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But would you notice it if the slug line isn't there? Say you have tons of action going on in the streets and then the writer just casually slips in that they storm into the hospital or wherever. Would a reader even notice it?

Well, my two main characters are in a crowd that empties into the streets. They are part of the crowd, but during the course of the action they flee elsewhere. Both scenes, the riot, and where my protagonists go, are important and need to be resolved. So simply cutting one of them would not...

Yes. That is what I'm describing more or less. Continuous action. I'm not worried about the finished product. I'm worried about the read. The read should be smooth, fast paced. Stopping right in the middle to read INT/EXT. and scene description twice...eh. But I want to hear all points of...

I would appreciate feedback on this idea for my current script: The Climax of the film is a long scene, maybe 5-10 pages. It starts in a building, then moves out into the streets. At that point, it splits into two different scenes. I'm going to use an intercut here. Both "scenes" flow through...

Rik, what do you think about sounds?

This is why when people ask me for advice I tell them: just write a damn good story. No matter how much you know or think you know, there are different answers for almost every question. Even when it comes down to a writer's style, one reader might love it, another might hate it. So my mantra...

2001, my apologies. I like your posts. Certainly wasn't trying to put you in your place. It's just that for a spec from an unknown writer, I've been told the same thing that Rik mentioned. Yes, there are older conventions. If you're established and write one way, that's one thing. But for a...

This. Just so there is no confusion.

Yes. It should be quite the honor/achievement. But the question remains...how many are given out based on merit, and how many are given out based on power and money?

I never saw Avatar. But didn't really want to. I'm not big on the CGI dominated movies. Sometimes they do a good job. Usually it does not look real. Watching the Avatar trailers and such, I got the feeling that I was watching a video game, not a movie. Perhaps the Academy did not want to have...

If that was your first, I'd say pretty good job. As others said, I didn't like the V.O. I did not like the music either. At all. Everything else was great. I'm a traditionalist myself, so I like basic filming with the camera staying in one place. Not a lot of trick shots, etc. So I liked the...

Rik, as always, great advice. Lincoln, it's a process really. You can't go from idea to success overnight. It takes a lot of effort and hard work. The odds are extremely high that even if you have a good idea for a story, and you write a treatment, that it won't be very good since you know...

I think the odds of a newcomer getting a spec produced are the same as getting an adaptation produced: slim. That is to say, write whatever you want. But write it good.

I am not an insider, but this has always been my read on the situation. Please correct me if I'm wrong. The real question is, whether or not getting noticed is extraordinarily difficult, or if 99% of the writing is just not good enough. Again, without being an insider, I can only guess. I...

I just might be the exception. But I think there is a difference between a bad attempt and a gimmick trick. My rule is let your work do the talking. People remember frauds more than people who just come up short. If you make a bad movie, people won't remember you. That might sound bad, but in...

It's better if you can figure out a way that is also a part of the story. Best example I can think of off the top of my head: The Shawshank Redemption. Remember those posters of Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and Raquel Welch? He covered up his escape tunnel with those posters too.

I think the economic description of this stunt is called "pulling forward future demand". Whatever the film makes, if viewers feel cheated or are not pleased, they will make it a point to not watch anything made by these people ever again. Is that worth it?

My advice is give it a try writing yourself. You won't know if you can do it until you try. Your first attempts will probably not work that well. But if you just improve each attempt, then that will tell you to keep doing it. If you don't improve, stick to directing and hire a writer. One more...

In this case, I do think that the dissolve near the end of the film is essential. Thanks Rik, I appreciate your perspective. I think I am leaning toward dropping the first cue. The dissolve that I have late in the story, yes it does involve a time change. But that is secondary. There is a...

I'm not a fan of sups on screen unless there is no other way. IMO I see a lot of lazy use of these. Yes, I have added in the years in the slug lines. Not every one, but when there is a change, I note it. I've seen some people say never do this, and then I've read pro scripts where it is done...