Showing POV from a home video camera

[rnbrewer]

The way I understand it, putting in shot's (such as POV) is better left out of the spec script since it implies the directors job. If you're writing a spec script that you're hoping to sell I would simply imply the filming without the actual change in perspective. Leave it up to the director and the sketch artists to come up with how the scene will be shot or portrayed.

For example:

EXT. JO BLOWS BIRTHDAYS PARTY/ POV  CAMERA - DAY

Through the eyes of the camera we see Jo and his friends parading around a picnic table with squirt guns...(etc)

A spec script would probably read more like this:

EXT. PICNIC/JO BLOWS BIRTHDAY PARTY - DAY

Bill watches through his video camera as his son and son's friends play around picnic table...(etc).

You've not only managed to avoid telling the director what to do, but also given them something they can work with. The scene is set up and the director can shoot it however he wants. I would only use specified shots in the script if it's absolutly, 100% unavoidable. That's my take on it.

Ryan

[ajc5o5o]

Wow I was overthinking it alot, that will definately work for me. I appreciate it, from one AJ to another...

thanks!

[uncle_al]

Hi everyone I thought I would throw a question out in hopes that someone can answer it for me... I'm having trouble finding a way to explain that a certain scene (parts of it) are being shown through a home video camera's point of view, more specifically one of the characters in the scene is recording these shots. I want to switch back and forth between the camera's POV and a normal shot. How would I explain or point this out while writing the scene?
thanks, aj

From my perspective, using a different slugline for the camera POV shots (such as INT. LIVING ROOM - POV CAMERA) should work... it seems to be the most economical use.
Anyone else want to put their two pfennigs in?

Cheers!

Al B. (The other AJ)

[ajc5o5o]

Hi everyone I thought I would throw a question out in hopes that someone can answer it for me... I'm having trouble finding a way to explain that a certain scene (parts of it) are being shown through a home video camera's point of view, more specifically one of the characters in the scene is recording these shots. I want to switch back and forth between the camera's POV and a normal shot. How would I explain or point this out while writing the scene?

thanks, aj