okay, *very* dumb question....

[preyer]

**section deleted due to off topic.**

another concept i have problems wrapping my mind around for some reason is why in scripts certain things are in all caps (exluding the first time a character is mentioned, sluglines and dialogue taglines). it honestly seems random to me. maybe i just haven't had it explained in terms that sinks in. can someone help me out on this? i know, it's pretty basic stuff, i'm just not getting it for some reason. :)

[cekoya]

And you can find CAPS in scripts because you need to put some intensity in important words that express a major action. You will pay more attention to the word a killer's knife if it's written A KILLER'S KNIFE. It's just more obvious. You need to help the reader to get hooked to your script and using CAPS is a mean to it as well as some other elements such as using space between your actions. ALso, using space between your description not only helps the reader to read your script but also suggests camera shots.

[dpaterso]

Sluglines, that's self-explanatory, you want to draw the director's attention to the fact a whole bunch of people have to move a ton of lighting and camera equipment to a new location and set everything up again before he can continue shooting his cinematic masterpiece. Go on, include more scenes, he'll love you for it.

Character names, the big shot producer reading your script keeps a running cost total in his calculating machine head, so capping a new name whenever a new character appears lets him know this is another damn actor he'll have to pay for. Go on, include more characters, he'll love you for it.

I've often seen capped words appear almost randomly in scripts and have yet to figure the logic. Me, I cap words when I want to draw attention to exciting actions (e.g. "A HUGE EXPLOSION blows the warehouse apart") or to people or objects, implying this is a SHOT or ANGLE (e.g. "George opens the desk drawer. Inside, a BLOODY KNIFE." -- suggesting that maybe a CLOSE UP of the knife in the drawer wouldn't go amiss rather than using forbidden camera directions).

And then there's minislugs which are also capped, or capped character names that imply SHOT or CLOSE UP, e.g.

LIBRARY

Dorothy looks around, confused. Where'd George go?

GEORGE

watches her from behind the rubber plant, his eyes as big as saucers.

Shrug, each to their own, whatever works for you.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57/scripts.htm)

[NikeeGoddess]

yes, random and inconsistent from one script to the next is common.
years ago the practice of CAPS was accent words that the propman and soundman needed to find quickly: like a weapon sticking out under the pillow or the squeak of a tiptoe. because screenwriters are not prop or sound then it's not a rule that you do this. and b/c directors have the ultimate decision as to what is some important and needs to be focused on then what the writer chooses may not be what is expressed on the scene. so it's not a rule. just a practice or suggestion.

[scripter1]

Caps are used to show or reveal importance.

They catch your attention and highlight vital info.

Sound effects are all capped.
Do this sparingly or your script will read like an old Batman show.
POW! BLAM! SPLAT! OUCH!

not good.

As D said, draw attention to strong elements in the script. A reveal of a weapon or an action.

Subtly direct the film through judicious use of caps and line spacing.


As for the rest of it, uh, lets just stick to screenwriting.

[preyer]

thanks for the help. it seemed there was some method, but i couldn't be sure and didn't want to just go all nuts on caps and it just be this random capital fest for the helluvit. what i didn't see was much consistency. one guy would cap an item or action and someone else doesn't.

thanks again for the help. i think i got it now. :) i just wish i could have read those 'off topic' deleted posts. makes me paranoid someone could have been bashing me for being stupid and i'll never know, lol.

[scripter1]

Just random Justino thoughts.

I read it but promplty forgot what was said.

Preyer, some elments of screenwriting ARE left up to the writer.
Some will cap more then others. It may seem random but each writer has a reason for doing it.
The main point with any tool is to not over do it.

When in doubt either keep it simple or go for clarity.

[StephieM]

I use CAPS on sounds like THUNK! And things I want the camera to notice., like THE DIAMOND.

Steph

[Boo_Radley]

Ah, Stephanie hit on what I was going to say. Yes, caps are mostly used for sound fx, character introductions, slug lines and character names which appear above dialogue.

But they're also effective for "directing the camera" without coming right now and saying something like "CLOSE UP: BOB" or "PAN TO THE LEFT TO REVEAL..."

A quick (and likely silly) example:

INT. BAR - NIGHT

BOB, tough as nails and personality like one-hundred-sixty grit sandpaper, saunters through the door. The doors slam shut behind him with a BANG. Bob glances aside to see

A BOTTLE OF ZIMA

on the bar top. A STICK OF DYNAMITE protrudes from its top.

In this instance, by having the "bottle of zima" in caps, you've cued the reader to envision a close-up of the bottle without actually breaking the "no camera directions" rule. And the "stick of dynamite" in caps denotes it's a major thing in the scene.

See? I told you it would probably be silly.

My personal opinion, though, is that this type of thing should be used sparringly, so as not to clutter the page or make it harder on the eye. But, that's just me.