Witness, written by Earl W. Wallace and William Kelley, is a screenplay that uses visual language to its advantage in order to help the reader easily create a film within their mind. Scenesthro in which language helps create a picture are scattered throughout the script. Take for example the first scene of the film, in which the Amish community comes to pay respect to a departed member of the community, Jacob Lapp, husband to Rachel and Father to Samuel. The way the writers describe the scenery, such as "the horses breath smokes on the frosty air," or the way they writers describe certain characters, such as Rachel Lapp as "a young woman of perhaps twenty seven...a robust woman of full figure, spirit and intelligence" help bring the events to life.
Also, Wallace and Kelley mention how the image should look like by writting in camera shots and movements. For example, the writers would mention what would be in the foreground or background in a particular scene. The use of camera shots and movements, such as LOW ANGLE, ANGLE IN BEDROOM, A BIG SHOT, THEIR POV, etc. helps create a more finished look at what the finished film could potentially look like.
-Juan Sanchez
1) Considering the film is called Witness, do you believe that Samuel is a properly developed character, or do you think he is put on the back burner while the story of Book and Rachel is told?
2) In the handout, the writer talks about how amazing it is that partnerships in writing screenplays works, be it partners that started out as friendships or complete strangers. Do you believe that partnerships work well if the people involved have never met before or do you think that Witness was just a fluke?
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I believe Samuel is put a bit on the back burner for a while. But it's okay, because he was just to put things in motion, to connect Book and Rachael.
Though he got more attention towards end, perhaps hinting that he may follow in Book's footsteps.
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