oh, aw, arrrgh - What are the terms/nosies?

Hmm,

I'll give it a shot.
First things first, read scripts.

1) From Hercules " Aww, how cute. A couple of rodents looking for a theme park."
Be clear, add in the how cute to put the sound in context.

2)This one doesn't need to be in dialog. Dialog are things that are actually said. Screaming and stuff like that is actually an ACTION.
So, what ever verb best suits the scene would be placed on an action line.
The lion pounces.
Jane shrieks, screams, hollers, yelps, etc.

3)Same thing. Unless they actually speak something we need to understand it isn't dialog.

Jane falls, shrieking, all .. the .. way...... down.

4)Yeah, I'd say that one is correct and the paren makes it real clear.

5)Depends on the context of the scene and the character saying the line.
If something has just become obvious to a previously clueless character and you've set the scene up then the character would simply go
JANE
Oh.
and the audience would get it.
Oh and Oh no are too different exclamations. And you change the meaning when you change the punctuation. Oh? OH! Oh. Oh no. Oh no!
It is okay to use parens in these cases but don't over do it.
The scene set up should carry it and imply the tone.

cont'd

6)Again, think actions first. It is much better to ACT angry and frustrated then to say "I'm angry." Or imply that by some kind of sound.
That said, you can do action lines,
Tom growls in anger, or grunts in frustration.

7)...., known as elipses, are used to indicate hesitation or thinking during dialog. A dash -
is used to indicate a complete interruption.

8) Huh? is a question. Huh. is a contraction of "Well, what do you know", "hadn't thought of that", "that is mildly surprising", and "I don't believe it."
Context of the scene gives it the proper meaning.

9)ALWAYS think ACTION first, first person dialog next, and second person dialog third. It is more powerful to SEE someone get shot then to hear them exclaim "OH, I've been shot" or have someone else say "Look, Tom's been shot!"

I agree with scripter for the most part. Usually there is no verbalization of frustration (or most of these things). You just write 'Anne is extremely frustrated'. The actor will make some kind of noise as they see fit.

I wouldn't even write 'um' or 'er'. I think this makes actors pretty angry. Just be descriptive. "John is unsure when he speaks".

I didn't realize this was a serious question thread, I thought some kind of theraputic venting was going on.

You just write 'Anne is extremely frustrated'. The actor will make some kind of noise as they see fit.

Click to expand...

Not quite as visual as "Anne snarls/slams her fist down/growls with frustration" - but OK, if you say so.

-Derek

zeprosnepsid said:

I agree with scripter for the most part. Usually there is no verbalization of frustration (or most of these things). You just write 'Anne is extremely frustrated'. The actor will make some kind of noise as they see fit.

I wouldn't even write 'um' or 'er'. I think this makes actors pretty angry. Just be descriptive. "John is unsure when he speaks".

Click to expand...

I wouldn't write 'Anna is extremely frustrated' simply because it's open to misinterpretation: ie is it a character trait? Has she been waiting for a good roll in the hay for years?

Ditto: 'John is unsure'. Use the dialogue to make him appear unsure, but without the 'errs and umms'.

You people are seriously nitpicking the examples I wrote at like 8am this morning? =) They're just vague examples.... My point was, I don't read a lot of scripts with 'Er...um...eek!' in them. They are usually represented in other ways... that is all!


Derek's examples are clearly more visual though =)

Hillgate said:

I wouldn't write 'Anna is extremely frustrated' simply because it's open to misinterpretation: ie is it a character trait? Has she been waiting for a good roll in the hay for years?

Click to expand...

It would probably make more sense in context. Either...

ANNE
Will you come with me?

JOHN
Will you come with me?

ANNE
Stop it!

JOHN
Stop it!

Anne is extremely frustrated.

ANNE
I mean it!

JOHN
I mean it!

...or....

ANNE (frustrated)
I mean it!


I think in that situation it's not open to misinterpretation.


The point is though that the actor can add a 'Eeeergh!!!' if they want to in their interpretation of frustration.

Now see,

JUST to be nitpicky,

I would write.

Frustrated, Ann smacks him.

I don't mind the paren at all, so still works for me.
I always like to amp up the scenes, take them to the extreme a bit.
Hey, it's film.

zeprosnepsid said:

It would probably make more sense in context. Either...

ANNE
Will you come with me?

JOHN
Will you come with me?

ANNE
Stop it!

JOHN
Stop it!

Anne is extremely frustrated.

ANNE
I mean it!

JOHN
I mean it!

...or....

ANNE (frustrated)
I mean it!


I think in that situation it's not open to misinterpretation.


The point is though that the actor can add a 'Eeeergh!!!' if they want to in their interpretation of frustration.

Click to expand...

Is the description even necessary? the dialogue seems to indicate she'd be frustrated already. why tell us what you've already shown?