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Animation Setup?

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    Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 10:39am
You'd think I'd know this by now, but I am considering going with an animated short. Is there a protocol in the header that indicates that the characters are animations? I was looking at a few (Tim Burton) and if you didn't know he was an animator, you would necessarily know. Anyone?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Emmageek Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 12:50pm
If you have a flying dragon...kind of be CGI or animation...unless someone has a spare dragon lying around.  Or a talking dog.  

It's written the same.

Here's Coraline:




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Emmageek Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 12:51pm
That being said - this is a shooting script...do NOT use camera directions on your script...ever!  What we are writing in the NYM are spec scripts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote weebil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 1:16pm
Thanks Emma! I don't know if I agree with the idea that camera direction shouldn't be used for an animation. The constant in these competitions seems to be how do you control the 'reveal', when in practice, the whole idea of the script is the reveal. You can't hide your mission from the people reading the script the way you would from a reader in fiction. At some point, if your characters aren't human, you have to 'say' that in some way. So, if my MC was a rabbit, I'd be inclined to say 'Close up on the back of a fuzzy creature,(BOB, middle-aged, paunchy) his long ears perk with interest at the image of a carrot on the computer screen'.
I'd enjoy other opinions on this-I'm already down a, eh, hem, rabbit hole of animation scripts...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Emmageek Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 2:16pm
You ask a good question - why wouldn't I use camera directions?

Two reasons:  

1) It's not done in spec writing.  Many times the judges will critique on that only, especially if it is a close contest between writers.  
2) The director will do anything they want with the script.  The camera directions will be on a shooting script once they have down the script breakdown.  

And lastly, it doesn't show your innate talent.  Writing where the camera goes does not show the reader that you know how to visualize the scene.  Showcase your ability as a writer.    

Now, your piece, how do you show the back of the head of a rabbit -

EXT.  CABBAGE PATCH - DAY

The morning's sun rises in the east while a lone figure walks to the edge of the cabbage patch.

The furry creature turns toward the rising sun, a tad bit overweight, whiskers twitching, breathing deep at the garden's edge.  

Mr. Rabbit
(scratching his belly)
What a fine smell on this lovely spring day!

Just an idea. 

Also, I encourage you to join the beta group and have the betas help you as well.  I work long hours and many times the betas will see the hole in my plot that I had in my head, but it wasn't in the script, didn't capitalize the entrance of my main character ,or Billy hadn't opened the door so how did Matt get in the apartment.  They are awesome!

I don't know if this helps you or not, but I would love to see how you wriggle your way out of being stuck.
 




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