Tutorial › Path 1: First draft

Unit 2: Write a scene

In this unit, you write a seventh scene: the astronomers' return, celebrated on the town square.

Create the scene

Rail › Write.
In the list, touch "+": a scene is added at the end, numbered 7.

The list follows the film's order. Drag a scene to move it (or Alt+↑ / Alt+↓): the numbering follows.

Set the context

A scene's heading (EXT. TOWN SQUARE - DAY) is not typed in the text: it comes from the Context, in the inspector.

Open the inspector (button at the top right of the page) › Context.
Location / set: type "Town square" and create the location. Its type, interior or exterior, is set in its sheet; it goes into the heading.
Time of the action: Day.
Action: "The astronomers, fished out of the sea, parade before the crowd." Stakes: "To be recognised."

Action and Stakes sum up the scene: you find them on the sticky notes in Organize and in the Bible.

Writing in Fountain

Fountain is plain text that Gilgamesh formats. Write:

The brass band plays. The six astronomers, crowned with laurels, pass under an arch of flowers.

BARBENFOUILLIS
(to the crowd)
Gentlemen, the Moon awaits us once more.

NOSTRADAMUS
Without me.

A name in capitals, alone on its line, followed by a line of dialogue: a character speaking.
In brackets under their name: a parenthetical.
The rest: the action.
As you type a name, Gilgamesh suggests the project's characters: Tab accepts the suggestion.

Everything is saved as you type.

Cast the characters

Inspector › Characters › "Extract from the text": Barbenfouillis and Nostradamus are ticked, from their dialogue.
Tick the four other astronomers: they are there without speaking.

This cast feeds the breakdown and the actors' sides.

Create a shot from the text

Select the first sentence of action.
Touch "Create a shot" (icon in the toolbar): a shot is born, anchored on that passage.

The highlighter shows the portion each shot covers. The shot joins the Floor Plan, where it becomes a camera (unit 4).

Keep a version

Before a rewrite: inspector › Scene versions, give a name ("before the brass band") and save. Loading an old version destroys nothing: if the text has changed since, Gilgamesh first offers to keep the current state.

Next: Path 2: Development.