tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post8640273451465997610..comments2023-12-26T23:07:08.005-08:00Comments on TOMORROWVILLE: "Business," Attribution, and the Choreography of GazeDavid Isaakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-16525647172401241412009-02-19T09:44:00.000-08:002009-02-19T09:44:00.000-08:00Hi, Emma--I've never read Stanislavski, not being ...Hi, Emma--<BR/><BR/>I've never read Stanislavski, not being a thespian.<BR/><BR/>Confusingly, the screenwriting crowd has also started using something they call "story beats," which insofar as I understand it is nothing more than a list of major events in a story--i.e. what normal people would call "an outline."<BR/><BR/>Why they think they need an additional term isn't clear to me, but I think that if they needed one they should have considered coming up with a term not already in use.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-23316025901872854482009-02-19T05:04:00.000-08:002009-02-19T05:04:00.000-08:00Yes, in theatre a 'beat' is one of two things - th...Yes, in theatre a 'beat' is one of two things - the same kind of not-really-quite-a-pause as in scriptwriting, or in Stanislavskian work it's the time between the character conceiving an intention, and acting on it. (At least, that's what I remember - it's been a long time since I read An Actor Prepares, but I keep meaning to go back to it. It has a lot to say to writers about process).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-52570961291210416862009-02-15T14:39:00.000-08:002009-02-15T14:39:00.000-08:00Hi, Janet, Hi Tim--Yeah, I'm familiar with "beat"-...Hi, Janet, Hi Tim--<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I'm familiar with "beat"--originally a screenwritng term. And sometimes when a scropt wants to emphasize a pause, the screenwriter will literally write "(beat)" or insert some sort of 'parenthetical' describing business: "(dropping phone and turning)". <BR/><BR/>Parentheticals are also used to describe how a line is delivered. In that context, they are often called 'wrylys' because of their all-too-common use "(wryly)".<BR/><BR/>In fiction a beat signifies a rhythmic change, but doesn't necessarily attribute dialog. For example in:<BR/><BR/>"I'm just tired, that's all." A crow flew past the window, cawing. "I think I'll take a shower."<BR/><BR/>the crow line is a beat, but it doesn't do any speaker attribution.<BR/><BR/>Guess I'll just keep calling it "business" until something else comes along.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-57232842791690904412009-02-14T01:57:00.000-08:002009-02-14T01:57:00.000-08:00Have to say I've always called this "business". I...Have to say I've always called this "business". It doesn't have any pejorative overtone for me.<BR/><BR/>"Beat" fits as well. I think Lawrence Block may have used the term.Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-33829565339588269872009-02-13T21:44:00.000-08:002009-02-13T21:44:00.000-08:00I think the word you're looking for is a "beat". ...I think the word you're looking for is a "beat". Don't ask me where I heard it. Probably at AW, though I think I've seen it elsewhere too.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600030574995481267noreply@blogger.com