Script formatting

Presenting your work appropriately suggests a professional approach and an understanding of the medium and format for which you are writing.

Deciding which format to use will be determined by the type of script you are writing. Formats are dictated by technology, and there are good reasons for using them. A correctly formatted script makes an executive's life easier and a writer's life simpler - especially during the long process of rewriting.

Front Page

 SCREENPLAY FORMAT 

by 

Matt Carless 1. 

"SCREENPLAY FORMAT" 

Every script should have a title page with one contact address only in the left hand corner. 

Always include a phone number and an e-mail address if you  have one spec script.

If you have an agent, the address and number  can go here. left hand corner. 

A draft number or date is not required on a spec script. 

Page 1

FADE IN: 

EXT. LOCATION #1 - DAY 

This is how to begin your film or television screenplay. Scene headings are typed in capitals and must indicate: interior or exterior, the location, and day or night. 

Scene action is double-spaced under the heading in upper and lower case text with double-spacing between paragraphs. 

Scene action should only deal with what is happening on the screen and must never stray into superfluous novelistic text related to character thoughts or back-story. 

A general rule of thumb is to limit a paragraph of scene action to four or five lines. Consider each paragraph as a significant beat of action within your scene. 

INT. LOCATION #2 - NIGHT 

Begin a new scene with the heading triple-spaced from the preceding scene. Always follow a scene heading with a line of scene action. 

CHARACTER #1 

Character cues appear in capitals indented to around the middle of the page, but not centred. The first letter of each cue is always in alignment. 

CHARACTER #2 

A character is designated by either their first or last name, but a role designation may be used instead with personal titles abbreviated. The designated name should remain consistent throughout the script. 

CHARACTER #1 

Dialogue appears directly under the character name in normal upper and lower case text. Similarly, it is not centred. 

(pause) 

Split dialogue between pages only if at least two lines appear on the first page, and only after a sentence. 

(MORE) 2. 

CHARACTER #1 (CONT'D) 

Begin the following page with a new character cue like this. 

CHARACTER #2 

(beat) 

Parenthetical instructions appear in lower case text enclosed within brackets on a separate line in the body of the dialogue. 

(pause) 

Never leave a parenthetical hanging at the bottom of a page when breaking a character's speech. Move it to the top of the next page under the character name. 

If scene action interrupts a character's speech on the same page... 

CHARACTER #2 (CONT'D) 

Then you must begin a new character cue when continuing the dialogue, but including (CONT'D) isn't essential. Dialogue must always be preceded by a character name and never appear on its own. 

INT. LOCATION #1 - DAY 

On occasions, it may be necessary to indicate two characters speaking simultaneously. This should be used sparingly, but if you need to do it this is how. CHARACTER #1  Show your first character speaking on the left.

CHARACTER #2  While the character on the right tries to get a word in edgeways.