Sunday Picture Post 2 / Tip: Vision
For The Sunday Picture Post, we are going to flip upside-down the saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Thousands of words are great if you are writing a novel, but if you are writing a screenplay, you need to do the opposite and be as concise as possible.
Each Sunday I will post a picture. For your screenwriting practice in brevity, in the comments section, please post one or all of the following:
- 1 word describing the theme, mood, or scene
- 1 sentence to describe the scene
- A pitch to sell the entire movie
The more colorful and creative you are, the better! Use any genre.
A good screenwriter is laconic, using a few words to say a lot.
SCREENWRITING TIP OF THE DAY: VISION
To be a great filmmaker, director, cinematographer, or screenwriter, you have to be a visionary with powerful images in mind. Before you can film or write, you need to imagine the scene vividly.
As a writer, you must consider: Is it day or night? Lots of people around or no one? Warm and friendly or scary and lonely? Is it 1833 or 2033? Are there important atmospheric sounds? Vintage costumes? Spaceships or horses? Farm or city? Inside or outside?
As the filmmaker, you must think about: What angle catches the mood best? What lighting will make my actors look glamorous or scary? How can I frame this scene for the most emotional impact? Close up? Far away? One character blurry, with one in focus? Who is the most important character in this scene? How does she feel? What colors will capture the mood?
NOTE TO SCREENWRITERS: You do NOT put camera directions in your screenplay. (Exception: You are the director too.)
Lots of movies have clever script ideas, but terrible cinematography and direction. While other scripts come across simple and boring to read, they can make beautiful films. This is why it is sometimes best for an exceptionally talented visionary to write and film his/her own work, to make sure the vision is properly fulfilled.
Seeing is believing.
Have a great Saint Patrick’s Day Monday!
Go pinch some non-green-wearing booty.
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12 Responses to “Sunday Picture Post 2 / Tip: Vision”
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Sombre
It can be taken the day after a brutal killing on the beach because the beach is deserted, the umbrellas are closed, and there’s not too much lighting.
Thanks Jean. That was deep and dark. I would have never thought of that, but I love it! Good one.
A quiet morning at the resort is the last thing the vacationers remember before… THEY arrived.
to Joyful Digesting — Laughing here. Definitely intrigued about who “they” are! Thanks for playing with us.
Anticipation
The morning of the competition, sunbathers are waiting to gain entry to the first ever suntanning course.
The First Annual Hollywood Sunbathers’ Competition is about to begin. With nerves on edge and Hawaiian Coconut Oil dripping, the contestants survey the playing field. Who will get the best chair with the least amount of shade? Whose most perfect tan will win the coveted, bronze “Apollo” statue? Stay tuned for a most exciting body-flipping, strap-moving extravaganza. George Hamilton to judge.
Hi Helyn. Cute one. Laughing here. Sounds like a painful competition. They might have to have shade/tone categories, like weight categories in boxing, to make it fair.
Remembrance.
I dunno. I sounded a bit sentimental and quite out of myself. LOL
I just watched Death in Venice and there were a lot of scenes there located in the beach. While the picture posted above is quite modern, still a beach has universal appeal and appearance. It’s the people that stays near the beach that comprise its personality.
I keep on remembering Dirk Bogarde and the young Bjorn Andresen. There were numerous scenes on the beach that somehow explore their relationship. Someone completely clueless about pure love wanted to ask, how come nothing happened between the two? I think the absence of a physical connection is what makes Death in Venice a masterpiece.
I think the beauty of Luchino Visconti’s film is the seemingly invisible gap between the old man recuperating from exhaustion and the young boy full of promise and life. Bogarde’s detah scene at the end of the film is one of the most powerful and poignant scene I have ever watched.
Jed - You’re going deep man! Good call. The photo IS actually in Italy, well it was Italy hundreds of years ago when that old city was started, but now it is France thanks to Napoleon. Thanks for sharing about Death in Venice. I think I saw that so long ago that I don’t remember and will have to watch it again.
Tranquility
European beaches become deserted, after swimmers experience the sudden phenomenon, where turtles inexplicably try to mate with humans!
….Nothing tranquil about that, LOL
JAN - You are warped! Love it.
Alot of great and creative movie pitches from this Sunday pic from everyone! Jaden, you’ve really gotten all of our creative juices flowing sort of speak. It’s alot of fun to read everyone’s pitches.
Jaden, I think perhaps maybe your site brings out a bit of the naughtiness in me, LOL.
*BLUSH*
- Insight
- When your eyes are closed there’s a whole different world to see
- Most people close their eyes only to sleep. But teenagers are not most people. This physical life, that is the only thing most people know, is surpassed and dreams are felt right under one’s skin. It’s a walk on the dreamy mind of the teenage stage of life. A time when we know nothing and we know everything