Liars and Lunatics :: Film Blog

It’s hard to think that there once was a time when we Moon Brothers were not familiar with the proper look of a screenplay. Kind of like the fact that you can’t remember what it was like not to know how to ride a bike…

Well, it’s been over a year ago since we first turned to screenwriting guru, Syd Field. We picked up a copy of his book “Screenplay” (considered by many to be The Handbook on the topic. Not that we only used Syd’s advice. We also checked a few other books on the topic…)

These are some of the basics he outlines in his book. Pay attention all you aspiring screenwriters!

• New characters are always capitalized.
• The character speaking is always capitalized and placed in the center of the page.
• Stage directions for the actor are written in brackets under the name. Always single-spaced. Only use when necessary.
• Dialogue is placed in the center of the page. Always single-spaced.
• Sound effects or music effects are always capitalized. Don’t overdo effects.

For our film Liars and Lunatics, we used (and still do, incidentally) software called Final Draft. It does most of the work for you, so you don’t have to really remember all the rules.

For those of you who have ever wondered what a screenplay should look like, here’s a section from the Liars and Lunatics script:

INT. FROLICK’S OFFICE — MORNING

The door opens. We see Frolick from the front. She recoils at what she sees: JAMES JAMISIN, a man in his mid-30s.

ANGLE ON JAMES

Seated, wearing a straitjacket, smiling.

          FROLICK
    (alarmed)
James, what are you doing in here? And where did you get that jacket–

          JAMES
We have a session, Doc.

          FROLICK
James, you can’t just let yourself into my office without–

          JAMES
–You didn’t tell Dubious about the breakout, did you?

          FROLICK
Dubious? You mean
    (uncertain)
Dr. Donovin?

          JAMES
That’s what I said: Dr. Dubious.

          FROLICK
James, how did you get in here?
    (searching her desk)
I keep confidential files in here.
    (impatiently)
Where’s my name tag?

          JAMES
I just came by a little early to try the jacket on. You know, to see what it feels like, for when I really do need it.

          FROLICK
Why am I not seeing any improvement in you?
    (still searching)
Did you do something with my ID?

          JAMES
You know, Doc, you’re putting yourself under way too much pressure.
    (upbeat)
Buckle me up at the back?

Frolick hesitates.

          FROLICK
How do you expect to lead a mass exodus with that on?

P.S. While some of us Moon Brothers are still finishing up the Liars and Lunatics project, some of us other brothers are pecking away at several new ideas for our next project. So this blog is actually a nice refresher course for those of us who are working on the new screenplays.

Ahhh…. Yet another two-part blog… (Read Part One)

Okay, so when we were drafting the screenplay for our feature film Liars and Lunatics, we decided to turn to the people who do courtroom drama best. Alas, yes, we speak of Hollywood…

They’ve been doing it for years. Courtroom dramas, that is.

Sooooo, why not get a few ideas to help us along with our own film. Here’s a list of some the films that gave us inspiration for our courtroom scenes:

• To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
• A Few Good Men (1992)
• The Hurricane (1999)
• Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
• Twelve Angry Men (1957)

Luckily for us, one thing we had going was the fact that our courtroom was an imaginary one.

We didn’t have to follow all the conventions if we didn’t want to. Like in the scene where we have two witnesses (Avie and Davie Malvideo) on the stand at the same time. Same with props. If continuity was a little off, we had the luxury to say, “Hey, guys, the whole thing is all in James’ head. Remember, it’s an imaginary courtroom!”

In other words, we could have done whatever we wanted. Hmmm. Maybe we missed some golden opportunities here. We could have had everyone floating around like in Mary Poppins… Or why couldn’t we have had them all get sucked into a wormhole and end up on the Starship Enterprise… Or…

Oh, yeah. Budget. That one word says it all…

{{ photo :: Davie and Avie (played by Hudson Chambers and Amanda Short) manage to be on the witness stand together in our imaginary courtroom. Notice the mysterious boom operator in the background. }}

Liars and Lunatics is part courtroom drama. (Actually, one of the working titles for the story was ”The Trial”.)

As many of you probably know, courtroom drama is not the same thing as what takes place in a real-life courtroom.

Even the sole purpose of “Judge Judy” is entertainment. Or watch for the amazing last-minute confessions revealed in the final five minutes of an old ”Matlock” episode (Or “Perry Mason”… Or “JAG”… Or… You get the picture…)

Well, as film director Alfred Hitchcock once said, “What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out.” 

And so, when we began drafting the screenplay, part of our plan was to cut out all those dull bits…  Which meant, we skipped over the swearing-in of the witnesses. We did away with all sorts of courtroom conventions…

But, hey… it’s drama after all!

{{ photo :: The gavel Karen Lynn Gorney (as the Judge) used in the film. }}