Ask Dr. Format: CAPPING NAMES, CONTINUOUS, and more...

DAVE TROTTIER has sold or optioned ten screenplays (three produced) and helped hundreds of writers break into the writing business.  He is an award-winning teacher and script consultant, author of The Screenwriter’s Bible, and friendly host of keepwriting.com.  Read more tips on the Ask Dr. Format page.

Dr. Format

CAPPING NAMES

QUESTION

Should I place a name in all-CAPS for characters with no speaking parts, but which interact with other characters? In my case, I have a dog and baby who move the story forward but don’t talk.


ANSWER

When any individual character first appears in narrative description, that character’s name or label should be placed in all-CAPS that first time, even if the character doesn’t talk later. If your dog is called MAX, that name should appear in all-CAPS that first time only. The same is true of characters without names who are labeled, such as CHUBBY COP, CRYING BABY and SEXY WAITRESS.

It is not necessary to CAP groups of characters, like “the crowd,” but it’s perfectly okay to do so if you wish.

 

CONTINUOUS

QUESTION

Someone told me that using CONTINUOUS in slug lines [scene headings] is wrong. Is that true?


ANSWER

What that person may have meant is if it is already obvious that one scene follows continuously a previous scene without any jump in time, then writing CONTINUOUS is not necessary. For example:

INT. HOUSE – DAY

John opens the door and steps out.

EXT. HOUSE

John steps onto the porch.

In the above situation, it is obvious that one scene follows the previous scene continuously. However, if that is not clear, then definitely use CONTINUOUS so that the reader doesn’t misunderstand.

 

FOLLOW-UP QUESTION

QUESTION

How about DAY or NIGHT?


ANSWER

The same logic applies, but don’t outsmart yourself and confuse a reader who may wonder for a given scene, is it day or night?

 

WE THE PEOPLE

QUESTION

I’d like your opinion on using “AND WE” when transitioning between scenes. I have seen this technique used in many shooting scripts.


ANSWER

Don’t use it in a spec script. As a general guideline, avoid the use of first person: AND WE, WE SEE, WE HEAR, WE MOVE, and so on. Naturally, there can be exceptions.

Good luck and keep writing!