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 Hi. If I have 2 scenes going on at the same time but in different places do I have to constantly write CUT TO:
Scene Heading
CUT BACK
Scene Heading
etc. over a dozen times? Could I just write Cut to and Cut back without the scene headings?
Also if a character is in a house but goes back and forth between many rooms would it be ok to simply write a general scene heading of for ex. INT- JOHN'S HOUSE- DAY and not make a separate heading for each time he enters the kitchen, bedroom etc.?
Thank you very much for your time
Answer If you search my previous answers for formatting, you'll see that there are relatively few strict rules in screenwriting, although the ones that exist should be followed.
In your case, it's easy.
In the first example, you're exactly wrong. That makes it easy to fix! Don't leave out the scene headings. Leave out the CUT TO's! Just do it like this:
INT. BANK
He draws his gun.
EXT. BANK
The cops pull up.
INT. BANK
He approaches the bank guard.
EXT. BANK
The cops get out of their unit and approach the bank.
And so on.
In the second example, you certainly do NOT have to create a new scene for every new room. It all depends upon the importance you want to place on these new locations, and whether you feel creatively that you are starting a new scene. For example, if a guy is frantically searching through the house for his keys, all you need do is write:
INT. BOB'S HOUSE
Bob frantically searches for his keys, running from kitchen to bedroom to den.
