In the new feature im writing...the two love interests, I want to show in split screen, both of them getting ready in the morning (alarm waking them up, cleaning teeth)....how would I write this in a screenplay?
-
Wondering which camera, gear, computer, or software to buy? Ask in our Gear Guide.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
character Writing Split Screen for 2 characters
- Thread starter derek smith
- Start date
Typically displaying a scene is the director's decision, not the writer's. I'm not really aware of any formal ways of doing this. Below is what I might suggest THOUGH it may not be approved by most readers.In the new feature im writing...the two love interests, I want to show in split screen, both of them getting ready in the morning (alarm waking them up, cleaning teeth)....how would I write this in a screenplay?
Code:
INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A jumbled mess. Clothes in various states of ripeness drape
about the furniture and floor.
Joe stumbles in drunk, strips to his boxers and falls face first
into his bed.
INT. JANE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Neat and tidy.
Jane staggers in, a warm glow and intoxicated smile on her
lips. She flops onto the bed, roughly pulling off the black
high heels and watching them fall to floor.
As the second shoe falls, a perplexed look crosses her face
and she falls back on the bed into a blissful stupor.
SERIES OF SHOTS - SPLIT SCREEN OF RESPECTIVE HOMES
A. The alarms go off and their hands paw to silence the
screaming banshees. Anguish evident on their faces.
B. Both rise from their beds, staggering like the undead
towards the bathrooms.
etc.
END SERIES OF SHOTS
Code:
INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A jumbled mess. Clothes in various states of decay drape
about the furniture and floor.
Joe stumbles in drunk, strips to his boxers and falls face first
into his bed.
INT. JANE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Neat and tidy.
Jane staggers in, a warm glow and intoxicated smile on her
lips. She flops onto the bed, roughly pulling off the black
high heels and watching them fall to floor.
As the second shoe falls, a perplexed look crosses her face
and she falls back on the bed into a blissful stupor.
SPLIT SCREEN:
Their alarms go off and their hands paw to silence the
screaming banshees. Anguish evident on their faces.
Both rise from their beds, staggering like the undead
towards the bathrooms.
etc.
END SPLIT SCREENThe other issue is that the assumption above is that their actions are being mirrored. Since many of us are also writer/directors of our own films, the approach of using SPLIT SCREEN automatically adapts since we establish Jane's and Joe's environments uniquely.
Code:
INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A jumbled mess. Clothes in various states of decay drape
about the furniture and floor.
Joe stumbles in drunk, strips to his boxers and falls face first
into his bed.
INT. JANE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Neat and tidy.
Jane staggers in, a warm glow and intoxicated smile on her
lips. She flops onto the bed, roughly pulling off the black
high heels and watching them fall to floor.
As the second shoe falls, a perplexed look crosses her face
and she falls back on the bed into a blissful stupor.
SPLIT SCREEN:
Joe bats at his alarm with the pillow over his head.
Jane rolls over and tumbles from the bed.
Joe rises, bloodshot and unsteady, inching towards the
bathroom.
Jane rises, adjusts herself, smiles. Her eyes cross and
she collapses back onto the bed.
etc.
Joe parks his car in the corporate garage.
He enters the elevator and adjusts his tie. The door closes.
Jane exits the taxi, pays the fare and enters the doors of
Schwanneman and Sons.
END SPLIT SCREENTypically displaying a scene is the director's decision, not the writer's. I'm not really aware of any formal ways of doing this. Below is what I might suggest THOUGH it may not be approved by most readers.
Another non-standard way would be to use something similar to the Intercut.Code:INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT A jumbled mess. Clothes in various states of ripeness drape about the furniture and floor. Joe stumbles in drunk, strips to his boxers and falls face first into his bed. INT. JANE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Neat and tidy. Jane staggers in, a warm glow and intoxicated smile on her lips. She flops onto the bed, roughly pulling off the black high heels and watching them fall to floor. As the second shoe falls, a perplexed look crosses her face and she falls back on the bed into a blissful stupor. SERIES OF SHOTS - SPLIT SCREEN OF RESPECTIVE HOMES A. The alarms go off and their hands paw to silence the screaming banshees. Anguish evident on their faces. B. Both rise from their beds, staggering like the undead towards the bathrooms. etc. END SERIES OF SHOTS
The first is more conservative and likely to be acceptable to readers. The second is a bolder approach though patterned after the INTERCUT. However, it does suggest directing from within the script. A writer/director could pull it off, probably not most of new spec script writers. Readers, on a whole, tend to be conservative.Code:INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT A jumbled mess. Clothes in various states of decay drape about the furniture and floor. Joe stumbles in drunk, strips to his boxers and falls face first into his bed. INT. JANE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Neat and tidy. Jane staggers in, a warm glow and intoxicated smile on her lips. She flops onto the bed, roughly pulling off the black high heels and watching them fall to floor. As the second shoe falls, a perplexed look crosses her face and she falls back on the bed into a blissful stupor. SPLIT SCREEN: Their alarms go off and their hands paw to silence the screaming banshees. Anguish evident on their faces. Both rise from their beds, staggering like the undead towards the bathrooms. etc. END SPLIT SCREEN
The other issue is that the assumption above is that their actions are being mirrored. Since many of us are also writer/directors of our own films, the approach of using SPLIT SCREEN automatically adapts since we establish Jane's and Joe's environments uniquely.
The series of shots could probably be modified to say SERIES OF SHOTS - SPLIT SCREEN OF JOE AND JANE. Hope that helps.Code:INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT A jumbled mess. Clothes in various states of decay drape about the furniture and floor. Joe stumbles in drunk, strips to his boxers and falls face first into his bed. INT. JANE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Neat and tidy. Jane staggers in, a warm glow and intoxicated smile on her lips. She flops onto the bed, roughly pulling off the black high heels and watching them fall to floor. As the second shoe falls, a perplexed look crosses her face and she falls back on the bed into a blissful stupor. SPLIT SCREEN: Joe bats at his alarm with the pillow over his head. Jane rolls over and tumbles from the bed. Joe rises, bloodshot and unsteady, inching towards the bathroom. Jane rises, adjusts herself, smiles. Her eyes cross and she collapses back onto the bed. etc. Joe parks his car in the corporate garage. He enters the elevator and adjusts his tie. The door closes. Jane exits the taxi, pays the fare and enters the doors of Schwanneman and Sons. END SPLIT SCREEN
thanks for the information, think I prefer the first option.....I'll be directing the Screenplay, using Final Draft, so say I can manage it...thanks