"ing" - and - "and"

[GoogledOut]

Recently I read that using "and" and "ing" in descriptions is wrong. I've looked through many scripts - "and" and "ing" are often used freely.

Is there a rule -a preferred way - that needs to be followed?

Below is a sample I wrote. Adding or dropping and's and ing's isn't terribly difficult. Should I go through every scene looking for this issue?
____________________
Jimmy quickly walks to the two car garage door, unlocks it, lifts it open. On the side, next to a ton of engineering equipment, is a two seat, white VESPA scooter.

Jimmy starts the scooter, puts on his helmet, eases out onto the driveway.

As he's driving down the street a car pulls away from the curb, causing Jimmy to turn left and brake hard.
_______________
unlocks it and lifts it open. - - - is the "and" bad?
As he drives down the street... - - - was "driving" bad?
Jimmy has to turn left (a new sentence vs the comma) - - - is "causing" cool?
__________________
Thanks ahead.
sk

[Ven]

I haven't studied grammer for almost 10 years, so I might not remember everything about gerunds and participial phrases and passive verbs and everything like that.

But you definitely want to pack your words with punch.

I don't think it's a rule per say.
If a reader sees it in the script, they aren't going to throw your script away, for instance.
But, if you have a lot of flimsy words, the read might be boring and after awhile the reader will pick up on it.
Especially when they write the coverage, they might mark you down for it.

Of course, there are sure to be times when you need to use it.
Just try to limit them.

As for "and"...I think you should mix it up. Sentences should not be long, but one compound and/or phrase will vary sentence length and not be too much.
You don't want. All of your sentences. Three words long. Like this. No more than you want all of your sentences to be run-ons.

A lot of times though, shorter sentences pack a punch.

So I say just mix it up.

How I'd write your example (but by no means is this the only way, just my style):

---

Jimmy hurries to the garage and unlocks it. Lifts open the door.
Inside? A two seat, white VESPA scooter.

He sticks in the key. Revs the engine. Straps on his helmet and eases down the driveway, out into the street.

Suddenly, a car pulls away from the curb.
He frantically swerves left and slams the brakes. Hard.

[Ven]

I only had to edit that about 10 times to make it readable.

[RunningFox83]

Originally Posted by GoogledOut

Recently I read that using "and" and "ing" in descriptions is wrong. I've looked through many scripts - "and" and "ing" are often used freely.

Is there a rule -a preferred way - that needs to be followed?

Below is a sample I wrote. Adding or dropping and's and ing's isn't terribly difficult. Should I go through every scene looking for this issue?
____________________
Jimmy quickly walks to the two car garage door, unlocks it, lifts it open. On the side, next to a ton of engineering equipment, is a two seat, white VESPA scooter.

Jimmy starts the scooter, puts on his helmet, eases out onto the driveway.

As he's driving down the street a car pulls away from the curb, causing Jimmy to turn left and brake hard.
_______________
unlocks it and lifts it open. - - - is the "and" bad?
As he drives down the street... - - - was "driving" bad?
Jimmy has to turn left (a new sentence vs the comma) - - - is "causing" cool?
__________________
Thanks ahead.
sk

This reads perfectly to me, mate.

[HollywoodScribe]

I don't see any problems with "and" though the rewritten lines feel more active to me. I prefer it the way Ven wrote it.

The “is driving” verb is called present progressive. In fiction, it's used to indicate a secondary action continuing up until or while the main action - the sentence's primary verb - occurs. Mary is walking and steps on a leprechaun. Mary is kneading bread when the phone rings.

In a screenplay, you should't use present progressive verbs. Mary hikes, and she steps on a leprechaun. Mary kneads bread. The phone rings.

[Population17]

*off topic*

I read a script for an hour long horror flick once that used "this way and that" at naseum. I mean literally, once per page.

She yanks on the door. Locked. The killer gets closer.

She runs this way and that.

Really? What the heck does that mean?

It bugged the crap out of me.

b