How to include sign language
When writing a sign language conversation, is it better to write the dialogue normally with a scene description specifying the dialogue is signed, or should each signed line be specified in parentheticals? Would the method change if one side of the conversation is signed while the other side is spoken, or spoken and signed?
– Adam
Toronto
I answered almost exactly this question back in 2005, and I’m happy to see that my suggestion then is still my best answer: consider italics.
MARGIE
(speaking and signing)
These girls are weak. I’m a fifty-year-old woman, yet I can carry a pig two hundred yards.
LUKE
(signing)
You’re so strong.
MARGIE
That’s because I’ve been carrying you for twenty-two years. Seriously, I’ve made you the center of the universe, and when anyone dares challenge that you’re anything less than perfect I regress to Mama Bear mode. It’s amazing more people don’t call us out on this dysfunction.
LUKE
I’m almost a villain, but nobody notices. Because you can only be one thing on a reality show, and I’m the inspiring deaf guy.
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May 12th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Interesting take on Margie and Luke. I like the analysis of what them both so interesting, and yet also so strange. And I’d never thought of Luke being the villian. In the end, I thought Victor was the villian, and that he would very much like to hump his sister. But anyway, good to know how to properly do sign language. Thanks.
May 12th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
DOOOOOOH!!! GAAAAAAAH!!!
May 12th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I would love to see the script for CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD. Man, that’s such a good movie.
Wait, that wasn’t really all that random if the post was about movies and sign language, was it?
May 12th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Off topic, but congrats on the “Preacher” script for Sam Mendes! Sounds like a lot of fun!
May 12th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Even if Victor were into incest (which: ew), I don’t think Tammy would be his particular cup of sibling tea.
Great (and hilarious) example, John.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I’m a deaf screenwriter so I will add my two cents. John is correct in the use of formatting for a deaf character. The dialog should be written in regular english. Thus:
BOB (signs) How are you today?
MARY (signs and speaks) I’m fine. Thank you.
‘Signs and speaks’ is better than ’signing and speaking.’ Using Italics is a nifty idea but throws the format off and doesn’t look right
Best of luck with your script! Glenn The dialog for Bob will be translated into ASL on the set with the aid of an AS Master who can and will yelll cut if the signs are wrong.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Hey
Can anyone tell me if it’s weird to mention music in the script. This would be non diegetic like the building of tense music for the contemplation of, say, a suicide scene.
Is it amateur? Or can I say CUT TO: MAIN TITLES, KICK ASS LO FI ROCK SONG
Just wondering.
May 13th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
I haven’t thought of a good way to use it yet, but it is my goal to put more sign language in films. Sign language is visually interesting and those who use it often have incredibly expressive faces.
May 13th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Anyone know if the same would apply for a character praying? Would you recommend putting their dialogue (prayer) in italics?
May 13th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Slightly off-topic, but this reminds me of when I first saw THE PIANO, a movie where both sign language and the spoken Maori language were subtitled. The same font was used for the subtitles of both languages, which bugged me for some reason. I thought sign language should “look” different from a spoken language.
May 19th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
LOL, I love that snippet and am so with you on the Margie and Luke dynamic. He was totally villainous!
May 24th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
In a way, I think it would feel more accurate to put the actual dialogue in parentheses. For the sake of the scrippet, consider [ and ] as ( and ).
INT. FRANK’S APARTMENT – DAY
MUSIC PLAYS so loud that Tom can’t even hear his own thoughts rattle around in his skull. He looks to Frank.
TOM
(yelling)
Why is it so loud in here???
FRANK
(signing)
[So I can feel the bass through the floor.]
(beat)
[Why are you yelling?]