Questions re: Scripts

[nickconrad]

I have no idea if this is the place to ask these questions, but I may as well have a go at it. I have the post-production script for The Shining (1980) here on my screen, and I very quickly have realized that I am missing something clearly important in reading it. Here's an example:

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING/BOULDER - DAY - L.S.

Apartment Building - cars parked in front of it. Mountain
in b.g. CAMERA TRACKS IN on Apartment Building.

CUT TO:

INT. JACK & WENDY'S APARTMENT IN BOULDER (USA) / LIVING
ROOM - DAY - M.L.S.

DANNY is sitting at table eating a sandwich. WENDY sitting
cam.R reading book.

I figured M.S. was medium-shot, L.S. was long-shot, but what in the hell is an M.L.S. then? Cam.R? I am sure it's Kubrick directing every minute detail of every cut right there in the script, but I'd like to be able to understand what I'm reading if anyone can give me some insight?

I have one other question as well, and it is somewhat related. Just how difficult is it for a movie to secure the use of a song? In the Blues Brother's script, it's just there. You'll just have a line "SONG: 'Tailfeather' Blues Brothers dancing in background" as if to say "Ray, dammit, play along", but I've heard that some people have very different experiences. Apparently Zach Braff just had to ask Paul Simon's permission to use "The Only Living Boy in New York" for Garden State, but Jack Black had to get down on his knees in a packed auditorium to plead with the Led Zeppelin guys for use of Iceman. I've heard Elton John is somewhere in between. How does this sort of thing usually go down?

[tsmooth31]

M.L.S. = Medium Long Shot, i believe that is when you can shoot one or 2 people's entire body, i took a class about al of this stuff but its been about 5 or 6 years so im pretty rusty

not sure about the cam.R , maybe they are just talking about a certain camera, like maybe there is camera r, s and t, or maybe camera right? those are just complete guesses tho

and i have no idea about the music question

[nickconrad]

Thanks, good to know I'm at least on the right track.

[BitchFromHell]

There is a Cam Quality to movies as well.

A cam is a theater rip usually done with a digital video camera. A mini tripod is sometimes used, but a lot of the time this wont be possible, so the camera make shake. Also seating placement isn't always idle, and it might be filmed from an angle. If cropped properly, this is hard to tell unless there's text on the screen, but a lot of times these are left with triangular borders on the top and bottom of the screen. Sound is taken from the onboard microphone of the camera, and especially in comedies, laughter can often be heard during the film. Due to these factors picture and sound quality are usually quite poor, but sometimes we're lucky, and the theater will be fairly empty and a fairly clear signal will be heard. Thus seeing Cam.R and sometimes Cam.L. There is also Cam.U and Cam.D

[nickconrad]

Does that mean that cam.R means Camera-Right just like Stage-Right? Honestly I'm taking a wild stab at deciphering what you said, it's over my head I'm sorry.