Ask Dr. Format: MORPHING MORTIMER 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.
MORPHING MORTIMER
QUESTION
In a number of transitions in my screenplay, we are going to see a person in the middle of an action morph into a younger version of himself without a break in the action, but indeed a change of scenery and time. How do I handle that?
ANSWER
There are many possibilities. Here is one:
INT. THEATER – NIGHT
The theater is packed with fans.
MORTIMER struts across the stage playing his harmonica. He MORPHS into....
EXT. KANSAS CITY BACK ALLEY – DAY
...YOUNG MORTIMER (15) playing the same tune on his harmonica.
SUPER: "KANSAS CITY 1983"
BOLD AND COURAGEOUS HEADINGS
QUESTION
What do you think of the new bold-and-underline format for scene headings?
ANSWER
I think it's perfectly okay, but completely unnecessary. The standard is still ordinary, unadorned scene headings. You'll know when that changes when the two major software companies (Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter) incorporate the bold-and-underline style (or bold style, or underline style) into their applications.
In the meantime, I suggest you stick with the regular scene heading style unless a different style is specifically requested, or you have fallen in love with it and feel courageous. The main thing is to courageously keep writing!