Leaders or Subtitles are used to cover up gaps in continuity, and are supposed to give the spectator a clearer understanding of the story; for instance, such expressions as “Next Morning,” “The Horrible News,” “Later,” or “Midnight,” etc. Such subtitles prepare the audience for what is to follow, and help to make the following incidents more clear.
It is sometimes impossible to give the proper explanation of the story in action, so a Subtitle is used.
It is not necessary, to place on subtitles the name of the person who is making the “speech.” You should arrange your title so that there could be no question as to which character was speaking the lines.
Do not jump from daylight action to night-time without inserting a subtitle to show elapsion of time, as in sample play Subtitle No. 8—“Next Morning.”
Do not, however, be too free with the use of subtitles, as the action of your play should tell the story.
The interjection of conversation into a picture play Scenario is sometimes necessary, but it should be avoided, if at all possible.
The proper wording and placing of Leaders or Inserts will improve the film immensely.
All speech Inserts should be couched in natural language, reading as if the character would make such a remark.
If Inserts are in unnatural language, the scene loses considerable strength.
A short scene is often better than a Subtitle, as it portrays the incidents in a more impressive manner.
At times, you may be obliged to break a scene; which means that you flash another scene for a few seconds and then go back and show the original scene. As an illustration we refer you to Scenes 15, 16 and 17 of sample play.
The average number of words to use in a subtitle is from 2 to 10. A bit of dialogue which is explanatory can be used occasionally as a subtitle. Refer to “Inserts” in Scenes 23 and 27 of sample Scenario.
It is a good idea for you to number your Subtitles separately from the number of scenes, as Subtitle No. 1, Subtitle No. 2, etc.
Put Subtitles between the reels when you have more than a one-reel picture, as:
Subtitle No. 16.—END OF PART ONE.
Part Two. Subtitle No. 17.—THE TRUTH REVEALED.