WritingFool said:
wondering if anyone knows if there is any unwritten or even written rules of scene montages. Can you have more than one in a movie?
Usually you only see a few montages in a script that warrants such action that takes place over time (romantic dates, fixing a problem, getting to a location, building something, etc). I also, wouldn't have a montage more than 1/2 page long with a 1/4 to a 1/3 a page better.
MONTAGE and SERIES OF SHOTS
These are also often thought to be the same thing, which is not the case. The difference being that MONTAGE incorporates much more on the screen. It is used to show a series of events, such as:
MONTAGE
A) Hitler enthusiastically making a speech at a rally
B) Chamberlain arriving from Berlin - "Peace for our time"
C) German troops invading Poland
SERIES OF SHOTS are mini-scenes making up a sequence:
SERIES OF SHOTS
A) William jumps out of the car.
B) He tumbles down an embankment.
C) The car goes out of control, hits a tree and EXPLODES.
D) William leans on a rock as he slowly gets up, watching the smoke rising from the burning car.
As for lettering them, some people do and others just use an - before the event. I use the - .
The key point with a montage is to indicate location, time and action without the use of a slugline for each event.
At the end of Montage or Series of Shots, you can either put a new slugline for the next scene or add a END OF MONTAGE - , or END OF SERIES - before the next scene, but I find that it is not necessary.
