Deborah S. Patz - Author

Author & Filmmaker

  • Books
  • About
  • EXTRAS
    • Fun FAQ
    • For Profs
    • Film Resource Links
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Film Production Books
  • All Books

Script as a Road Map: Naming Script Locations

June 4, 2010 by Deb 2 Comments

After the organic writing process of creating the script, it’s time to reformat the script in preparation for the shoot. Make the script what it is: a road map for making a film production.

What if the action moves from one room to another within a scene?

If the plan is for the set of rooms to be open concept, then one scene label in the script is fine; however, typically you need to breakdown the scene into several, labelling each scene separately, i.e. Int – Living Room – Day; and then Int – Dining Room – Day; and finally Int – Kitchen – Day… giving each one a different scene number. Even if the plan is to shoot a long take, moving the camera from room to room without cutting, it may be worth breaking down the scenes separately. Best to discuss the shooting plan with the 1st AD and Director in order to prepare the script appropriately.

What if there is more than one descriptive name for a location?

Sometimes you’ll see the same location described in a variety of ways: Int – Living Room – Day; and then Int – John’s Living Room – Day;  and then Int – House – Day;  and even with slight spelling differences like: Int – Livingroom – Day. Script formatting software is picky about how you name things, and presumes if you make a slight spelling difference to a script location, then you expect to shoot each one in a different set location. In this case, the software would expect you to shoot in 4 locations instead of 1. Do one complete pass of the script combing through the script as you are numbering the scenes for the first time to check for these script location references with multiple names and spellings and fix them. Your focus on this one (very common) error will be time well-spent.

Since the script is a interim product – and not a final product (like a book is) – don’t worry about changing the formatting for the shoot. The goal is to capture the writer’s intention… and to do that, you need a good road map.

Cheers & happy script formatting to you,
Deb

Filed Under: Management, Script Road Map Tagged With: script format

Comments

  1. Royal Guillen says

    June 15, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    If only more than 54 people could read this!

  2. debpatz says

    June 17, 2010 at 4:19 am

    I’m sure your wish will come true! Just start sharing! Also, concepts like this are discussed in more detail in my book (which has been sold around the world since 2002).

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Subscribe to Blog via Email (BLOG RETIRED)

Categories

  • About Deb Patz
  • Books on Deb's Shelf
  • Budgets
  • Ciné Surfer
  • FILM
  • Forms & Templates
  • Front Page
  • Fun
  • Gladys Comics by Deb
  • How It's Like…
  • INDUSTRY
  • Industry News
  • INK
  • Ink Wisdom
  • Inspiration
  • Life
  • Management
  • Moviemaking Tips
  • Rayne's Coast Comics by Deb
  • Script Road Map
  • Skills Development
  • Tips from a Busy Person
  • What a Writer Needs to Know
  • What I Learned From…
  • What's It Good For?
  • What's Stopping You?
  • Work-Life Balance

Tags

3D animals awards budgeting callsheet career choices children choices christmas computer tips confidence coproduction dreams equipment film education film festival film terms free halloween imax Industry News maniac mansion mistakes movie moment movie quote MWP networking persistence perspectives pm101 preproduction resources scheduling screen credits scriptwriting social media stars stress management time management travel weather wordsearch wrap writeshootedit writing process

Connect with Deb

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Goodreads
  • Amazon Author Central

Looking for something?

Deb’s FILM & INK Newsletter

Subscribe to the Newsletter

RSS Deb’s FILM N INK BLOG (RETIRED)

  • Deb’s FILM & INK Newsletter… come ‘n join!
  • Dinosaurs in the Airport
  • The Oscars are Coming, the Oscars are Coming!

Copyright © 2021 · Author Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in