First, today's tutorial. Truer words were never spoken.
Next, we'll review script format. Here's how it's done.
Study today's handout for tomorrow's quiz.
BONUS INFORMATION - Notice how the whole ALL CAPS thing ends right after the shot abbreviation? Yours should do the same.
In the meantime, here's the scene we will write out, just for fun. Every time the speaker changes, switch shots. If you want to do it more often than that, go for it.
BONUS INFORMATION - Notice how the whole ALL CAPS thing ends right after the shot abbreviation? Yours should do the same.
In the meantime, here's the scene we will write out, just for fun. Every time the speaker changes, switch shots. If you want to do it more often than that, go for it.
Here's your dialogue. Copy and paste into Word (Command C, Windows C or Apple C for copy. Command V, Windows V or Apple V for paste), and make it pretty. Stage directions? Put them in the shot description, along with your abbreviations. Keep them short, like in my example.
Your script doesn't have to match the film shot for shot. In only needs to make sense. Do what you like.
This is a participation assignment, so go slowly and pay attention to detail. Have fun. :-)
VIZZINI: So, it is down to you. And it is down to me.
The MAN IN BLACK nods and comes nearer.
VIZZINI: If you wish her dead, by all means keep moving forward.
VIZZINI pushes his long knife harder against BUTTERCUP's unprotected throat.
MAN IN BLACK: Let me explain...
VIZZINI: There's nothing to explain. You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.
MAN IN BLACK: Perhaps an arrangement can be reached.
VIZZINI: There will be no arrangement [pauses, deliberately] and you're killing her!
VIZZINI jabs with his long knife. BUTTERCUP gasps against the pain. The MAN IN BLACK stops quickly.
MAN IN BLACK: But if there can be no arrangement, then we are at an impasse.
VIZZINI: I'm afraid so -- I can't compete with you physically. And you're no match for my brains.
MAN IN BLACK: You're that smart?
VIZZINI: Let me put it this way: have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
MAN IN BLACK: Yes.
VIZZINI: Morons.
MAN IN BLACK: Really? In that case, I challenge you to a battle of wits.
VIZZINI: For the Princess?
The MAN IN BLACK nods.
VIZZINI: To the death?
The MAN IN BLACK nods.
VIZZINI: I accept.
MAN IN BLACK: Good. Then pour the wine.
VIZZINI fills the goblets with wine. The MAN IN BLACK pulls a small packet from his clothing and hands it to VIZZINI.
MAN IN BLACK: Inhale this, but do not touch.
VIZZINI: I smell nothing.
MAN IN BLACK: [Takes the packet back] What you do not smell is called Iocaine powder. It is odorless, tasteless, dissolves instantly in liquid, and is among the more deadlier poisons known to man.
VIZZINI: Hmm.
VIZZINI watches as the MAN IN BLACK takes the goblets, turns his back. A moment later, he turns again, faces VIZZINI, drops the Iocaine packet. It is now empty. The MAN IN BLACK rotates the goblets in a little shell game maneuver then puts one glass in front of VIZZINI and the other in front of himself.
MAN IN BLACK: All right: where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right and who is dead.
VIZZINI: But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you. Are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet, or his enemy's? [pauses to study the MAN IN BLACK] Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I'm not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool; you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
MAN IN BLACK: You've made your decision then?
VIZZINI: Not remotely. Because iocaine comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.
MAN IN BLACK: Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.
VIZZINI: Wait till I get going! Where was I?
MAN IN BLACK: Australia.
VIZZINI: Yes -- Australia, and you must have suspected I would have known the powder's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
MAN IN BLACK: [beginning nervousness] You're just stalling now.
VIZZINI: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? You've beaten my giant, which means you're exceptionally strong. So, you could have put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested my Spaniard which means you must have studied. And in studying, you must have learned that man is mortal so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
MAN IN BLACK: [nervously] You're trying to trick me into giving away something -- it won't work --
VIZZINI: [triumphant] It has worked -- you've given everything away -- I know where the poison is.
MAN IN BLACK: [fool's courage] Then make your choice.
Your script doesn't have to match the film shot for shot. In only needs to make sense. Do what you like.
This is a participation assignment, so go slowly and pay attention to detail. Have fun. :-)
VIZZINI: So, it is down to you. And it is down to me.
The MAN IN BLACK nods and comes nearer.
VIZZINI: If you wish her dead, by all means keep moving forward.
VIZZINI pushes his long knife harder against BUTTERCUP's unprotected throat.
MAN IN BLACK: Let me explain...
VIZZINI: There's nothing to explain. You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.
MAN IN BLACK: Perhaps an arrangement can be reached.
VIZZINI: There will be no arrangement [pauses, deliberately] and you're killing her!
VIZZINI jabs with his long knife. BUTTERCUP gasps against the pain. The MAN IN BLACK stops quickly.
MAN IN BLACK: But if there can be no arrangement, then we are at an impasse.
VIZZINI: I'm afraid so -- I can't compete with you physically. And you're no match for my brains.
MAN IN BLACK: You're that smart?
VIZZINI: Let me put it this way: have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
MAN IN BLACK: Yes.
VIZZINI: Morons.
MAN IN BLACK: Really? In that case, I challenge you to a battle of wits.
VIZZINI: For the Princess?
The MAN IN BLACK nods.
VIZZINI: To the death?
The MAN IN BLACK nods.
VIZZINI: I accept.
MAN IN BLACK: Good. Then pour the wine.
VIZZINI fills the goblets with wine. The MAN IN BLACK pulls a small packet from his clothing and hands it to VIZZINI.
MAN IN BLACK: Inhale this, but do not touch.
VIZZINI: I smell nothing.
MAN IN BLACK: [Takes the packet back] What you do not smell is called Iocaine powder. It is odorless, tasteless, dissolves instantly in liquid, and is among the more deadlier poisons known to man.
VIZZINI: Hmm.
VIZZINI watches as the MAN IN BLACK takes the goblets, turns his back. A moment later, he turns again, faces VIZZINI, drops the Iocaine packet. It is now empty. The MAN IN BLACK rotates the goblets in a little shell game maneuver then puts one glass in front of VIZZINI and the other in front of himself.
MAN IN BLACK: All right: where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right and who is dead.
VIZZINI: But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you. Are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet, or his enemy's? [pauses to study the MAN IN BLACK] Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I'm not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool; you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
MAN IN BLACK: You've made your decision then?
VIZZINI: Not remotely. Because iocaine comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.
MAN IN BLACK: Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.
VIZZINI: Wait till I get going! Where was I?
MAN IN BLACK: Australia.
VIZZINI: Yes -- Australia, and you must have suspected I would have known the powder's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
MAN IN BLACK: [beginning nervousness] You're just stalling now.
VIZZINI: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? You've beaten my giant, which means you're exceptionally strong. So, you could have put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested my Spaniard which means you must have studied. And in studying, you must have learned that man is mortal so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
MAN IN BLACK: [nervously] You're trying to trick me into giving away something -- it won't work --
VIZZINI: [triumphant] It has worked -- you've given everything away -- I know where the poison is.
MAN IN BLACK: [fool's courage] Then make your choice.
