How to write a believable police investigation scene in a screenplay.
Thankfully, screenwriting is more than just “Write what you know.” Obviously, it’s also about creating and recreating worlds that you may have zero experience with.
Let’s say you want to write a script involving a crime scene or police investigation scene…but you’ve never been involved in law enforcement.
Many aspiring writers don’t think there’s a problem here. They just immersed themselves in writing the script –and fill in the blank Use their imagination.
They believe that from watching so many police procedural shows, they have a good enough understanding of how crime scene investigators operate.
Most people will eventually suffer Serious lack of credibility.
Professional writers take a different tack.
they do Research.
Scripting a crime scene or entire police investigation with all the right details will help create a better story and ultimately a better story. better sales opportunities.
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Kirk Flashner Profile: Law Enforcement Technical Consultant…
One way to do this is to ask for help Professional consultant Who can read your script and let you know what you did right and what you did wrong at the crime scene.
If you are writing a crime-based feature film script or television show, you should definitely consider hiring the expert services of someone like Kirk Fleshner.
For nearly 27 years, he was officially employed as a federal agent for the U.S. government. He is now a Film and television technical consultant— Review scripts to ensure technical accuracy of law enforcement practices and procedures.
Kirk was kind enough to make a list More common misunderstandings he found in the script When it comes to police investigation scenarios, you can find his contact details at the end of the post.
Even if you’re not writing a crime-based screenplay, you can apply the following points to your own genre, always remember to never settle for lessI think that’s how it works”.
Without further ado, Kirk talks about how to avoid common mistakes writers make when writing police investigation scenes.
Mistake #1: Academy students conduct surveys.
Writers sometimes create characters who are still law enforcement academy interns, at the same time Conduct an investigation.
The best example can be found in silence of the lambs.
Trainee agent Clarice Starling misses much of her new agent training at the highly regimented FBI academy. Works mostly alone Conduct dangerous investigations with minimal supervision. In the end, she graduated on time.
In fact, cadets do not conduct investigations during their training at the academy.
A lack of training in conducting external investigations will almost certainly result in their dismissal. In the best case scenario, students still have to go back and make up for missed training.
Mistake #2: Arresting and searching without a warrant.
An immediate search or arrest without a warrant can be an exciting conspiracy tactic, but investigators rarely do it.
In most cases, The search and arrest were conducted with a warrant. If the matter is urgent, while a search warrant is obtained, the location to be searched and/or the person to be arrested will be under surveillance.
Warrantless searches and arrests may later come under review and require investigators to clearly state the reasons for the exigent circumstances to prosecutors before accepting indictment, before a grand jury or in court.
The investigator must be able to clearly communicate a good reason Urgency of the case——For example, the criminal suspect is about to leave the country or commit a crime immediately. Otherwise, it will go bad quickly.
Mistake #3: Using a minor as a confidential informant.
When writers use underage child characters as a rule Confidential Informant (CI)they seem to have missed a very important fact. They are underage!
The use of minors as suspects is sometimes done by law enforcement. But it’s not as easy as picking them up on the street and taking them somewhere to discuss it.
Law enforcement is generally very cautious in their use of minors, almost always at the direction of a prosecutor and with the permission of their parent or guardian.
Law enforcement officials often focus on using minors as suspects in crimes without formal permission from their parents or guardians. Job termination Or worse.
Mistake #4: Sloppy handling of evidence.
Physical evidence isn’t typically just thrown in the trunk of an investigator’s vehicle, left there for weeks without any official law enforcement custody record, and then admitted as evidence in court.
Law enforcement agencies have strict rules about recording who possesses evidence, how long it is held, and where it is stored.
When evidence is withheld during a search warrant, it is recorded inventory list.
All of these together constitute the so-called “Chain of custody.” Failure to follow these procedures correctly may result in the prosecutor not taking the case or abandoning the case.
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A word from Kirk…
Screenwriters are only limited by their own imagination, and that’s a good thing. However, misunderstandings of how law enforcement actually works are also limited by their imaginations, but that’s where I come in.
I can review your work and Review of content that may be technically incorrectand lets you decide what to do next with your story.
I can also work more deeply with you to help you craft your story around proper law enforcement practices and procedures.
When I review a script, it’s a bit like conducting a survey. Each one is unique and you never know what you’ll find.
Let’s see how we can work together. You can contact me through the following methods information[at]flashner.com or on my website. I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know you and your story.
in conclusion.
make sure you Don’t fall into the same trap Like many aspiring screenwriters:
Writing articles about crime scenes and police investigations but not being sure they are correct. But keep them as you imagine them to be, for “no one will know the difference.”
The problem is, Some readers may.
Even if they don’t, they’ll like your script more if they feel like it’s in the writer’s hands. Take the time to research thoroughly their themes.
Not only does this show dedication, it also helps draw them into the story, putting you above the actual writers who didn’t bother to secure a police investigation scene.
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How much research do you do before writing about a crime scene or police investigation? Will you devote yourself to writing even if you only have a vague idea about the topic? Or do you do your research first? Let us know in the comments section below!
Like this article? Read more about the scene here…
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8 out of 10 writers are told how to write scenes the wrong way
8 Keys to Writing Scenes That Are Compelling and Engaging Readers
[© Photo credits: Unsplash, Flashner Consulting]
