Topic: Unanswered question

[cara1158]

I posted the post below over in the forum about the story/screenplay... but apparently no one's reading that topic anymore, I've gotten no answers.  If anyone knows the answer to this, please post.  Thanks!



Read the screenplay last night.  Loved it of course, and loved the different style of telling Annie Proulx's story.  It's the first time I've read a screenplay so I found it interesting as well, the way it tells the story with only notes and directions, small comments in parentheses, so on.  One thing I wondered, is this the actual script they work from while making the movie? or is there a more expansive, detailed script?  There was far less stage-direction, if you will, than I expected.  Those of you who work in film and/or study filmmaking, perhaps you can tell us. 

Cara

[dirtbiker]

Yes, that is the script, but of course, there will be some ad-libbing and changes done during the actual filming...

[Toadily]

I'm guessing they use a more detailed one, for instance Jake said at one point in the script when they are with with the sheep, it notes in the script that when he is carring a sheep, it should look "rugged but caring" and that isn't in the script they sell us.  Plus there are likely all kinds of notes.  But in general the one we have has the dialogue.

[jerasjr]

Not having read script or screenplay - but they are coming - would think that they would provide some specific details and yet allow room for a scene to develop into the version closest to their idea and that is what we see.  Wouldn't think they would stray much, but sometimes, I would imagine,there are suggestions at the time of shooting the scene that might make them do a slightly different version.

[bnjmn3]

I cannot imagine how all the costumers, cinematographers, audio techs, production designers, animal trainers, stunt doubles, make-up, vocal coaches, and location scouts do their job from the first time they see the script. I bet they all have various copies with their own notes added in. Then, there is the schedule--we know the apartment reunion kiss was the first filmed, but can you imagine keeping the crew on a schedule!?!

[Jack_ME]

Hi Cara,

I assume you are speaking of the book "Brokeback Mountain Story to Screenplay" which also includes Annie Proulx's original story, and three essays by Proulx, Ossana,  and McMurtry and finishes up with a Cast and Credits Listing.

If so, the screenplay portion begins with a note: For Publication October 2005
Filming was done over 4 months beginning in late Spring of 2004.

And although I can't give you any examples right now, I know that the dialog written in it, does vary some from the actual film dialog in some places.

Keep in mind that a screenplay is written, usually, before any filming starts, but undergoes revisions even while the filming starts.

And also keep in mind that the director films scenes in any order he chooses with some intentional editing in mind, but then ultimately, combines these many many filmed scenes in the best way he wants at the time of editing. So in fact often SOME of what is filmed, ie, some of a scene, or even ALL of a filmed scene is later determined not to work properly within the framework of the overall film as editing progresses. Lee has spoken in particular of the Murder scene, which is much longer than the few fleeting images we see, and how he had intended to insert some of that in the scene with Jack's parents, but ultimately discarded it all from that point in the film as it did not enhance and in fact ruined the intended message and mood there.

So, what I am saying in my usual wordy way, is.....the screenplay is a work in progress UNTIL the film is finished, and even then, some of what got left out in image editing or ad-libbed into a scene still isn't reflected in the published screenplay.

Hey why didn't I just say: It is NOT a transcript of the film!
Pretty close...but not.

And as for stage directions etc, it's not a play, so I would bet that what we have for stage directions in this published version is more or less only to make sense of the screenplay we have, and likely was NOT actual directions for any of the crew. I'm sure those were spelled out in various specific versions.

Hope this helps and feel free to correct  or add.

Jack in Maine

[monicita]

Thanks, Jack, for your informed views! And thanks to everybody else, who answered, I hope this helps you, Cara. I was a bit stumped, because I'm not an expert on screenplays, but this is only one of the many examples of what we may learn on this wonderful forum :o

monicita