Script layout question.

[bleupencil]

I'm not sure how to do this, so if you could help out, that would be appreciated.

When a character runs through a series of rooms in quick succession, how do you write it? In a single descriptive paragraph? Or like this:INT. KITCHEN PANTRY

Possum is trying to hide among the bowls and pots on the pantry shelf. The girl attempts to grab it with the towel, and again it takes a flying leap for the pantry door, then hurtles out of the kitchen.

INT. BREAKFAST ROOM

She runs through to her studio and turns on the light. The possum dives into the lounge room.

INT. STUDIO

The girl runs parallel on the other side of the wall...

INT. VERANDAH

And turns on the verandah light.
Possum does an about face and heads back to the breakfast room.The only reason I thought it would be the latter is because it's a rather long series of quick scenes. I thought because the backgrounds changed so quickly, they should be established as such. But I wonder if it breaks up the flow of the story.

BTW, this is a true story and happened just this evening. It was so comically hillarious (afterwards) that I decided I had to write a script about it for either a comic or animation.

[ElusiveMoose]

That's hilarious! :rotfl

Back to your post...

DISCLAIMER: This is based on knowledge I gained from reading many books on screenwriting. I could be full of :Xead:, but this is how I understand the subject. :D For some reason I have a tendency to talk with a tone that makes it sound like I know everything. :o I know, that I do not... :p

OK, scripting. There are differences when writing a screenplay as opposed to a shooting script. I'm assuming this should be the former, as it's just the idea now and for yourself.

At this level, the difference between the two ways of doing it that you're describing are more a matter of personal style. However, I lean towards the way that you show it here. The main reason is that there is a little bit of action in each room, and if you make it all one paragraph the locations and actions run together.

One of the big goals in writing a script is so you can move through it quickly and see what's going on. As one long paragraph, there'd be too much information to parse. Here, it reads perfectly.

The only part that is ambiguous is in the Studio. At first I read this as the Lounge Room is the same as the Studio and you're on one side of the room and the possum is on the other side. But after reading it again, I think the Lounge Room and the Studio are two separate rooms with a wall separating them. So while the Possum runs through the Lounge Room, you run through the Studio in an attempt to cut it off on the Verandah.

Besides that, I love it. Hope I helped a little.

[Moai]

Hi. I'm a total newcomer to all things animated. Is a script for animation the same as a film script?

[bleupencil]

The only part that is ambiguous is in the Studio. At first I read this as the Lounge Room is the same as the Studio and you're on one side of the room and the possum is on the other side. But after reading it again, I think the Lounge Room and the Studio are two separate rooms with a wall separating them. So while the Possum runs through the Lounge Room, you run through the Studio in an attempt to cut it off on the Verandah.

Besides that, I love it. Hope I helped a little.It did help, thanks Kris :3
This all happened about 12:30 am, I'd been woken up and was quite sleepy, and started putting things down after the escapade. I'll try and rewrite it with more clarity at some point.

Hi. I'm a total newcomer to all things animated. Is a script for animation the same as a film script? Hi Moai, from what I know and the way I was taught in laying out a script, they're mostly the same yes. Some things, such as how you describe things might be a little different though.

Check out some books on scriptwriting for animation such as "How To Write for Animation" by Jeffrey Scott, if you want to learn more :3

[Moai]

Nice one bleupencil i'll check that out. I've seen it advertised but there's a variety so wasn't sure which one to buy for starters.

[jackhalfaprayer]

The only difference as I see it is that animation really gets fleshed out in storyboarding- scenes, designs, characters, dialogue- all subject to change. this is almost always the case, but even moreso in animation.

The Disney film Tarzan had a few drafts of the script that were awful, and they literally just tossed it into the garbage, took the story and ran.

As far as formatting goes, I would think screenplay standards remain the way to go.

[SAB0TAGE]

I'm sure you've moved on, but I would make it flow. Like:

POSSUM RUNS THROUGH THE HOME
--Possum is trying to hide behind a bowl on the PANTRY SHELF. The girl grabs at it with the towel, it leaps...
--She runs through to HER STUDIO and turns on the light.
--The possum dives into the lounge room.
--The girl runs parallel on the other side of the wall...

I think it should flow and be EZ to read. If it is a bunch of fast cuts, it should read fast. If you want it to be a little more formal:

INT. GIRL'S HOME - KITCHEN - DAY

The possum runs into...

THE STUDIO

and dives under a table.

[vicjperry]

Excellent example Sabatage. That's exactly how I was thinking the answer out. 100 good sumaritan points to you for that tip.:D:D:D