SCREENPLAY CLASS HANDOUT/ASSIGNMENT
WATCHING A MOVIE WITH THE SOUND DOWN

For this assignment, watch five or ten minutes of a movie or television show with the sound turned off. As you're watching, write a description of what you are seeing. (Keep your eyes on the screen as much as possible as you're writing or typing, so you don't miss anything.)

Don't focus on, or worry about, camera angles (close-up, medium shot, etc). These are generally NOT a screenwriter's concern. Instead focus on the characters' actions. Jot down what you see them doing. Or if there are no characters on the scene, jot down whatever you do see.

The point of this exercise is to start thinking in terms of imagery and actions, not dialogue. Dialogue is important in screenplays but it's secondary. The action does not have to be this extreme; it may be people talking on the phone, laughing, having dinner, taking showers, getting mudpacks for their complexions as they chat -- but anything someone is doing is an action, and those actions need to be described in your screenplay.

For example, I turned on my TV set as I was typing this, and found a movie called "Cellular" playing. I watched it for a few minutes as I typed and jotted down the following. (My original notes were sketchy, so I filled in some details from memory):

INT: POLICE STATION
A police detective (plainclothes) stands at front desk talking to a uniformed policeman who is manning the desk. The detective is a bit smarmy and overbearing. He says something and leaves.

Cut to closeup of a TV set behind the cop, image of newscaster talking about a murder, then pic of a murder victim on TV , and words "gangland style slaying."
EXT: POLICE STATION
A man in a red shirt drives up, looking worried. He pulls his vehicle to a stop in front of cop station, gets out, hurries up steps. Talking on a cell phone as he walks. Enters building, goes to front desk, talks to uniformed cop.

The man holds up his cell phone, explains something briefly, hands the cell phone to the policeman. The cop talks to a woman on the phone, jots something on notepad. We cut to her talking to him, she looks anxious, is in a dark room, clothes torn, hair disheveled.

INT: POLICE STATION
Suddenly there is a scuffle in the background. The cop at the desk has to go help subdue some unruly prisoners. He hands the man back his cell phone and points him to a stairway, then goes to help the other cops.

The man with the cell phone goes up some stairs, then down a hallway, looking for someone. He reassures the woman on the other end of the phone that he's trying to get her some help.

Cut to the woman, who is being held prisoner in a dark building. She is talking on the phone but drops the receiver anbd hides the phone under a blanket as her captor enters. The man who enters is rough looking and mean.

She stands and backs away from him. He towers over her threateningly and backs her to a post. He ties her to it and moves in close, threatening her.

Cut to the man on the cell phone, listening in panic as the woman is being threatened.

The thug interrogates the woman. She screams. He hits her.

Cut to man on cell phone hearing all this but unable to help her. He's anxious, looks panicked, has no idea how to help her.

Cut back to thug, who unties the woman, threatens her again, then leaves the room.

(This is a recap of about two minutes from the film).

Do the assignment repeatedly, watching different sec tions of the movie. It's fine to watch a section more than once. But keep the volume down. Your focus should be on jotting down what you SEE happening on the screen.