Does anyone know anything about writing a silent movie? I don't suppose that there are any books about it still available?

Would a script with no dialogue have fewer pages than a regular one, or would it have more because it needs more description?

I would suggest that it would be about the same - with more detailed direction covered in the action blocks (whatever they're called) to cover for the absolute lack of dialogue.

I'm kind of facing the same thing with mine, because while I do *have* dialogue, there really is very little of it, and regardless of the guide telling me not to mess with the camera, I have very specific ideas on exactly how I want shots to look and I feel that extra close attention to the action compensates somewhat for the absence of bludgeoning obvious speech.

ps. I'll truly applaud you if you write a silent film.

I think this is a brilliant idea. A renaissance of the silent film is years overdue. I suspect that an ordinary script would work, because in the silent films the actors did actually speak -- you just couldn't hear what they were saying.

Do you intend to have a background music track, a background piano track, a score for the pianist, or real silence?

If you're planning a music or piano track then the tune names should probably appear as directions (e.g. MUSIC: MAPLE STREET RAG) but I'm not an expert and I've never written a film script in my entire life, so don't trust me.

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In many silent movies when the actors spoke they would cut to a screen with the words written on it so people could understand the plot. So if you were doing that you'd still have to write what goes on those screens.

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There was a very short "silent film" on America's Next Top Model (I think with Carridee). You can see it (at least in part) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8an9gS3pbo

It covers some typical conventions of old silent films.

Saipanwriter
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