Lesson 15

[Bob Rowen]

Bob Rowen’s Fast formatting!

What I learned doing this assignment is how to create, consider word choices, and format an action scene.

INT. GRACIE’S PUBLIC HOUSE – NIGHT

Prater, Forrest, Ray, Darrell, and Teague are playing pool and drinking beer in the back of the tavern. There’s a guy sitting alone under the moose head who’s been listening and staring at the four of them.

PRATER

Anyone know who that guy is that’s been gazing at us?

FORREST

He looks familiar but I don’t know him.

Prater goes to the barkeep.

PRATER

Do you know that guy who’s sitting under the moose head?

BARKEEP

Can’t say I do but I think he works for Far-West.

PRATER

Not at the power plant.

BARKEEP

He’s been in here with some fellas I know works in the line department for Far-West. He asked earlier if he could use my phone and I couldn’t help but notice he was looking at you guys the whole while he was on it.

PRATER

There’s been some trouble at the power plant. And that’s mostly what we’ve been talking about.

BARKEEP

I think he’s been listening in.

PRATER

Very well could be.

Prater returns to the pool table.

DARRELL

Find out anything?

PRATER

Yeah, maybe. Let’s keep an eye on him and we’d better watch what we say.

Teague racks the balls.

TEAGUE

Let’s play last pocket. It’s me and Darrell against Prater and Forrest this time.

RAY

Fine by me. It’s my turn to get the next round anyway.

They start the game…then SUDDENLY several men pour into the room displaying various weapons. Edgar appears from behind the first echelon and points at Prater…yells…

EDGAR

That’s him. Get him.

The room explodes…

A big burley brute immediately advances on Prater…

Prater jabs the brute in the chest with the butt of his cue stick…

The brute staggers forward…Prater grabs a pool ball

THUD!

– Slams it alongside his head

Eyes roll back — collapses.

Tables crash…broken glass everywhere.

Chairs fly…women scream.

Prater picks up a chair…hits an intruder, and then…

WHOOSH!

He heaves it at two more intruders.

PRATER

(to Barkeep)

Better call the police.

BARKEEP

I did.

Teague is trapped against the pool table trying to escape…

Prater kidney punches the guy —

Teague now free.

Prater whirls around…comes face-to-face with Edgar.

Prater grabs Edgar’s family jewels and squeezes them.

PRATER

(whispers)

Call off your fucking goons!

EDGAR

Not a chance!

Praters squeezes harder.

Edgar bellows in pain.

PRATER

Call them off! NOW!!

They frantically skirmish…

Edgar breaks free.

Prater delivers a targeted blow to Edgar’s gut!

Edgar groans…doubles over.

Forrest, Ray, Darrell, and Teague are grouped together at the back end of the bar.

Barkeep is motioning for Prater to join them…

BARKEEP

The police have arrived out front. You fellas need to go through the storeroom and out the back. I’ll take care of everything in here.

[Frances Williams]

Frances Williams Fast Formatting

What I learned doing this Assignment is how to format a script like a pro.

INT. THE GALLOWAY SCHOOL – TOP FLOOR – CONTINUOUS

Two Security Guards are patrolling the Hallways

INT. GALLOWAY SCHOOL – TOP FLOOR ELEVATORS -CONTINOUS

The Elevator doors open and the Prime Minister s daughter steps out and into the Hallway disappearing around the corner.

INT. GALLOWAY SCHOOL – MAIN FLOOR – DAY

A pair of masked gunmen enters the building moving swiftly closing in on the daughter.

INT. BENEATH THE SCHOOL IN THE BASEMENT -CONTINOUS

THE Prime Minister s daughter is hiding from the Syndicate in the basement of the school.

E. Stacking Action

EXT. A SERVICE ROAD – CONTINOUS

INT. A PORSCHE – CONTINOUS

ÀLEXIS shifts gears and pushes the gas pedal beneath.

EXT. GALLOWAY SCHOOL – DAY

ALEXIS arrives at the front of the school and opens the door slowly, she sees one of the gunmen.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM ! BOOM!

She fires four shots at the Assassin’s… killing one of the men instantly, she grabs the other gunmen by the arm twist it behind his back, she shoves his face into the wall, before ripping it back out

Gasping for breath, his eyes rolled back into the back of his head, before returning to normal.

ALEXIS

Where…is she?

Gunmen#2 ( choking)

Wha……What?

ALEXI S

What have you done with her?

GUNMEN#2

F–K you B–tch.

GROAN

A low creaking sound is coming from the bowels of the school, Alexis rushes through the Hallway down the stairs into the basement where she finds the Prime Ministers Daughter slumped over on the floor beneath the stairs.

[Beth Zurkowski]

Beth Zurkowski Fast Formatting! “What I learned doing this assignment is how to use ellipsis and dashes and how to use continuous slug lines.

1. Write an Action scene for your project that includes each of these formatting techniques.

A. Basic Formatting
B. Dash or Ellipsis?
C. Sound, then Explanation
D. Mixing Sluglines into Action
E. Stacking Action
F. Stacking Dialogue

2. Choose images, actions, and sounds that make this scene visceral!

Int. Velda’s house-top floor-continuous…

Velda finds Naya and Darsh in the guest room.

Velda: We have to leave this place. It’s not safe anymore.

Naya: W…where?–

Velda: –Sheriff’s office.

Int./ Ext. Velda’s house- hallway- stairs- door- continuous…

They rush out the door with whatever they have.

Click! Boom!

Ext. house-night

The house explodes knocking them to the ground.

Velda looks back. The house is now on fire.

Velda: Good thing Mike was at the hospital.

They get up and brush themselves
off. And hurry away from the former house.