Hi all. I am working on a script that involves the deaf parents of the protagonist. The father is totally deaf and dumb. The mother became deaf as a teenager so can speak but cannot hear. Here is what I would like to know (preferably from a reader's point of view) regarding format: Should I include a note to the reader at the start indicating this situation and say that all dialog in italics needs to be with subtitles because of it? Or just put in parenthesis "signing" every time someone communicates in sign language? The first option seems like it could get lost in the shuffle during reading and the second option could get to be repetitive and tiresome. Thanks for any help on this.
Screenwriting : Scriptwriting format quandry by Richard Stephens Ely
Scriptwriting format quandry
Other topics in Screenwriting:
- Pat Alexander posted:Hollywood company eyes $50-M studio investment in Philippines
- Ashley Renee Smith posted:Why Is It So Hard to Secure Funding for Coming-of-Age & YA Projects?
- Sam Sokolow posted:Cool Certification testimonial
- Jack Binder posted:Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Sundance Premiere
- Geoff Hall posted:BBC “Open Minded” About UK Streamer Levy To Help Solve Scripted Funding Crisis
- Jack Binder posted:Stage 32 Awards Season Screenplay Giveaway!
- Jack Binder posted:Film Financing for Documentaries
- Jack Binder posted:Streaming to Outpace Broadcast Content Spending - Global Content Spend to Hit $285bn
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
If there's only one person signing, I would use the parenthesis. If both people are signing, I'd make the note at the beginning of the conversation.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Your advice would be good if it were only a scene or two but it is the entire script I am refering to. The parents are in and out constantly. My main concern is stopping the flow of the narrative by constant explanatory insertions.
In that case, I'd use the italics. If the parents both jump out for a while, I might make another notation of their signing when they come back, just as a reminder.
Just my opinion. I hope this helps.
Thanks Dan. That seems like a logical approach. I will give it a try. As this is a spec script, apart from telling a good story, I am trying to be conscious of the reader in the hopes of getting over that first hurdle!!