Names/Nicknames

Use the name they are most often called for the cast list. So let's say someone is called Shaz by her mates but occasionally she is told off by her mum, who calls her Sharon. As she is generally known as Shaz, call her Shaz on the script.

I agree with Lady Ice. I would also add that when you first introduce the character. You can describe Shaz, and briefly mention that her real name is Sharon.

But I would only do this if the real name is used at some point, by a parent or teacher for example. If it's never used, I don't think it would be necessary.

I generally do SHARON "SHAZ" OLSEN as the character introduction. On the dialog tags I use whatever is most often used, but I'm upfront with the full name if I would ever refer to her as Sharon Olsen.

What's ALSO tricky is: How do you refer to a character while they're

1) using an alias or disguise (George, but everyone thinks he's Samantha for 30 pages) or
2) your character George, who is regularly possessed by and is controlled by ... the spirit of the dead Samantha

How would you do those, do you think?

GEORGE (as Samantha)

... or something like that?

small axe said:

What's ALSO tricky is: How do you refer to a character while they're

1) using an alias or disguise (George, but everyone thinks he's Samantha for 30 pages) or
2) your character George, who is regularly possessed by and is controlled by ... the spirit of the dead Samantha

How would you do those, do you think?

GEORGE (as Samantha)

... or something like that?

Click to expand...

What you generally need to be guided by in that situation is -- what does the audience know/believe?

If the audience believes that a character is Samantha, then you should introduce the character as SAMANTHA and whoever it is should just be Samantha.

If there's another character - George, who everybody thinks is a different character, then introduce him as a separate character GEORGE, and give him his own name, his own identity, etc.

Now, if at some point, Samantha pulls off her wig and - surprise, it's George.

Well, then, it's going to be a surprise for the people reading the script the same way it's a surprise for people watching the movie.

From the moment of the reveal, if we now know that it's George, then Samantha disappears, and it's just George.

Now, if we're supposed to know -- you've got some choices. You could simply say, George puts on his Samantha disguise -- and then simply use "Samantha" in quotes when he's being Samantha. I think that's a lot easier than doing SAMANTHA (GEORGE) every time you reference the character, although that definitely makes it clear, and there's something to be said for always making it clear who's who.

NMS

I guess that's my dilemma, balancing giving the reader a good read (including a surprise "reveal") ... versus being totally clear from a production standpoint (to the point of reducing reader's surprise etc)

A balancing act, I suppose. Thanks for the thoughts!

small axe said:

I guess that's my dilemma, balancing giving the reader a good read (including a surprise "reveal") ... versus being totally clear from a production standpoint (to the point of reducing reader's surprise etc)

A balancing act, I suppose. Thanks for the thoughts!

Click to expand...

Here's my advice on that -- a script is never going to get to production unless it sells first - so always think of a spec script, first and foremost as a selling document.

Always aim to shape it for the reader, to make the reading it feel like the experience of someone in the theatre watching the movie (only without saying "Cut to" and listing shots).

NMS