Quick cuts - how much to specify...?

danshaw · Nov 18, 2009

Hi
I am brand new to writing and brand new here. I'm sure I'll be posting loads of newbie questions, so be patient

My first question is about quick cuts. For example, in my script there is a guy upstairs brushing his teeth, and slowly there is another guy creeping up the stairs with a knife.

The movie would cut between these two, probably getting faster and faster cuts. How much do you specify in the writing, and how much is left to the director and editing room to create the tesion?

What would actually be written in the script, a simple line saying "cut back and forth to create tension", or do you need to elaborate more?

Thanks alot

icerose · Nov 18, 2009

You can do three things. You can do an INTERCUT which will switch between the two scenes or you can simply do the two scenes yourself.

(Intercut example)
INT. BATHROOM

John grabs his tooth brush.

INT. STAIRS

Mike pulls out a knife and steps on the first stair. Light is filtering from upstairs.

INTERCUT SCENE

Blah blah blah

Just showing the scenes:

INT. BATHROOM

John grabs his tooth brush.

INT. STAIRS

Mike pulls out a knife and steps on the first stair. Light is filtering from upstairs.

INT. BATHROOM

John runs his toothbrush under the water and squeezes on some toothpaste.

etc

OR There is the quick scene heads which would probably be the simplest especially if they're in the same home.

Stairs and bathroom switches would then become:

STAIRS

BATHROOM

And you would switch using the sub tags.

Quick cuts - how much to specify...?

danshaw

icerose

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