Some screenwriters think that montages allow them to throw in any information in quick fashion without having to craft full scenes around that information. It's not meant to be used as a cheat by any means. Or it is used to communicate multiple reactions or experiences of multiple characters in multiple locations at the same time. The montage is used to communicate a big chunk of story in a short span of time, with the goal of still being able to allow the reader and audience to experience the informational and emotional elements of that chunk of story.
And those guidelines and expectations are simple - express what the reader should be seeing through their own cinematic mind's eye as quickly and simply as possible. There is no hard and fast rule on how these types of scenes are formatted within a screenplay beyond general guidelines and expectations. Montages can even be used to sum up a character's experience in multiple or single locations by using visuals and moments that best communicate that experience.
Those visuals and moments showcase character and story arcs, either in the progression of building to a particular arc point (Rocky running up the stairs, ready for the big fight) or merely showing multiple characters in multiple places reacting to something. Within a screenplay, the montage is a compilation of short scenes or moments - usually with little to no dialogue - that are grouped together to convey a passage of time quickly while communicating necessary visuals and moments within that condensed timeline. The term "montage" is defined as the process or technique of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate sections of film to form a continuous whole. Whether it's a Pretty Woman trying on luxury clothes or a Philadelphia boxer named Rocky training to go the distance, the montage sequence continues to be a cinematic staple. What's the proper way to format a montage within a screenplay and how do you know when to -and when not to - write them? We're going to explore that question here for this installment of our ongoing Screenwriting Basics series.
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