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Topic : What does "OFF" mean in a script? Could anybody, please, enlighten me as to what "off" means in the following excerpts taken from the script for the TV show "Breaking Bad"? (I've also come - selfpublishingguru.com

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Could anybody, please, enlighten me as to what "off" means in the following excerpts taken from the script for the TV show "Breaking Bad"? (I've also come across the same use of "off" in other scripts).

"Our two scary Cousins glare at Heisenberg. Off them, wrathful and
unblinking, their lips moving in silent prayer... and us thinking ”Oh
shit. THIS can’t be good...”

He stands chest-high, frantically splashing water at the last few
lumps of cash still BURNING poolside. Off our hero...

PAMELA Alright. I usually open with “So sorry you’re here...” (off
Sky’s sad smile) Where would you like to begin?

PAMELA And it’s not an apartment, it’s a house that you live in? (off
Skyler’s nod) Do you own outright, or is there a mortgage, or do you

SKYLER Okay. I will think about that. **Off the two of them shaking
hand**s -- friendly, but strained

Off Walt, staring at him... then lowering his head in assent:

Off her, frustrated and grieving and not allowed by circumstance to
even explain herself to her son...

The two slices are carefully mated. Off come the crusts, sliced with a
sharp knife.

Off come their Canali suits.

Off these strange events...

MARIE He must have! Why not just say it?! -- Off Marie, left stewing
now

Off Jesse, maybe just now beginning to see the light...

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In the context you've provided, OFF Marie, left stewing now means "this is the last thing the camera sees before it moves off her to the next shot."

These are framing directions to the camera person. Look at the parentheticals:

PAMELA And it’s not an apartment, it’s a house that you live in? (off Skyler’s nod) Do you own outright, or is there a mortgage, or do you...

That means that while Pamela is speaking, the camera either cuts to Skyler so the audience can see her nodding or the camera has been focusing on Skyler while Pamela is speaking out of the frame and then cuts (back) to Pamela with Skyler's nod.

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In a screenplay, "Off" is an abbreviation for "off-screen" or "off-stage" or "off-camera". Thus, whatever actions are happening, are happening off camera.

Look here for basics on the terms used while writing a screenplay/stageplay/etc.: www.screenwriting.info/glossary.php

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