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Format question - cut to black

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Screenwriting Bar & Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Screenwriting Competitions or Screenwriting in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=20670
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 11:54am
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Topic: Format question - cut to black
Posted By: manifestlynot
Subject: Format question - cut to black
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2019 at 7:01pm
I want my screenplay to end abruptly. Should I have my final line of action, then CUT TO BLACK, and then FADE OUT. on the right side? It seems redundant.

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Replies:
Posted By: cheezopath
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2019 at 7:28pm
just cut to black to the right side


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Posted By: NilesPerry
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2019 at 7:35pm
Don't put anything. There's nothing more abrupt that it just simply ending.


Posted By: Random
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 8:43am
I hate resurrecting a dead topic (which usually signifies the beginning of a bad movie), but if I want a scene to end abruptly is it still CUT TO BLACK?

The current plan is to have a short scene after the cut, but this scene needs to end hard.


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Posted By: cheezopath
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 11:17am
if you're cutting to another scene in a hard way, this is one of those rare times to actually use CUT TO:


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Posted By: Random
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 11:49am
Originally posted by cheezopath cheezopath wrote:

if you're cutting to another scene in a hard way, this is one of those rare times to actually use CUT TO:


I was envisioning a moment of black screen; maybe as much as a second.  It's an alternate way of indicating something you really don't want to see.

After the second is over just fade into another scene.


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Posted By: cheezopath
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 12:09pm
oh right! yeah CUT TO BLACK. maybe put a line of action (or not) then FADE TO:


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Posted By: Random
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 12:10pm
Originally posted by cheezopath cheezopath wrote:

oh right! yeah CUT TO BLACK. maybe put a line of action (or not) then FADE TO:


Awesome!  Thanks Cheezo!


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Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 12:11pm
Sorry, but this is not a shooting script.  The director/producer will make these decisions.


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Posted By: cheezopath
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 12:25pm
if it specifically matters to the story you should do it, but yeah, generally territory to avoid unless there's a good reason


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Posted By: Random
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 12:29pm
Originally posted by cheezopath cheezopath wrote:

if it specifically matters to the story you should do it, but yeah, generally territory to avoid unless there's a good reason


It's action cleverly disguised as camera direction.  The only question I still have is whether or not that ends the story, and I'm thinking more and more the FADE OUT becomes CUT TO BLACK. 

If they don't like it they should have given me different prompts.  Big smile


<edit>
s/E TO BLACK/E OUT/g
</edit>



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Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 12:39pm
Originally posted by cheezopath cheezopath wrote:

if it specifically matters to the story you should do it, but yeah, generally territory to avoid unless there's a good reason


I was just having some fun, take nothing from me seriously, though I had picked that from you during an earlier contest, lol.


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https://shorturl.at/oFHX0" rel="nofollow - SP Butterflies and Bumblebees
https://shorturl.at/sxQU6" rel="nofollow - SS Drama/ A Touch of Humanity


Posted By: cheezopath
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 12:48pm
oh lol sorry missed that one :)
brain isn't working 100%
I'll be back to my sharp self again once i write....uh....anything!


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http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/SC/Winners/EdHicks.htm" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Challenge 2017 winner


Posted By: stephenmatlock
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2019 at 8:19pm
Agree with the idea of leaving all these directions out unless it's super critical to your 12 page story where you sweat over every single line to make your story as economically told as possible.

You lose quite a bit of space (3 lines, I think), with each of these.

FADE IN: and FADE OUT are the only two transitional/connections I use for these contests. AFAICT, the transitions aren't going to be part of shooting but of post production / editing.


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Posted By: JeffreyHowe
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2019 at 2:59am
Originally posted by stephenmatlock stephenmatlock wrote:

FADE IN: and FADE OUT are the only two transitional/connections I use for these contests. 

NilesPerry almost has me convinced we don't even need those -- here.  Almost.  It's a damn hard habit to break. Confused


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Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2019 at 3:52am
Originally posted by JeffreyHowe JeffreyHowe wrote:

Originally posted by stephenmatlock stephenmatlock wrote:

FADE IN: and FADE OUT are the only two transitional/connections I use for these contests. 

NilesPerry almost has me convinced we don't even need those -- here.  Almost.  It's a damn hard habit to break. Confused


I am using both this time because drama only takes 4 pages to write and I have lots of space to use up.


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https://shorturl.at/oFHX0" rel="nofollow - SP Butterflies and Bumblebees
https://shorturl.at/sxQU6" rel="nofollow - SS Drama/ A Touch of Humanity


Posted By: stephenmatlock
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2019 at 10:38am
Originally posted by JeffreyHowe JeffreyHowe wrote:

Originally posted by stephenmatlock stephenmatlock wrote:

FADE IN: and FADE OUT are the only two transitional/connections I use for these contests. 

NilesPerry almost has me convinced we don't even need those -- here.  Almost.  It's a damn hard habit to break. Confused


WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF NYCM HAD A SAMPLE SCRIPT THAT SHOWED WHAT THEY WANTED?

I get dinged on "THE END" no matter if it's there or not. Judges aren't told, it seems, what is needed or not wanted. Put it in, take it out.

Like, just say
For this contest, don't use CUT TO or DISSOLVE TO and so on. Just use FADE IN: at the first page top, left justified, and FADE OUT at last page bottom, right justified. Time can be DAY/NIGHT/CONTINUOUS/DAWN/DUSK. Don't put THE END at the end. Avoid emphasis using bold/italic/underline unless it's vital that the actor know how to interpret/read back the line.

And honestly, if they don't need FADE IN/OUT for these contests, then just tell us! "This is not a shooting script. This is only a spec script. Leave out things that would be useful for shooting.


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Pithy sayings are for the apt. For a longer message, you need a condo.



Posted By: cheezopath
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2019 at 10:41am
you got dinged for not writing THE END?


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http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/SC/Winners/EdHicks.htm" rel="nofollow - Screenplay Challenge 2017 winner



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