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Forshadow detail?

W

wheatgrinder

Hi all,

In a script, how do I point out, or draw special attention to, a small detail, that will have big impact later in the story?

early in story, Girl forgets to close gate

later in the story, and two flash backs later, a Dog gets in and kills favorite pet because the gate was left open...
 
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wheatgrinder said:
Hi all,

In a script, how do I point out, or draw special attention to, a small detail, that will have big impact later in the story?

early in story, Girl forgets to close gate

later in the story, and two flash backs later, a Dog gets in and kills favorite pet because the gate was left open...
Click to expand...

After girl forgets to close the gate on the way out...

Mom sticks her head out the kitchen window.
MOM: "How many times do I have to tell you?" "Close the gate!"

Something along those lines once or twice will foreshadow your event.

Later one, after the pet gets killed, the family argues about how the dog got in.
They come to the conclusion that the gate was left open.
Who in the family always leaves the gate open??
 
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You could change focus from the girl to the gate or, if it is possible, let the scene go for longer than usual and have the gate swing a bit after being left open. You could ignore it all together too, usually the best films need to be watched at least twice to let everything soak in.

Don't use zoom. It's a huge nasty short film cliche.
 
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CoreyO said:
You could change focus from the girl to the gate or, if it is possible, let the scene go for longer than usual and have the gate swing a bit after being left open. You could ignore it all together too, usually the best films need to be watched at least twice to let everything soak in.

Don't use zoom. It's a huge nasty short film cliche.
Click to expand...

Stay away from using camera directions in a script.

Besides, just using the camera to focus on a shot is not a good technique for telling a story.
There is no drama involved in staring at a gate left open when nobody knows what will happen in the future.

Cause a scene. Make some drama. Then connect it to your accident later on.
 
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