How to Format a Montage in a Screenplay - a quick guide for beginning screenwriters on how to write a montage in a script, including proper formatting and style tips.
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MONTAGE SCREENPLAY FORMATTING EXPLAINED
Who doesn’t love a good montage? They’re fun to watch, but how are they actually written? Since screenplay formatting has certain conventions, what’s involved when writing a montage in a screenplay? In this quick tutorial, we will examine a couple of options that are both clear for the reader and designed with the actual production in mind.
HOW TO WRITE A MONTAGE IN A SCREENPLAY
As with any screenwriting “rule,” there is no single way to write a montage in a screenplay. Writers have the freedom to format them however they see fit, but there are certain conventions that they adhere to.
The first option is the simplest - the single location montage. In this scenario, “montage” can simply be added to the end of the scene heading. In the action/description, the various shots can be listed, separated by ellipses, or written as separate action lines (just to name a few). When it’s over, simply write the next scene heading as usual. Another variant is to use Subhears to both begin and end your montage.
Multiple location montages can be treated the same way, with each new location noted in the action description. This method is perhaps more acceptable in spec scripts, but for practical production reasons, each new location should be marked with new scene headings in the shooting draft.
Whatever you decide how to format a montage in a screenplay, the prime consideration is clarity. Ensure your reader and your production team understand the start and en
#screenplayformat #screenwriting #montage
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