Superimposing Multiple Paragraphs

serioushat · Apr 21, 2011

In a spec script, what is the correct way to superimpose multiple paragraphs of text?
Is prose text centered? Are the paragraphs indented?

FantasySciFi · Apr 22, 2011

serioushat said:
What is the correct way to superimpose multiple paragraphs of text? Is prose text centered? Are the paragraphs indented?

Can you provide an example? I can't imagine ever wanting to put paragraphs of text into a script ... ok ... if you're George Lucas and want to have a scrolling prologue to introduce your piece ....

Code:

                http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/rockbridge/16/stkiller.txt
    Adventures of the Starkiller (Episode One) "The Star Wars"  by George Lucas

       FADE IN:
 
         1.   SPACE
 
              A vast sea of stars is broken as the warm, amber surface
              of the planet, UTAPAU, emerges from a total eclipse.  Five
              small moons slowly drift into view from the far side of
              the planet.  The MAIN TITLE is followed by a ROLL-UP:
 
                        The REPUBLIC GALACTICA is dead.  Ruthless
                        trader barons, driven by greed and the
                        lust for power, have replaced enlightenment
                        with oppression, and "rule by the people"
                        with the FIRST GALACTIC EMPIRE.
 
                        Until the tragic Holy Rebellion of "06",
                        the respected JEDI BENDU OF ASHLA were the
                        most powerful warriors in the Universe.
                        For a hundred thousand years, generations
                        of Jedi Bendu knights learned the ways of
                        the mysterious FORCE OF OTHERS, and acted
                        ...

Okay, so he changed it alot before he finally made the movie we know today. Scripts change. So don't feel bad if you get feedback saying, that doesn't really work.

Code:

    http://www.scenebyscene.net/iv/anhscript.txt

STAR WARS: EPISODE IV  : A NEW HOPE

by George Lucas

Rev. 4th Draft 

SUPER:  A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the main
title. War drums echo through the heavens as a ROLLUP 
slowly crawls into infinity.

It is a period of civil war.  Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, 
have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.

During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's 
ultimate weapon, the Death Star, an armored space station with enough 
power to destroy an entire planet.

Pursued by the Empire's sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her 
starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore 
freedom to the galaxy...
....

On a more practical note:
If you are showing a letter or other document in a movie, try to keep it to a paragraph of 30 words or less. Often a filter will be used to emphasize a passage if it's important. If you look at the revised Lucas script, you will find most of the first paragraphs were shaved down substantially to stay in the 30 word range. This is because of the human visual capacity.

Code:

Theresa reads Tom's letter.  

                                TOM (V.O.)
         I miss you love.  The voyage has been most difficult.
         Many men on the ship have fevers....

The maid enters.

                                 MAID
         Would you like some tea?

Theresa waves her away. 

She sits in her settee.  A passage catches her eye.

TEXT:  "David has taken ill."

Theresa pulls back and her trembling hand drops the letter.

Now there may be lots of other words in that letter, but it should cue the director that a tight scene is needed. But outside of the prologue and the focusing in, I can't think of a situation where you want the viewer to sift through large paragraphs on the screen.

serioushat · Apr 22, 2011

Thank you, Fantasy.

I learned that their are two ways to superimpose setting text. Choose one to be consistent.

Code:

SUPER:

[CENTER]"DALLAS - MAY 5"[/CENTER]

or

Code:

SUPER: "Dallas - May 5"

An example for a sign is the following:

Code:

The sign reads, "CONSTRUCTION ZONE."

Superimposing Multiple Paragraphs

serioushat

FantasySciFi

serioushat