Character caps
My question concerns the use of character names in screenplays, specifically, should they be capitalized throughout the script wherein they are actually in a scene, or should they just be capitalized when they are first introduced?
This is really driving me crazy as the screenplays I have
read adhere to the capitalization throughout, the logic being that the actor
can see at a glance
that their character is in a scene if the name of the character is in capitals.
Indeed I was taught this as well in a University Degree in screenwriting. But
I have had feedback from some producers who say this is wrong.
–Brendan
In stage plays, the characters’ names are generally capitalized throughout.
In screenplays, characters’ names in the scene description are capitalized
only when a character first appears in the script. (And by capitalized, I mean
in all caps, like MIKE or BOB.)
Yes, I’ve seen exceptions to both rules, but I think the conventions make
sense and should be followed. Here’s what it looks like:
Bartender BOBBY DENTON is 29, with a mullet haircut and pit stains.
If your drink takes more than two kinds of liquid, Bobby’s not your man.
Subsequent mentions of Bobby, in this scene or later, would not be capitalized.
One possible exception (which came up in BIG FISH) is when a character’s age
changes so much that it obviously involves another actor. In that case, you
might capitalize YOUNG BOBBY the first time the five-year old version is introduced.
I can’t tell you with any certainty how stage plays and screenplays evolved
to do things differently. One theory might be that in a stage play, it’s very
important that an actor enter a scene at exactly the right time, thus the rampant
capitalization to make it more apparent. (In fact, stage plays often use "small
caps," which are a point size smaller than the regular typeface, just
to make it more readable.)
In movies, on the other hand, it’s often very important to know in what scene
a character is first established, particularly because scenes are often filmed
out of sequence. Thus, his or her name is capitalized only that one time.
The Script Police are not going to arrest you if you decide to capitalize
your characters’ names all the time, but it does make for a messier page, considering
the other things that need capitalization: sounds, sluglines, scene headings
and such.
So forget what you learned in university. Leave the caps to Shakespeare.
Articles
April 24th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I also have a question about Caps when it comes to characters. And I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere. I Hope you can help.
If a person appears in a scene that we never see speak…should they be CAPPED when introduced? The example is that I show my lead character shaking hands with his boss through an office door….but we never hear Mr. Syslvester speak…although he is referred to in other dialouge, in other scenes.
Another for instance, would be if my main charcter is in a bar with his co star, and three other men are at the table, but we only hear them when they raise their glasses to toast, there is no specific dialouge for any of them…should they be CAPPED when introduced?