Special Transitions

[ScriptNurse]

SUPERIMPOSE:  The Early Years

I think the way you've got it is just fine. It's short, sweet and gets across what you want.

[rnbrewer]

The way I have it set up right now is something like this:

FADE TO:

INSERT TITLE: "And this is wher the title goes"

FADE IN:

The it is followed by the scene heading. After reading the responses I'm thinking I should write it differently. The point is to have the scene cut to a blank black screen and the title appears, then we FADE IN on the next segment. I know transitions such as FADE IN and FADE TO are directorial decisions so losing the transitiions isn't a big deal to me, just making sure to convey the titles before each segment.

Also, the script is intended to be one feature film. The story is divided into sub-categories (or what ever we want to call them) in order to bring something unique to the overall story (this is a zombie flick by the way, and finding some new way to tell the story is a large part of my goal.) If I decided to go the SUPERIMPOSE route what is the proper usage?

Thanks again ladies and gents!

[ScriptNurse]

Your teacher is right ... (1) do what will tell the story as clearly as possible and (2) SUPERIMPOSE: alone works and everyone knows what it is, so it'll not be a "speedbump" to the reader.

If you lose the reader, you're dead. They don't go back and re-read to figure it out, they drop it in the trash can. As long as it's clear and follows normal formatting conventions, you're good.

[Runner]

I had a similar problem with one my script, so I asked my screenwriting teacher, Mark Sevi.  Here's what he wrote:

"Although it's probably not a good idea to become overly "cute" with formatting, whatever you can do to be as clear as possible with your story and your vision, should be done.  Be conservative with format unless it's absolutely necessary to go with something different than "normal" formatting."

If you're going to do "sub-titles" (whatever that actually means), do it as a SUPERIMPOSE. 

    SUPERIMPOSE ON SCREEN:  The Early Years
                                                    How I Grew Up
or perhaps

    SUPERIMPOSE ON SCREEN:  The Early Years (How I Grew Up).

Something like that.

[Shindig]

You could separate them by captions, if you're putting them in the same script or keep each story to a separate script, perhaps?

[rnbrewer]

I'm currently working on a script that calls for some special treatment. The story is split up into numerous "mini" stories (sort of like "Pulp Fiction") and each story leads off with a title of its own. At least, that's what I WANT to do. My question is, can I include the sub-titles for each section of the story? Is there a proper way to do this?