Short Film - Rules
For Scriptwriting: Final Draft
Looked at the Breaking Bad Script
Script Abreviations
Snap cut — fast cut, action/drama
Extreme snap cut — much faster, comedy — e.g. “that’s it, im leaving him for real this time!” Extreme snap cut. “No I love you more!”
ELS extreme long shot
MLS medium long shot
LS long shot
MS medium shot
MCU medium close-up
CU close-up
ECU extreme close-up
OS over-the-shoulder shot
2-S or 3-S two-shot or three-shot
POV point of view shot
ZI or ZO zoom in or zoom out
INT interior
EXT exterior
SOT or SOF sound on tape or sound on film
BG background
SFX or F/X special effects (can be either sound or visual)
VO voice-over
OSV off-screen voice
DIS dissolve
MIC microphone
VTR videotape
Q cue (as in cue talent)
ANNCR announcer
SUPER superimposition
Remember to use only the abbreviations you see here or in your textbook. Do
not invent new ones of your own just to fit your particular script needs.
Introduce a character in BOLD but only the first time. Stage directions in CAPS.
Narrative Ideas: Last Thursdayism (Science Fiction)
Geography — Unimportant; Earth
History — Last Thursday
Society — Completely normal, except that there is no randomness
We, the Last Thursdayists, followers of Last Thursdayism, members of The Church of Last Thursday, believe:
that the universe was created on Thursday, and will expire on Thursday.
that the universe was created by You as a test for yourself.
that you will be rewarded or punished when this universe expires based on your actions here.
that left-handedness is a sinful temptation.
that everyone but you was placed here and pre-programmed to act as parts of your test environment.
that everyone but you knows this.
Writing Exercise: Writing a Drama — The Couple
Inspired by Samuel Beckett.
A couple who lived together for a long time. 76 and 82. Gender and first name, and a few specifics.
SALLY. 82. Loves cats, baking, and jigsaw puzzles. Dislikes cleaning.
DAVE. 76. Loves his wife, his old Caterham, and leather journals. Is not fond of cats.
Centre-stage-left sits an TWO-SEATER SOFA. SALLY thinks it makes them look old. DAVE thinks it makes them look sophisticated. Both are correct.
Down-stage-centre is a WICKER BASKET, closed.
SALLY: What time is it?
DAVE: I told you, I don’t know!
SALLY: Where’s that watch gone?
DAVE: Oh, somewhere, I expect.
DAVE: Oh, somewhere, I expect.
SALLY: Oh, yes, "somewhere," of course, silly me for not thinking of that sooner.
DAVE: In my desk drawer.
Beat.
Maybe.
SALLY: You’re a bloody fool you are.
DAVE: Only for you, dear.
-
Lights out.
In the darkness, the sound of wood being sawed.
Lights back up.
The WICKER BASKET is gone.
SALLY and DAVE stand downstage centre, looking out to the audience. SALLY has a tear-streaked face, and DAVE has a hand on her shoulder. SALLY sobs. DAVE hugs her, turning her towards him and taking her head on his chest. He lets out a silent tear. They sink to the floor.
SALLY: DO you remember when we first resued her? We were-
-
DAVE: What?
SALLY: Nothing.
Pause.
SALLY: We were so naïve. I had no idea how to look after a cat. I'd barely managed to raise two children!
DAVE smiles, sadly.
-
Lights out. In the darkness, the sound of a shovel scraping over slate. The TWO-SEATER SOFA is gone. They are both sat centre stage.
DAVE: What about breakfast?
SALLY: What about it?
DAVE: I just think it's a good idea, that's all.
DAVE: I just think it's a good idea, that's all.
SALLY: That's all?
DAVE: That's all.
SALLY: I just thouhgt maybe you wanted to have some?
DAVE: I don't even know what the time is.
-
SALLY: What was that?
DAVE: What?
SALLY: Nothing.
DAVE: No, what was what?
SALLY: What?
DAVE: You said, "What was that?". What was what?
SALLY: I don't know what you are talking about.
DAVE: Are you quite alright, dear?
SALLY: What would make you ask a thing like that.
-
Lights out. In the darkness, the sound of a tap dripping. Lights back up.
SALLY is incased in a packing case up to the waist, facing the audeince.
The characters do not notice any of this.
DAVE: What was that?
SALLY: What was what?
DAVE: Nothing... sorry, I- How are you feeling?
SALLY: What's with you asling how I am all the time all of a sudden? Will you pack it in?
SALLY: What's with you asling how I am all the time all of a sudden? Will you pack it in?
Beat.
I'm fine!
-
SALLY: What time is it?
DAVE: I don't know.
SALLY: If you don't know the time, how will we know when to get up and have breakfast?
DAVE: I supose we just pick a time.
SALLY: Yes, but how can we jsut "pick a time" if we don't know the time?
-
Lights out. In the darkness, the loud sound of hammering. When the lights come back up, SALLY is now incased in the packing case up to the neck. DAVE is incased in a packing case up to the waist. Both face the audeince. They are too far apart to touch each other. Both do not seem to notice any change, or ny sound.
SALLY: Well, my dear, that was a lovely breakfast.
DAVE: How did we decide when to go?
SALLY: Do you know something, I just can't remember.
SALLY: Do you know something, I just can't remember.
DAVE: Where did we go, again?
SALLY: I'm not too sure my dear, but I know it was just lovely.
DAVE: Yes, yes...
-
Lights out. In the darkness, the sound of teeth chattering. When the lights come back up, SALLY is totally encased, and cannot speak. DAVE is incased up to the neck.
DAVE: You know, sometimes it's like talking to a brick wass with you. I still love you, though. I'll still miss you. I think I'll miss you-
He quivers, regains himself.
A lot.
It's funny, isn’t it it: the things you wished you'd told people when you still had the time; when they still had the time. You know, when we first got that cat, all those years ago, I wasn't particularly fond of cats. But I loved her jsut as much as you did, because I loved you just as much as you loved her.
-
...
Lights out. In the darkness, the sound of a baby crying. Lights up. DAVE is totally incased now, too. There are two packing cases facing the audience. Lights out. The end.
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