Two questions

Question

What is the definition of DOLLY? when it's used in direction, and how is italicized text used in a screenplay?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]What is the definition of DOLLY? when it's used in direction, and how is italicized text used in a screenplay?[/nq]
DOLLY is the physical moving of the camera towards or away from an object. A viewer might not care between DOLLY and ZOOM, but a DOLLY changes the entire relationship of the objects in the space. The foreground gains prominence over the background. Often, portable trolley tracks are laid so that vibration is eliminated. They are CAMERA DIRECTIONS done exclusively at the director's or cinematographer's discretion, or even whim, and are therefore almost NEVER referred to in any screenplay, and they shouldn't.

I've never really seen italicized text in a screenplay. It's supposed to be Courier 12 font, so that it looks like it came from a standard issue typewriter. That way, the studio knows exactly what they're dealing with when it comes to running time (since they can't afford to be fooled by that student habit of page fudging).

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is the definition of DOLLY? when it's used in direction, and how is italicized text used in a screenplay?[/nq]
It means "one of those things you never include in a screenplay."

The dolly itself is a rolling platform for the camera, so it can be moved smoothly in physical space. Typically on a track, it's a generally heavy piece of equipment that may or may not include an hydraulic or pneumatic arm that allows the camera to move up and down, or a jib or crane that allows for an even greater range of movement. A shot made with a dolly is called (obviously) a dolly shot, and sometimes the movement is simply described as a dolly - as in, "dolly in on the giant ape's toenail."
Again, it's not something that belongs in a screenplay, spec or otherwise, but if you're a writer/director or otherwise powerful enough that you don't have to follow those kinds of rules, then it doesn't matter.
Italicized text is a little off-format but it does show up from time to time. I've seen it used to differentiate dialogie that's going to be spoken in another language, but it's not really necessary.

Life Continues, Despite
Evidence to the Contrary
Steven

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is the definition of DOLLY? when it's used in direction, and how is italicized text used in a screenplay?[/nq]
A plastic toy for girls... the ones for boys are called "action figures" to prevent those boys from growing up Gay.

No camera directions in a screenplay. Not your job. Just write.

- Bill

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What is the definition of DOLLY? when it's used in direction, and how is italicized text used in a screenplay?[/nq]
[nq:1]A plastic toy for girls... the ones for boys are called "action figures" to prevent those boys from growing up Gay. No camera directions in a screenplay. Not your job. Just write. - Bill[/nq]
I expected that, but I'm tired of writing. So I'm reading THREE KINGS and noting the quantity of pages in the screenplay.I'm only up to fifty pages in my own screenplay, and it scares me to edit it because I put myself to sleep. The screenplay I'm reading is at http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/three-kings shooting.html and I found it on google as being the shooting draft copy. The screenplay uses underlined text too and I'm wondering if that is how the writer emphasizes text as being spoken from across the room, either at nobody in particular, or directed to somebody who is not within eye view.
I thought it was odd too, to see that DOLLY was used to direct the camera in the screenplay. I'll subtract those lines from the screenplay to get a better idea of how many pages the actual screenwriter wrote before he sold his story.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What is the definition of DOLLY? when it's used in direction[/nq]
[nq:1]It means "one of those things you never include in a screenplay." The dolly itself is a rolling platform for the camera, so it can be moved smoothly in physical space. Typically on a track, it's a generally heavy piece of equipment that may or may not include an hydraulic or pneumatic arm that allows the camera to move up and down, or a jib or crane that allows for an even greater range of movement. A shot made with a dolly is called (obviously) a dolly shot, and sometimes the movement is simply described as a dolly - as in, "dolly in on the giant ape's toenail." Again, it's not something that belongs in a screenplay, spec or otherwise, but if you're a writer/director or otherwise powerful enough that you don't have to follow those kinds of rules, then it doesn't matter.[/nq]
I've heard (read) comments in this NG implying that reading SP is one of the effective ways to learn how to format a SP. I really like the movie THREE KINGS because of the effective way it uses dialog to reveal the plot, Maybe I'm reading into it too much and should ignore the directioin that includes DOLLY, as well as the underlined text which the screenwriter saw fit to include for certain lines of dialog.Having seen the film twice, my guess is that the underlined text induces emphasis.
I am wondering now, how or why such camera angle direction finds it's way into the script. By your definition of the use of DOLLY camera angle, as opposed to simply PANNING the camera in the same direction, is that to mean that DOLLY can emulate the path of an airborn mosca domestica? I can't imagine what or how a POV of a common housefly might see an object as it rolls it's eyes in the same direction.

I don't like writing in the character of a fly, but seeing that flies might be one, if not THE, most important part of my story, I just as well prepare myself to learn this trick of the trade. Thanks for your help!
-Bier

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I've never really seen italicized text in a screenplay. It's supposed to be Courier 12 font, so that it looks ... when it comes to running time (since they can't afford to be fooled by that student habit of page fudging).[/nq]
Thanks for that wonderful explanation on DOLLY. I can see now how it would differ from turning the camera in the direction to be revealed. It alters the perspective too.
12 point font==
It figures that it would be important to get an idea of how long a movie would last by the amount of pages in a screenplay, but italicing the font doesn't alter the PICA spacing. I actually became concerned with this when I notice, in the software I use, that the option of italicizing, bolding and underlining is an option. Then I read the underlined text in parts of the dialog for the film THREE KINGS. It's obvious that the underlined text is used in that SP to emphasize a line, so I began to wonder how bolded and italicized text might be used.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I've heard (read) comments in this NG implying that reading SP is one of the effective ways to learn how ... to include for certain lines of dialog.Having seen the film twice, my guess is that the underlined text induces emphasis.[/nq]
Just to clarify: The original writer writes a spec script (without scene numbers, camera directions, CUT TO, etc). Once it is sold and goes into development, it is re-written as a shooting script, (with scene numbers, camera directions, CUT TO, etc).
I think you said you had a shooting script of "Three Kings," which would explain the DOLLY instruction. The original spec script it was developed from probably didn't have DOLLY anywhere in it.
The shooting script needs the extra information so the crew can plan the shots (camera moves) and the editor knows how to make the scene transitions (CUT TO, DISSOLVE). It is the director's job to plan out how he will shoot the scene, and the editor's how he will cut it. Your job is to describe the scene vividly. Leave the nuts and bolts of camera moves etc to the director he won't do it the way you expect anyway, he's got his own creative ideas.
Note you can sometimes find the spec script and the shooting script of a movie online. Compare the two to get the idea.
If you have an idea for a particularly effective camera usage you can use camera moves, but no more than once or twice in a script, and preferably never, unless of course you plan to shoot the script yourself in which case anything goes because you are basically writing notes to yourself.

Underlining was used for emphasis in the old manual typewriter days because that's all they had. Since in publishing underlining a passage means "print in italics" some people say it's okay to use italics for emphasis now that we can do it. I think it's really a matter of personal preference but I stand to be corrected.
Incidentally, excessive emphasis and (wrylies) is considered bad form, it takes away from the actor's desire to put their own interpretation on a character, or implies they are so stupid they don't know what to stress (alas often they don't), so use sparingly, mainly to clarify possible ambiguities.
I am a beginner so take this with a pinch of salt.

Martin

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]It figures that it would be important to get an idea of how long a movie would last by the ... in that SP to emphasize a line, so I began to wonder how bolded and italicized text might be used.[/nq]
The conventional wisdom is that you shouldn't do anything that you can't do on a manual typewriter. Therefore underlining is okay, as is bolding. But italics is not okay. I sometimes underline for emphasis or us CAPs... but I probably overdo it.

"To say more is to say less."
? Harlan Ellison

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The conventional wisdom is that you shouldn't do anything that you can't do on a manual typewriter. Therefore underlining is okay, as is bolding. But italics is not okay. I sometimes underline for emphasis or us CAPs... but I probably overdo it.[/nq]
I disagree.
I think this is an old rule that's fading away.
I see italics in scripts all the time. I use italics in scripts all the time. Not to emphasize individual words, but because italics is an accepted convention to indicate that someone is speaking in a foreign language, and that I'm typing the translation.
Every professional script I've circulated has had large chunks in foreign languages, translated. By writing partner and I use italics, and use a parenthetical only in the first instance in a scene, eg (in Spanish, subtitled) and we've never had any confusion.

The "it should look like it was written on a typewriter" rule-of-thumb is becoming archaic. Nobody writes on typewriters anymore. The format rules which serve a practical purpose (like Courier 12) are sticking around, but others are falling by the wayside.
I see bolded sublines all the time now. It's become part of the "standard format." So have the appropriate use of italics.

People don't bat an eyelash at that sort of thing anymore.

-Ron

Usenet · Answer

--

Two questions

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬