DON'T TELL US WHAT WE SEE AND HEAR--SHOW US
Writers will sometimes use the first person in their narrative, and I find this truly unnecessary. After all, what do you really gain by writing 'We see a rat rustling in the alley' instead of 'A rat rustles in the alley?' Either way, 'we' see it, right?
Beginning sentences with needless instructions like we see, we hear, we follow, we notice, we move, etc will eventually wear on the reader's nerves. Just let it all unfold.
DON'T MARK EVERY PAGE WITH 'CONTINUED'
If there is a more profound monument to redundancy, I don't want to know what it is. If you think whoever's reading your script doesn't have the intelligence, savvy and the general kindergarten smarts to keep turning the pages, then by all means, put CONTINUED prompts at the top and bottom of your pages.
But most of us manage to read an entire script without the instructions, thanks. It's like labeling your coffee mug with an arrow and THIS END UP.
This also goes for CUT TO: after every scene. When we see the next scene slug, then we know the next scene begins. Remember, what you're after is a clean look, so why clutter up the pages with needless directions like this?
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