Cap it? Huh? Huh?

3o0giyy4fvoiu[roiucv · Nov 4, 2007

Hi,

Just wondering if you have to CAP the first entrance of every freaking character, bystander, dude walking across the street in your screenplay.

This would include, children on swings, people dancing, a well dressed crowd, etc.

If they only show up once, for one brief blip and have NO dialogue and play NO real importance in the script......do you still HAVE to cap them the first time you mention them?

dpaterso · Nov 5, 2007

I do. Some writers don't. My logic is that day players/extras have to be cast, capping their appearance brings them to the attention of the casting director who does some casting budget arithmetic.

...Just asking, what's with the gibberish username and sigline? At first glance I thought you were a spammer, I expected to find a penis enlargement ad. Er, not that I need... <cough>

-Derek

3o0giyy4fvoiu[roiucv · Nov 5, 2007

Ha ha ha ha ha! That was a good one.

Well, I guess my caffeine kicked in mixed with the elation of finishing a script I worked a year on. I decided to be different. Plus I have a lot of questions I will be asking and it might annoy people so I figured it would be best not to get too attached to a name.

Thanks for the info about the caps. I find it distracting sometimes for people with no dialogue but I know that for others that it is necessary.

dpaterso · Nov 5, 2007

Well, OK, in that case, welcome to the board.

If you haven't already seen this, here's director/screenwriter John August on How to introduce a character, his minor character examples are CAPPED:

http://johnaugust.com/archives/2007/how-to-introduce-character

-Derek

NikeeGoddess · Nov 5, 2007

imo - background people/bystanders do not need to be capped but they should be described as how they look as a group. if any of them are significant to the moment then cap. btw, significant does not only mean "speaking".

3o0giyy4fvoiu[roiucv · Nov 5, 2007

Thanks!

Opty · Nov 6, 2007

I cap whatever characters my mind's eye tells me are visually significant. If the "camera in my head" (thus, the "movie" I'm trying to create in the reader's head) zooms in on a character for whatever reason (even minor characters), then I cap them.

If it's just some random person who will not speak or are only in the scene for a flash, never to return, I usually don't cap.

Then again, I'm no pro...yet...so what do I know?

John Paton · Nov 6, 2007

I'm not sure what to call you - thirty I guess.

Yes Mr dpaterso is just terrific imo - he has helped me enormously with various things. We are indeed lucky to have him. Capitals in my experience is helpful for the various departments.

Derek - I just love that dress!! I think I am still stuck in the 50s as well

Regards
John

Cap it? Huh? Huh?

3o0giyy4fvoiu[roiucv

dpaterso

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3o0giyy4fvoiu[roiucv

dpaterso

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NikeeGoddess

3o0giyy4fvoiu[roiucv

Opty

John Paton

carn the mighty hawks !!