What the heck is this called?

hubbabubbs · Mar 31, 2006

You know what I'm talking about.

When a guy says something undeniably cheesy and possibly romantic, and the girl gives him the "awww, you're so cute and cuddly" look and wants to bring him home to meet her cat until she remembers her ex force-fed it to the garbage disposal and then took her out for chinese.

What the heck is that "look" called?

alleycat · Mar 31, 2006

The look of incredulity

The second glance

On second thought

Skeptical (or: with marked skepticism)

a knowing look

the "ah-ha" look

the look that said "whatever"

the "oh, sure" look

the look that said, "I don't believe a word of this."

with arched brow

. . . she smiled, then reconsidered (or remembered). . . .

the look that said she'd been around the block a time or two

hubbabubbs · Mar 31, 2006

kewl so quotes are okay when describing a look?

TONI
Mom, it’s easy. Just relax and breathe a second.

Judy gives Toni a “like that will help” look

icerose · Mar 31, 2006

I've seen it used in professional scripts, I have also seen it over used.

scripter1 · Mar 31, 2006

Yes

quotes to identify a "look" are just fine.

I am not aware of a name for just such a look, for this EXACT situation.

What I would suggest needs to happen is that the female character be fully developed enough and we have enough information about her and what has happened that the audience knows what that look means.

Everything leading up to this moment and setting up this moment has to lay the groundwork of the audience's understanding.

Right now, really, if this scene just popped up we would have no idea what the "look" fully means UNLESS we've seen the boyfriend kill the cat.
Or unless you do a flashback to the demise of the cat.
[note, flashbacks are usually discouraged because most writers use them improperly BUT they are a tool and do have a place in screenwriting.]

Maybe you just came up with this example off the top of your head but you are asking a "look" to do a whole lot.

That can work but it takes us right back to setting it up.

hubbabubbs · Mar 31, 2006

got that right

Maybe you just came up with this example off the top of your head but you are asking a "look" to do a whole lot.

tely top

got that right. The look in question actually only describes the "aww I'm touched" part. Maybe "Rachel McAdams does wide and googly look?" desribes it?

The best way I have come up with so far is

Girl XX looks at Guy XY, touched.

Chesher Cat · Apr 3, 2006

These days the "rules" say show, don't tell, making the screenwriting much harder than it used to be. Unfortunately, "touched" is telling, not showing. I'd try to dig a little deeper for an action that conveys "touched." If you can't come up with anything better, go ahead and used "touched." We all break the "rules" but be careful not to get lazy and over-use non-active description.

hubbabubbs · Apr 6, 2006

tely top

what the fvck is "tely top"?!

/me thinks someone is messing with my "mind"

hubbabubbs · Apr 6, 2006

These days the "rules" say show, don't tell, making the screenwriting much harder than it used to be. Unfortunately, "touched" is telling, not showing. I'd try to dig a little deeper for an action that conveys "touched." If you can't come up with anything better, go ahead and used "touched." We all break the "rules" but be careful not to get lazy and over-use non-active description.

okay, which brings up something else (I hate hairballs).

Different actors will use different actions to characterize an emotion. Rachel McAdams might do it with eye movement/expression; Paz Vega, body language; or with Paris Hilton, the studio may just have her sample various types of icecream and then overlay the reaction to try to stitch together some semblance of acting.

So how do you write how they react? Ultimately they are going use what works best for them. So do we bother with an reaction description which they will can use or ignore or ...

dpaterso · Apr 6, 2006

Yaaaah, too much angst over nothing. I'd supply whatever emotion she's feeling and move on, e.g.

Jenny gives Gary an admiring look. Wow, he's cool.
Jenny gives Gary an adoring look. She's falling for him.
Jenny gives Gary an awed look. What a guy!

GARY
What?

JENNY
Nothing.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies.
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

What the heck is this called?

hubbabubbs

alleycat

Still around

hubbabubbs

icerose

Lost in School Work

scripter1

Article Queen

hubbabubbs

Chesher Cat

hubbabubbs

hubbabubbs

dpaterso

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