image of Kathryn Bigelow via GQ
Even if you avoid commanding the camera (“Pan across Javert’s shattered visage”), you still might be directing in your writing in ways you don’t even notice. Which you shouldn’t do.
Kathryn Bigelow has her own ideas.
If you’re a filmmaker, scroll right on by. You write your script however you want. If you are not, accept right now that your mission is telling your story, not describing the movie exactly as you see it in your head.
For example. In Shane Black’s script for Beverly Hills Cop, he famously used this description for a mansion: “The kind of house I’ll buy if this movie is a big hit."
It suits the tone of the script perfectly, it inspires an instant image easily imaginable by anyone and it doesn’t bog down the read with meaningless details the way this does:
EXT. HOUSE – DAY
A big, white, sprawling mansion with manicured grass and topiary. A bright blue swimming pool shimmers, surrounded by sparkling white tile. Pristine white curtains stir gently in the open windows of the empty cabana.
Anywhere you find yourself giving a catalogue description of how things look, what people are wearing, whether they are blonde or brunette, directions for actors and shot setups such as "in through the window” or “Martha’a POV”, just ask yourself if they are important enough to stop the story so you can tell Kathryn Bigelow how to do her job.