AboutRoger S. H. Schulman Expertise I can answer questions on the creative aspects of writing for features and television comedy: brainstorming, character development, plotting, story structure, dialog, rewriting, editing, etc. I can also address the business side of show business: pitching, writing and presenting treatments, "taking" meetings, common pitfalls, etc. I'm also well versed in the relationship between screenwriting and computers: software for scriptwriting, brainstorming, presentation, outlining, an d general organization. I'm also a producer, and so can answer questions regarding the ins and outs of television production, specifically the half-hour arena. Visit my scriptwriting blog at http://scriptwriting.blogspot.com.
Experience I have been working in Hollywood as a screenwriter for both TV and features for many years. I'm an Executive Producer and "showrunner" who has run several prime-time and cable comedies. I've written several featurs and contributed to many more for several major studios.
Organizations Writers Guild of America, West
Publications Newsweek, BusinessWeek, GQ, Connoisseur, UPI, New York Daily News, please visit my blog at http://scriptwriting.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials I have a Masters of Science in Journalism from Columbia University.
Awards and Honors Academy Award Nomination, Best Adapted Screenplay
British Academy Award, Best Adapted Screenplay
NAACP "Image" Award, Best Television Comedy
"Annie" Award, Best Animated Film
Question 1. What's your take on writing superimposed IMAGES (not text)?
Here's one example of how I've done this
[the end of a montage}.
- biceps bulging -- Michelangelo's 'Christ Carrying the Cross,'
- imperial 'Christ Pantocrator' (Hagia Sophia)
- Michelangelo's 'Pieta' supered over it.
The images merge in a blur -- inside a gilt frame -- and dissolve to
A decrepit, age-mottled map.
________
One of my favorite examples of supered images on screen is the end of Bill Wittlif's"Lonesome Dove" teleplay, which he has not made available online.
Captain Woodrow Call (Tommy Lee Jones) remembers his friends who have died. We see what seems to be a flashback of a horse stampede, but with faces of his friends alternating, superimposed over the flashback of horses. Like to give that a try?
_______________________________
2. Particularly in a spec script, do you see any reason not to
write the following?
ANNE AND BILL
It's time to get out of here.
(rather than)
ANNE BILL
It's time to get out of It's time to get out of
here. here.
Answer 1. I have no issue with writing superimposed images. Make sure it's clear and has a point.
2. If you don't want to write side-by-side dialog, I would suggest you do it the way you demonstrate, with one small change: instead of the word "AND," use a slash:
ANNE/BILL
I think this is clearer to the reader, and potentially less confusing to your scriptwriting software, that might catalog the world "AND" as part of a separate character's name and cause you grief down the road.
