrows his brow in confusion" -- even more waste of space plus I betcha the actor has a better idea of how to express confusion.

                              But, I know that if I write "Joe is happy", some readers/etc. will say, "That's meaningless. How do we know Joe's happy? Describe it in visual terms [you idiot]. Oh yeh, and never use 'is'."

                              I've come to accept that certain screenwriting conventions are illogical. Fine. So, moving on, even if simply "Joe's happy" works/makes sense/is enough for any actor, is there a substantial (even if a minority) group of readers out there who will take offense?

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X