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How detailed should they be? I've read screenplays of movies that have been made and found some to have tons of stage directions, i.e., Entrapment by Ron Bass. Lots and lots. I've read others, like Scream, that for the most part, are lean and mean.
But the biggest question I get from students and readers of my book and this column concern the amount of detail a screenwriter should use. Should you describe the color and texture and expense of the carpeting in the office of some hot shot corporate type? Probably not. Unless it's so bizarre that it will say something about the character. Or unless there's going to be some payoff later on. Or unless you're going to finance and direct your script yourself. You can do anything you want.
But most screenwriters aren't writing their scripts with the idea of directing them. So for my money, at least early on in your career, I say that less is more is the road to go.
But if it's crucial to the character or the plot or both, don't hesitate to use more words and be as descriptive as you need to be.
Remember, it's all about writing a script that someone important will read through to the end. If you overwhelm them with endless pages of description mixed in with a few lines of dialogue, you're asking for trouble. |
