Page One: “Moulin Rouge!” (2001)

Written by Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce

A trailer for the movie:

Reminder: There is a selling script and a shooting script. The former is also known as a writer’s draft. The latter is also known as a production draft. The shooting script often includes all sorts of camera shots and directing jargon as with the first page of Moulin Rouge! featured above.

A selling script — typically — does not. In some ways, the goal of a selling script is to suck the reader into the story, the emotional life of the characters. Camera shots, directing jargon, production lingo can disrupt the reader’s flow into the story.

This move toward a more literary style of writing in a screenplay has been in evidence since the advent of the spec script. It is not a rule. You can, if you must, use camera shots, even directing jargon. However, it is possible to suggest those type of production elements without using that type of language. For more background, go here.

You may read the screenplay for Moulin Rouge! here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.