The Tony Gilroy take on Bourne uses this during key action sequences...and there are elements of it chiming in his Michael Clayton masterwork. It (the haiku style) works so well, when we're reading it after we've SEEN the film -- almost the perfect style for re-firing the visual cortex.

So I'd be curious to hear the take of a seasoned studio reader who has encountered this style in a new spec of an original story, yet to be produced. While upholding its allegiance to the Prime Directive -- an uber-fast read -- does this style also sell the story?

John, I'll update the OP to request script readers who follow GITS to respond. I'll also send a query to some script readers I know through courses I've taught, see if they'll comment. But if you've read any Shane Black scripts, you will see a similar approach. And he's sold several spec scripts.

Yeah, Shane's stuff uses the same basic approach, only within conventional formatting, i.e. He doesn't go a line at a time - nonetheless, the essential style (sparse, simple strong narrative that conjures images in your mind's eye and cannily appeals to your emotions, with "less is more" as the guiding subtext).

As a seasoned studio reader, all I can say is: If you can do it right - i.e. make genuinely effective use of this style - I would love to read it. Yes, it would help sell the story - so long as the story is worth buying!

Sorry, meant to say, "...nonetheless he utilizes the essential style..."

Folks, that's Billy Mernit speaking and he is authoritative on all fronts.

Billy, you're back after your 'semi-hiatus'! I'll do a post tomorrow to pimp your return.

Everybody check out Billy's fantastic blog, one of the earliest and best: Living the Romantic Comedy.

Disclaimer: I haven't read any scripts in this style. I have only read what has been presented in this post.

I am very curious how readers respond. And with all due respect to Mernitman, more of a response than if you can do it right, I would love to read it.

My first thought is that this would never work for Sideways or The Social Network. But then I thought maybe it would. Really, it probably would work in any case wherein the standard style is strict formatting, over formatting, clever formatting. Then after a few scripts in this style are sold and become common, the format route will reemerge.

My second thought was whether or not this style would throw off my page number for plot point 1.

@Mr. Bootles: Let me say the haiku-style is not appropriate for every type of script. As I dig into in the Screenwriting Master Class course "Core II: Character and Style," a writer has to make decisions like that taking into consideration the particular Narrative Voice they use for that particular script.

Re page count: Yes, if you used one line for every sentence or descriptive clause, that would throw off your page count considerably. Therefore you would have to compensate for that by really tightening up your scene description - another we get into in the Style part of the Core II course.

Scott & Mr. Boodles: It feels like we're in a bit of forest-for-the-trees, tail-wagging-dog (or insert your favorite cliche) situation.

The actual "one line at a time" haiku of it all is ultimately so much less important than the substantive idea and content inherent in this style. Let's call it LIM (Less Is More).

I really don't care if the format's fricked with, and the "Haiku format"could even become a distraction (i.e. the stunt nature of the thing). What I'm applauding and encouraging - and fellow studio readers will back me up on this - is narrative that's lean but pungent, spare but visually evocative... cannily compact while straight and to the point.

You know what readers love above all else? White space. So if you can reduce your narrative to LIM essentials, with style (i.e. a knowing, personable, distinctive POV'ed voice on the page) and present it in the shortest paragraphs possible... we will be mightily inclined to pay careful attention to your every word.

Great stuff! Thank you, Scott and Mernitman.

Thanks for the responses. I would attempt to write a witty Haiku-esque response, but after today's much more effective words of encouragement, I thought I should simply get back to writing story...

Mr. Bootles.

Reading scripts.
Watching Movies.
Writing Pages.

Been dying to read that Point Blank script since reading about it in Backstory. For a recent example of the style, check out Wall-E.