u/No_Ordinary6572

Maximum Security Penitentiary for Criminal Sheep

Maximum Security Penitentiary for Criminal Sheep

Don't cry for them - these are criminal sheep who deserve a lifetime of incarceration for their unspeakable crimes.

u/No_Ordinary6572 — 12 days ago

For a few important scenes, a character describes a boxing match as he's fighting it, explaining the "sweet science" for the audience. In a screenplay, do you have to write action that redundantly mirrors what the character says in voice over? For example, if the voice over says:

Bob (V.O.)
I hammered him with with two quick left jabs under the heart, but he beat me back with a left hook that had all his power behind it. I planted a jackhammer right to his stomach, and when he bent over I slammed a left uppercut straight to the button.

Does the action have to say:

Bob throws two left jabs to Bill's chest. Bill pushes him back with a left hook, but Bob catches himself and throws a right to Bill's stomach. Bill bends over from the blast and Bob hits him in the jaw with a brutal uppercut.

Does every single punch have to be described in action?

IMPORTANT NOTE: I understand that this is a "show don't tell" medium, but in the case of these scenes, that will not apply here. I have entire fight scenes where the character MUST describe what he is doing for purposes of the story-at-large.

Thanks for your help.

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u/No_Ordinary6572 — 19 days ago