Angle On

[SundownInRetreat]

Re: Angle On

You'll often hear a bizarre idea that amateurs shouldn't make their scripts look like professionally written scripts or use similar techniques to those found in professionally written scripts.

It's a crazy world.

[JeffLowell]

Re: Angle On

For those saying it's perfectly fine and you use it all the time...

Can you specify whether you are:
1. writing on assignment
2. or writing spec

And if spec, can you also specify whether you sold one of these specs littered with camera directions?

thanks

Both.

Many.

[tavis sarmento]

Re: Angle On

Sorry if I was running over the same old ground with this thread. Thanks for the differing opinions. I know that some "rules" are more bendy than others.

I guess this all speaks to a larger issue, which is to have confidence in your voice when writing your story.

[odocoileus]

Re: Angle On

http://funjoel.blogspot.com/2005/07/...continued.html

If, however, I'm reading a script in overall proper format, with a few rules broken here and there, I will not care one bit.

So learn the proper script format. Follow the rules. But don't obsess so much over it. Focus much more of your time, energy, and effort developing your actual writing skills. Just make sure you have a good reason for breaking a rule when you do so.

[gridlock'd]

Re: Angle On

Both.

Many.

Glad you said this. I was about to start changing all my Angle Ons.





God, I kinda hate this place.

[SundownInRetreat]

Re: Angle On

Why were you gonna change? Only one person said not to do use 'Angle On' and everyone else said he was talking nonsense.

[gridlock'd]

Re: Angle On

Why were you gonna change? Only one person said not to do use 'Angle On' and everyone else said he was talking nonsense.

I dunno. The OP seemed so confident about it. Plus, it kinda made sense to me; not putting camera directions in a spec script. The people calling it nonsense could have been wrong. JeffLowell is the only one I know for sure is speaking from experience. I probably wouldn't have changed my stuff without more research but I was thinking about it...

[Steven L.]

Re: Angle On

To all rules, myths, legends, and folktales.

Do what you have to do to make your story visually compelling.

[Biohazard]

Re: Angle On

Not a major no-no but there are better ways to convey the same thing.

Instead of...



... how about:

BEN WILCOX

26, handsome. And at the moment, more or less drunk.


WILCOX

watching. The couple is graceful and radiant.


LYDIE'S FACE

reflected in the window, over the dark plains passing by.


ERNEST

standing at the door.

It's a method of directing the camera without calling attention to it. I'm actually cool with ON LYDIE or ON ERNEST but angle on puts a bad taste in my mouth. Don't like it.

Agree with this. ANGLE ON: is just like writing SHOT OF:. Very redundant. No crap it's an angle on whatever. We get that by the mere mention of whatever it is in the action.

I've never been confused reading a script without it, but I have been taken out of the story when it was included.

Use it or don't, doesn't really matter, as long as you convey the information clearly. But it can be omitted to effectively create more white space on the page and less clutter/nonsense for the reader.

Personally, I prefer reading a story rather than a blueprint.

[tavis sarmento]

Re: Angle On

Since we don't get a whole lot of variety in how we can relate information -- as compared to some forms of prose writing -- I'm always looking for other ways of conveying the basic movements of a character appearing or passing through a scene. I hate using "He appears" -- and try to avoid it, because it sounds like the character is materializing in front of you. "Angle On" or "On" seems like a better, filmic way, and also clues the reader in to look at what follows more closely.

[TwoBrad Bradley]

Re: Angle On

I would suggest that you go through your spec and remove (reword) enough "Angle On's" so that you're left with only an occasional amount.

[Manchester]

Re: Angle On

I've adapted the F-word rule that the MPAA applies to PG-13 movies.

No more than one ANGLE ON per script and, even then, only if used for a non-sexual meaning.

[BattleDolphinZero]

Re: Angle On

ANGLE ON:

is a great one. I don't know why but a well dropped "ANGLE ON:" is tasty.

I just used...

"A WIDER ANGLE REVEALS:"

Use that sh!t. Do not listen to people giving "better" examples. The right words are what matters, not the alternate words. And sometimes ANGLE ON: are the right words. (awk sentence. Why? Because ANGLE ON is so awesome you wanna refer to it as one word)

Sometimes you want the effect of the CAMERA being present.

Use it.

[BattleDolphinZero]

Re: Angle On

JeffLowell is the only one I know for sure is speaking from experience. I probably wouldn't have changed my stuff without more research but I was thinking about it...

(not speaking to you specifically, Grid, but using your post as an example)

this is a really unhealthy way to think and it's one of the main things the pros try to address on this board.

CALCULATE LESS

[gridlock'd]

Re: Angle On

(not speaking to you specifically, Grid, but using your post as an example)

this is a really unhealthy way to think and it's one of the main things the pros try to address on this board.

CALCULATE LESS

I agree, BTZ, but I would think there a certain mistakes one can make that scream "Amateur" - ANGLE ON probably not being one of them- but little things like that is what we're trying to avoid. It may be over-thinking, but I say better that than under-thinking. I appreciate your point though. But I'm about to send to a manager and I want to avoid rookie mistakes where possible.