Monday, October 13, 2014

TODAY'S NUGGET: Heat (1995) - Intent of a Scene

[Quick Summary: A bank robber squares off with a cop over one last high stakes heist.]

On the page, this isn't the prettiest script.

But it gets the point across, without talking down to the reader.

ex. "INT. JUSTINE'S BATHROOM - JUSTINE

Putting on makeup. She's dressed up: short black dress, fish net stockings.

HANNA: Where we going?

No answer. Hanna gets it.

HANNA (continuing; acid): Where are you going?

JUSTINE: Out.

Hanna leaves. Then Justine looks at where he stood. Her cold demeanor cracks, then reassembles and she lights a roach, takes a hit, dumps it in the toilet and finishes her makeup."

The script doesn't try to micro-manage the mood, i.e., "He's kidding here", "Now he's sarcastic."

Instead, it trusts the reader to make the leap.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Your job is to keep the intent of the scene clear.  The reader will do the rest.

Heat (1995)
by Michael Mann

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