: Re: How Much Descriptive Information Is Enough For a Locale In A Screenplay? First out, my question pertains strictly to screenplays. Secondly, it deals with a spec script. Now, there seems to be

@Carla500

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The Power of Common Knowledge

Simply base the amount of description upon how easily you can apply common knowledge.

If your main setting is:

Downtown Chicago

Then, your script reader will understand when you say the character is standing outside of a building. Your reader will assume it is a skyscraper and not additional info is necessary.

SmallTown USA

However, if your setting is Smalltown USA outside of a building that is necessary and specific to your plot -- old barn or horse stable or something, you can probably just add the bit about the barn or horse stable.

Sci-Fi Setting

If, however, the setting is another planet in the future where the aliens have 16 eyes and 4 arms, then the buildings may look a bit different and need to be described specifically.

Main Reason To Make It Short
Directors do not like to be told too many specifics because it :

wastes their time
limits their creative outlet
may offend their intelligence.

All of this is extremely well explained in the very short and fantastically instructive book :
How To Write A Movie In 21 Days by Viki King - amazon link

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