Montage vs. Series of Shots
Written by Matt Lathrom
The montage and series of shots are nearly identical in formatting, but they communicate something very different to the reader.
I like to think of it in terms of time and space. The montage moves us through time, while the series of shots moves us through space. Both may show a passage of time, but it's much more explicit in a montage.
Take this example:
Creed's Training Montage
TRAINING MONTAGE 1
A. Dawn- we see the dun rising in the mist, over the industrial landscape of Philadelphia.
B. Schuykill River- Dawn. We see Adonis running along the majestic river. Vapor expels from his mouth on this brisk morning. We see Rocky watching from a vantage point along the adjacent road. Behind him is the van.
ROCKY
Keep up the pace!!
As Adonis moves on, the city outline is seen looming before him.
C. Int. Gym Rocky is seen holding the bag as Adonis pounds away. Under
the music we can faintly hear Rocky giving instructions.
...
Screenplay snippet from Creed (2015)
Notice the progression. There's an arc, a mini-story being told with this montage. We're seeing a fighter grow in ability in preparation for the big fight. Time is key as one image leads to the next. Thinking of it in production terms, the montage is much more focused on continuity: changes in wardrobe, location, and time of day.
Channel Zero's Series fo Shots
A SERIES OF SHOTS:
- MIKE’S CAR DOOR SLAMMING
- HIS KEY STARTING THE ENGINE
- MIKE’S LEXUS LEAVING MARLA’S DRIVEWAY
Screenplay snippet from Channel Zero: 101: You Have to Go Inside (2016)
Notice importance of imagery. While it does compress time, the key focus is on actions, visuals, and distinct points in space. In production terms, the series of shots is much more concerned with the position of the camera.
So which should you use?
The lines between the two can be blurry, but an easy way to decide which to use is to look at the name. Do the shots you imagine tell a short story over time? Is there a clear progression? Then you probably want to go with a montage. If actions or imagery are the focus, then you likely want a series of shots.
