Research into Film Scripts

A script reads out the dialogue in a film and lists details such as where the shot will be taken, the time of day it’s in and a small description of what will happen in the shot.

This is an example of the beginning of the script from the film Talented Mr Ripley:

1958

     PROLOGUE:  INT. RIPLEY'S CABIN. EVENING.

     Fade up on Ripley, as in the final scene of the film,

     sitting, desolate in a ship's cabin. The camera rotates

     around his face, which begins in light and ends in darkness.

                         RIPLEY (O/S)

               If I could just go back.  If I could rub

               everything out.  Starting with myself.

               Starting with borrowing a jacket.

     EXT. CENTRAL PARK WEST TERRACE. EARLY EVENING.

     Ripley is at the piano, accompanying FRAN, a young soprano.

     CREDITS begin.

                         FRAN (SINGS)

               Ah, such fleeting paradise

               such innocent delight

               to love,

               be loved,

               a lullabye,

               then silence.

     The song finishes.  Applause.  They're the entertainment at a

     cocktail party to celebrate a silver wedding anniversary.

     Some partygoers congratulate Fran on her performance. A

     distinguished looking man, pushing his wife in a wheelchair,

     approaches Ripley, offers his hand.

                         HERBERT GREENLEAF

               Most enjoyable. Herbert Greenleaf.

                         RIPLEY

               Tom Ripley. Thank you, sir.

                         HERBERT GREENLEAF

                   (pointing at Ripley's borrowed

                    jacket)

               I see you were at Princeton.

               Then you'll most likely know our son,

               Dick. Dickie Greenleaf...

                         EMILY GREENLEAF

               We couldn't help noticing your jacket.

                         HERBERT GREENLEAF

               Yes.

                         EMILY GREENLEAF

               Class of '56?

                         RIPLEY

                   (hesitating)

               How is Dickie?

     INT. ELEVATOR OPENING OUT INTO LOBBY. EARLY EVENING.

     Fran, Ripley, Mr and Mrs Greenleaf and others emerge from an

     elevator. Emily talks to Fran, Herbert to Ripley.

                         EMILY GREENLEAF

                   (to Fran)

               I hope you'll come and see us...

                         FRAN

               That's very kind.

                         EMILY GREENLEAF

               Both of you...

                         HERBERT GREENLEAF

               Of course, Dickie's idea of music is

               Jazz. He has a saxophone.  To my ear Jazz

               is just noise, just an insolent noise.

     EXT. CENTRAL PARK WEST. EARLY EVENING.

     Ripley shakes hands with Herbert Greenleaf as he gets into

     his Rolls Royce. They are making an appointment. Ripley

     crosses the street to Fran, pecks her cheek. She hands him

     his share of their fee.

This is an example of a script from a short film called Dark Star:

     OPEN ON BLACK SILENCE.

     The sound of electronic music rises, hollow, metallic.

     FADE IN on a long TRACKING SHOT through the universe.  As the NARRATOR

     speaks we move through galaxies, nebulae, solar systems, moving from

     the infinite slowly down to a particular planetary system deep within

     a maze of suns.

                                   NARRATOR

                              (over)

                    It is the mid 22nd Century.  Mankind

                    has explored the boundaries of his

                    own solar system, and now he reaches

                    out to the endless interstellar

                    distances of the universe.  He moves

                    away from his own small planetary

                    system in huge hyperdrive starships:

                    computer-driven, self-supporting,

                    closed-system spacecraft that travel

                    at mind-staggering post-light

                    velocities.  Man has begun to spread

                    among the stars.  Enormous ships

                    embark with generations of colonists

                    searching the depths of space for

                    new earths, now homes, new

                    beginnings.  Far in advance of these

                    colony ships goes a new pioneer: the

                    scouts, the pathfinders, a special

                    breed of man who has dedicated his

                    life to blazing the trail through

                    the most distant, unexplored

                    galaxies, opening up the farthest

                    frontiers of space.  These are the

                    men of the Advance Exploration

                    Corps.  The task they face is one of

                    unbelievable isolation and

                    loneliness.  So far from home that

                    Earth is no longer even a point of

                    light in the sky, they must comb the

                    universe for those unstable planets

                    whose existence poses a threat to

                    the peaceful colonists that follow.

                    They must find these rogue planets

                    -- and destroy them.  Among these

                    commandos are the men of the

                    scoutship Dark Star.

     We are now moving toward a planet.  Floating in front of the planet is

     the SCOUTSHIP DARK STAR.  As we move toward the ship, we begin to hear

     VOICES, crackling with static.

                                   DOOLITTLE

                              (over -- radio filter)

                    Ah, what'd you say, Pinback?

                                   PINBACK

                              (over -- great static)

                    Mafhkin oble groop...

                                   DOOLITTLE

                              (over -- filter)

                    Ah, what was that again, I still

                    can't hear you?

                                   PINBACK

                              (over -- filter)

                    I said I'm trying to reach Talby.

                    Something's wrong with the damn

                    intercom.  I need a last-minute

                    diameter approximation.

     CAMERA IS NOW FLOATING TOWARD THE OBSERVATION DOME on top of the ship.

     In the Dome sits TALBY.  He is staring around, wide-eyed, at the

     planets and stars.

                                   DOOLITTLE

                              (over -- filter)

                    Talby, Talby, this is Doolittle.  Do

                    you read me?  Talby?

     WE MOVE IN CLOSE ON TALBY'S FACE.  The shot stops and holds as he

     continues to stare, rapt.

                                   DOOLITTLE

                              (cont'd -- over --

                              filter)

                    Talby, do you read me?

     There is a CRACKLE, and Doolittle's voice suddenly booms through, loud

     and clear:

                                   DOOLITTLE

                              (cont'd)

                    TALBY!

                                   TALBY

                              (snaps out of it)

                    Oh!  Ah, yes, Doolittle.  What is it?

     INTERIOR - CONTROL ROOM

     CLOSE SHOT of a digital clock, ticking down the seconds.

                                   DOOLITTLE

                    I need a diameter approximation.

From these two extracts of scripts I have a general idea of what is expected in a script and what should be included. I hope that the script I produce is as successful as these two.