Ask Dr.Format: THE FALLING IN LOVE MONTAGE

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.

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THE FALLING IN LOVE MONTAGE

QUESTION

I'm at the point in my romantic comedy script where the two characters get together and fall in love.  I want to show the audience that two months go by in the characters' lives and in the things they do; that is, go on a picnic, go to the beach, attend parties, etc.  Usually, in actual movies, there is music during this section.  How do I write it down so that the producer/director knows what sort of sequence I am after?

 

ANSWER

You are referring to the montage.  Use the specific shots of your montage to show "passage of time" or "falling in love" (or any other concept).  Here's an example:

 

MONTAGE - JIM & SUZY FALL IN LOVE

-- At a picnic in the park, Jim and Suzy wolf down an entire chicken in record time.  Their affectionate countenances are smeared with chicken fat.

-- Jim (now with two-months worth of beard) and Suzy jog along the beach until they come upon a beached whale.  Together, they push the huge mammal back into the ocean.  The whale waves its tail in grateful thanks.  Jim and Suzy wave back.

 

And so on.   You did say this was a comedy, right? :-)

 

In terms of passage of time, I used a beard in the above example, but you will not need to be so obvious.  Normally, show passage of time by how the relationship grows or deteriorates.  A classic example is the breakfast montage in Citizen Kane.  Obviously, time is passing.  In both A Man for All Seasons and A Beautiful Mind, there is a short montage of the seasons changing.

 

Incidentally, you will not indicate music in your montage.  That's not your job.  But certainly the filmmakers will see an opportunity to insert a hit song.  Your job is to keep writing.

 

THE TELEPHONE INTERCUT

QUESTION

What is the best way to cross cut a telephone conversation that cuts back and forth between two characters?

ANSWER

I think you want the INTERCUT here.  Simply establish the two locations, then write out the telephone conversation, as follows:

 

INT. MARY'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Mary paces nervously, then punches numbers on her phone.

INT. DARIN'S CAR - SAME

Darin drives through the rain, looking depressed.  His cell phone rings.

INTERCUT - TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

                   MARY
        Come back.

                   DARIN
        What?  Now?

                   MARY
        Yes.  Please.

                   DARIN
        Give me one good reason

                   MARY
        You forgot your casserole bowl.

                   DARIN
        I'll be right there