AboutDon Vasicek Expertise I can take you from the inception of your idea to the market. This translates to if you have an idea for a movie or a book, I can guide you through the jungle of writing these tomes all the way to getting it to producers, agents, editors, and/or publishers.
Experience Writer/Consultant for MGM's "Warriors of Virtue"
Writer/Associate Producer for American Film Corporations' "The Lost Heart", "Born To Kill"
Writer/Director/Producer for Olympus Films+'s "Faces" and "Oh, The Places You Can Go..."
Writer/Director/Producer for Olympus Films+'s "The Sand Creek Massacre"
Screenwriter for Incline Productions, Inc.'s "The Crown"
Author of "The Write Focus" and "How To Write, Sell, And Get Your Screenplays Produced"
Question QUESTION: I am writing a screenplay and want to use a montage.
I am using a writing program but can't find an option for this.
My instinct tells me to do:
MONTAGE - (WHAT HAPPENS)
and then list the different shots.
Should the montage line be a slugline or a shot?
What is the proper way to exit the montage?
Thanks for any help on this.
ANSWER: Richard,
The montage line should be a slugline something like this:
MONTAGE
Car race starts.
Red Chevrolet muscle car zooms out ahead.
Purple Plymouth muscle car...
BACK TO SCENE.
I hope this has been of help to you.
Best Regards,
Donald L. Vasicek
Olympus Films+, LLC
The Zen of Storytelling http://www.donvasicek.com
dvasicek@earthink.net
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Donald.
Thanks very much for your quick reply.
After asking the question, I have been looking around (I am a born nit-picker) and think that what I really want is what seems to be SERIES OF SHOTS since it is a somewhat long sequence of short shots leading up to a climax.
The format seems to be more-or-less the same but leads me to question how to get out of it? Most of the examples I have seen seem to just jump to the next scene heading. Would that be correct?
Thanks again.
Answer Richard,
You're welcome. It is good that you're a nit picker.
Writers must be detailed oriented.
If the series of shots are within a scene, then, simply
get out by utilizing the slug line: BACK TO SCENE.
If the series of shots are separate scenes (time and/or
setting), then, you must use complete slug line:
EXT. RACE TRACK - DAY
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MONTAGE
Car race begins.
Red Chevrolet zooms to lead.
Purple Plymouth...
INT. RACE TRACK BOOTH - DAY
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MONTAGE
Purple Plymouth screams after Chev.
Yellow Pontiac bellows around first curve.
Green Olds races after Yellow Pontiac.
EXT. XXXXX XXXX
I hope this has been of help to you.
Best Regards,
Donald L. Vasicek
Olympus Films+, LLC
The Zen of Storytelling http://www.donvasicek.com
dvasicek@earthink.net
