OFF SCREEN

OFF SCREEN (O.S.) is a screenwriting tool used in dialogue. It’s applied in a situation where a character is physically in the scene, we hear the character’s voice, but we don’t see the character.

Example:

INT. DEN – NIGHT

Hanna’s sitting at her desk immersed in a pile paperwork.

JOEL (O.S.)

                                                         Working late again?

Startled, Hanna turns to the window behind her. Joel is standing there, looking right at her.

                                                                     HANNA

                                                        I thought you were in Rio.

                                                                       JOEL

                                                       I’m back. And we need to talk. 

When using OFF SCREEN always abbreviate it “O.S.,” put it in parentheses, and place it to the right of the character’s name.

What if the character is not in the scene, but we hear the character’s voice? That’s called VOICE OVER. I’ll discuss that next week.

To be continued . . .  

                                                         

Never Enough Time . . .

Never enough time to write.

Reward

Even if you haven’t reached the top of the mountain, it’s a good idea to reward yourself at each milepost along the way.

Themes

One of the strong themes in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is the illusion that wealth brings happiness. It’s portrayed in everything from the glitter of the descriptive passages to the shallowness of the characters’ lives. This and other themes in The Great Gatsby are what make it such a timeless classic.

Ever tried putting a theme into your writing?       

 
While themes shouldn’t be pushy or in your face, an underlying theme woven into your characters and scenes can enhance the power of your story. It’s best to try and think of your theme as you outline your plot. Keep it broad enough so it can pop up in different ways throughout your tale (“people are jealous of the rich,” is too narrow; “education sows the seeds of revolution,” is better). Forging a good theme can be a challenge. But if you’re successful, you might just create something truly amazing.

Happy 2013

May it be the best year ever!