Print Page - Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: fletch on July 19, 2005, 07:01:26 PM

I am working on a short script and one of the scenes calls for the two main characters to send PM's back and forth to each other through a website. I have no idea how to write this.

I suppose I can change it to Instant Messaging if need be, but I'd rather not have to.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: polkablues on July 19, 2005, 08:21:53 PM

Do you mean you're not sure how to write it format-wise? Or how to make it play in the actual movie?

You could do it with voice-over, with the characters voices reading the PM's as they type. That way, just write it up as BERTRAND (VO), with the words written as dialogue.

Or, you could have the text come up on screen, in which case you would write SUPER: followed by the words that we'll see.

Another way to do it would be to just write PM (or the character's screenname, or whatever) as the character cue, and write a parenthetical, (on computer screen), or something to that effect, below it.

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: Pozer on July 19, 2005, 11:15:46 PM

See Closer (the movie) script.

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: Pubrick on July 20, 2005, 06:53:37 AM

Quote from: POZERSee Closer (the movie) script.

haha man, i've been holding out on it, but now i hav to see it.

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: polkablues on July 20, 2005, 02:33:12 PM

Quote from: Pubrick
Quote from: POZERSee Closer (the movie) script.
haha man, i've been holding out on it, but now i hav to see it.

Julia Roberts is WAY better in the script than she is in the movie... but somehow that's always the case.....

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: fletch on July 20, 2005, 05:41:55 PM

Quote from: polkabluesDo you mean you're not sure how to write it format-wise?

Yeah, format-wise. I know what I want to write....I just don't know how to write it. ;)

I like your idea about VO. I'll give that a shot.

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: fletch on July 20, 2005, 05:43:59 PM

Quote from: POZERSee Closer (the movie) script.

I can't find it anywhere....I also can't find the "You've got Mail" script anywhere either.

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: MacGuffin on July 20, 2005, 05:53:24 PM

Quote from: fletchI also can't find the "You've got Mail" script anywhere either.

http://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=youve_got_mail

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: fletch on July 20, 2005, 06:16:01 PM

Quote from: MacGuffin
Quote from: fletchI also can't find the "You've got Mail" script anywhere either.

http://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=youve_got_mail

Hey, thanks man!

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: polkablues on July 20, 2005, 06:19:03 PM

The method David Trottier (that's right, I pulled out my trusty "Screenwriter's Bible") suggests if you're simply seeing the text on the computer screen is this (his example, verbatim):

Sid faces the computer monitor, then types on the keyboard.

ON THE MONITOR

Sids words appear:

"But Renee, they're tapping my phone
conversations."

BACK TO SID

who studies Renee's response.

ON THE MONITOR

Renee's response appears:

"You're being silly, Sid."

Except the text in parentheses is indented like dialogue, which I can't seem to do here. Trottier's method seems a little overly complicated, but at least it's supported by precedent.

Title: Incorporating a private messaging scene into a script?
Post by: fletch on July 22, 2005, 05:46:11 PM

Hmm...I think I like the VO method more. But I'll try both of them out. Thanks!

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Creative Corner => Filmmakers' Workshop => Topic started by: fletch on July 19, 2005, 07:01:26 PM