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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Screenwriting
Introducing nameless characters and then giving them a name
Hello-
This is my first time on mwsm and it looks much more promising than mws.
I am in the early stages of creating a screenplay and I have a technical question. I have a character (an animal) who does not have a given name when he is first introduced but is then given a name by a human character. When he first shows up in the screenplay what do I call him? Do I use "BROWN DOG" and then stick with that the entire screenplay? Or do I use "SPOT" even before he is given that name?
My main question is in the actual format of the screenplay itself. Here is an example:
EXT. Forest - Day
A BROWN DOG is sniffing a tree. He looks up to see a human looking at him.
BROWN DOG
What kind of creature is this two-legs?
JOHN
Hello brown dog, I will call you Spot.
SPOT
I guess I will allow this.
Sorry for the crudeness of the example but I need to head to work in a few minutes but I wanted to give a better idea of my question.
If it is of any importance, the title of my screenplay will most likely be "SPOT".
Thank you for any responses in advance.
-Garrett
This is my first time on mwsm and it looks much more promising than mws.
I am in the early stages of creating a screenplay and I have a technical question. I have a character (an animal) who does not have a given name when he is first introduced but is then given a name by a human character. When he first shows up in the screenplay what do I call him? Do I use "BROWN DOG" and then stick with that the entire screenplay? Or do I use "SPOT" even before he is given that name?
My main question is in the actual format of the screenplay itself. Here is an example:
EXT. Forest - Day
A BROWN DOG is sniffing a tree. He looks up to see a human looking at him.
BROWN DOG
What kind of creature is this two-legs?
JOHN
Hello brown dog, I will call you Spot.
SPOT
I guess I will allow this.
Sorry for the crudeness of the example but I need to head to work in a few minutes but I wanted to give a better idea of my question.
If it is of any importance, the title of my screenplay will most likely be "SPOT".
Thank you for any responses in advance.
-Garrett
Top answer
[nq:1]I am in the early stages of creating a screenplay and I have a technical question. I have a character ... and then stick with that the entire screenplay?
- [nq:1]I am in the early stages of creating a screenplay and I have a technical question.
- I have a character ...
- and then stick with that the entire screenplay?
- [/nq] Refer to him by name from the beginning, unless it's important to the plot (and to the reader) that he remain anonymous at first.
- In that case, the first time you use its real name, use it in combination with BROWN DOG to make the transition clear.
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12 Answers
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[nq:1]I am in the early stages of creating a screenplay and I have a technical question. I have a character ... and then stick with that the entire screenplay? Or do I use "SPOT" even before he is given that name?[/nq]
Refer to him by name from the beginning, unless it's important to the plot (and to the reader) that he remain anonymous at first. In that case, the first time you use its real n
Refer to him by name from the beginning, unless it's important to the plot (and to the reader) that he remain anonymous at first. In that case, the first time you use its real n
00
[nq:2]I am in the early stages of creating a screenplay ... I use "SPOT" even before he is given that name?[/nq]
[nq:1]Refer to him by name from the beginning, unless it's important to the plot (and to the reader) that he ... John's leg. RonB, if you steal this screenplay I'm all over you like fleas on... er, a brown dog. jaybee[/nq]
That's a very good example, but shame on you for depicti
[nq:1]Refer to him by name from the beginning, unless it's important to the plot (and to the reader) that he ... John's leg. RonB, if you steal this screenplay I'm all over you like fleas on... er, a brown dog. jaybee[/nq]
That's a very good example, but shame on you for depicti
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[nq:1]As always, I am completely thrilled when a big time Hollywood shaker and mover, like Skippy, takes time out of ... it be attached to someone named "Lloyd"? Paulo Joe Jingy WWW.PAULOJOEJINGYISWITHOUTADOUBTTHEONEANDONLYDIVINESCREENWRITINGGOD.COM "Nine out of ten sock puppets think I'm grand."[/nq]
C'mon, Paulo, you know very well you only go up to 14 karat rushes.
C'mon, Paulo, you know very well you only go up to 14 karat rushes.
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[nq:1]RonB, if you steal this screenplay I'm all over you like fleas on... er, a brown dog.[/nq]
I won't steal it, I'll "immovate"* it.
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
*Immovate is a registered trademark of M$. Which also has trademarked "Innovation is imitation!"
The words "is", "a" and "of" are* also registered trademarks of M$.
As is "are."
I won't steal it, I'll "immovate"* it.
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
*Immovate is a registered trademark of M$. Which also has trademarked "Innovation is imitation!"
The words "is", "a" and "of" are* also registered trademarks of M$.
As is "are."
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The first rule of screenwriting: don't be confusing.
So, if the dog's name is "Spot", introduce him as Spot... why the heck wouldn't you?
- Bill
So, if the dog's name is "Spot", introduce him as Spot... why the heck wouldn't you?
- Bill
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One writes a screenplay for the director, actors and film crew, not for readers.
You must name all characters by their proper names from page one. When filming, the director may decide to keep a character in the shadows, and thus not known to the audience.
You must name all characters by their proper names from page one. When filming, the director may decide to keep a character in the shadows, and thus not known to the audience.
00
@reader1.panix.com:
[nq:1]One writes a screenplay for the director, actors and film crew, not for readers. You must name all characters by ... When filming, the director may decide to keep a character in the shadows, and thus not known to the audience.[/nq]
Um, no.
I doubt the script for "Dressed To Kill" identified the killer as "Dr. Robert Elliott in drag" from his first appearance.
[nq:1]One writes a screenplay for the director, actors and film crew, not for readers. You must name all characters by ... When filming, the director may decide to keep a character in the shadows, and thus not known to the audience.[/nq]
Um, no.
I doubt the script for "Dressed To Kill" identified the killer as "Dr. Robert Elliott in drag" from his first appearance.
00
@reader1.panix.com:
[nq:2]One writes a screenplay for the director, actors and film crew, not for readers.[/nq]
Spec screenplays should be written for readers first and foremost.
[nq:2]One writes a screenplay for the director, actors and film crew, not for readers.[/nq]
Spec screenplays should be written for readers first and foremost.
00
[nq:1]@reader1.panix.com:[/nq]
[nq:2]One writes a screenplay for the director, actors and film ... in the shadows, and thus not known to the audience.[/nq]
[nq:1]Um, no. I doubt the script for "Dressed To Kill" identified the killer as "Dr. Robert Elliott in drag" from his first appearance.[/nq]
I was curious to see a response to this. First, why couldn't you do that? And if you couldn
[nq:2]One writes a screenplay for the director, actors and film ... in the shadows, and thus not known to the audience.[/nq]
[nq:1]Um, no. I doubt the script for "Dressed To Kill" identified the killer as "Dr. Robert Elliott in drag" from his first appearance.[/nq]
I was curious to see a response to this. First, why couldn't you do that? And if you couldn
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[nq:1]@reader1.panix.com: Spec screenplays should be written for readers first and foremost.[/nq]
Not my quote.
jaybee
Not my quote.
jaybee
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