In order to properly write a screenplay which can be read without the distraction of jumping all over the place, you must start with an outline. There are script writing software programs available to help you get started. However the basics you need to know right now start with the organization of your outline. It should include the following elements: the Outline of the Story, Development of the Characters, Organization of the Scenes, and the Structure of the Acts.

When you progress to the final step of actually writing the script, keep these keys elements in mind.

1. Scene Headings: Each time you have a character or characters move to a new setting you must use a new Screen Heading. All words should be in CAPITAL LETTERS using abbreviations when possible to keep the heading shortened. For example:

EXT. DAY – EARLY MORNING – ON BRIDGE OUTSIDE OF TOWN

This would be used to describe these four elements of the scene heading.

A) Exterior shot (as opposed to interior),

B) During the day (as opposed to night),

C) In the early morning (the specifics of the light conditions)

D) On bridge outside of town (the setting).

2. Scene Descriptions: Follow the scene heading making certain to use ALL CAPS when introducing a character for the first time. For example: “JENNIFER drove up to the bridge slowly her neck craning to see out the windshield.”

3. Sounds: As part of the scene description, you should also capitalize sounds which will be heard by the audience. For example: “SCREECHING OF BRAKES when Jennifer slid into the guard rail.”

4. Character/Dialogue: Dialogue is written centered underneath the character name. It should always be centered in the page with the character’s name who is speaking in CAPITAL LETTERS above the dialogue. For example:

JENNIFER
Why did my car have to break down on this old bridge?

These basic steps will help you to write clearly defined scenes. This is the foundation on which you will want to work your way through your entire script when learning how to write a screenplay. Additionally you will clearly mark each Scene with a Scene Heading, and break down the different Acts within the larger frame of the script by labeling them as well.

If you follow the steps of Outlining the Story, Developing your Characters, Organizing the Scenes, and Structuring the Scenes before you begin to actually write the screens with the above format, you will produce a script which can be read and understood without distraction.

Enjoy YOUR journey in creating Hollywood’s next great movie. And remember, it all starts with these basic elements and your willingness to learn the proper way of how to write a screenplay.

Your story is plotted, your characters are developed and your scenes are outlined, you are now ready to write your script in the correct format.  Formatting a screenplay can be a bit intimidating and quite tedious. WritingRoom will soon be launching our own screenplay writing application to help you with formatting…it’s going to be very cool!   But until then, you can follow a few simple guidelines to format and complete your screenplay in no time.

THE SIX MAIN COMPONENTS: A spec script consists of four main components: (1) Scene Headings, (2) Action, (3) Character Name and (4) Dialogue.  A shooting script ads camera angles, technical information, scene numbers and editing directions.  Adding these components should be avoided in a spec scripts and only used when absolutely necessary to the story.

(1) SCENE HEADINGS appear the beginning of every scene.  They tell us the location of the scene and the time of day it is taking place.  It is made up of three main elements.

The Scene Heading should be 1.5 inches (15 spaces) from the left edge of the paper.

* Location of the camera is the first element.  Is it inside or outside?  If it is indoors, use INT. for INTERIOR.  If it is outdoors, use EXT. for EXTERIOR.  Occasionally, if the action moves back and forth it is alright to use INT./EXT.

* Location of the scene is the second element of the scene heading. This lets us know where all the action is taking place.  The name of the location should be short and specific.

*Time of day is the last part of the scene heading.  This describes the time of day the scene is taking place.  Most often this will only be DAY or NIGHT.  You may use terms such as DUSK, DAWN, MORNING, EVENING and the TIME, if it essential to the story.  SAME (indicating the scene takes place at the same time as the previous scene), CONTINUOUS (to show continuity) and LATER (indicating a period of time has passed) may also be used occasionally when important to the story.

Here are some examples of how your scene heading should read….

EXT. BEACH – NIGHT

INT.  JOE’S BAR AND GRILLE – NIGHT

*There will be times that a fourth element will be needed to add more clarity.  This can be used when your screenplay jumps through time or if it is a dream. You may add this other element after the time. Here is how it should read…

INT. LUKE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT – SUMMER 1995

EXT. PLAYGROUND – DAY – KELLY’S DREAM

(2) ACTION or description, describes what is happening in the scene and who is present.  The narrative description is written in present tense.  Do not over “fluff” your descriptions; only add the details necessary to move your story forward.  However, you still want to add all the important actions and moments.  Try to limit your paragraphs to four or five lines, (not sentences but physical lines).  Physical descriptions of locations and characters should be sparse and essential to the story.  Remember, to capitalize character names at first introduction. DO NOT write anything that can not be shown on screen; thoughts, motives, recollections are a no-no (leave that for the dialogue).

The Action should be 1.5 inches (15 spaces) from the left edge of the paper.

(3) THE CHARACTER NAME, always appears over the dialogue every time the character speaks.  Character names are always capitalized.  If it is a minor character speaking, that has no name, it is alright to use a descriptive name such as WAITRESS, DOCTOR, GUY.  If there are two Doctors use, DOCTOR ONE and DOCTOR TWO.

The Characters Name should be 3.7 inches (37 spaces) from the left edge of the paper.

(4) DIALOGUE is not “real-like” speech; it only sounds like it, without the rambling.  It is focused, clear and concise.  You should attempt to keep your lines of dialogue short (unless it is a justifiable monologue); people must be able to get what your character is saying.

The dialogue should be 2.5 inches (25 spaces) from the left edge of the paper and end 2.5 inches (25 spaces) from the right edge of the paper.

(5) PARENTHETICALS are used within dialogue or next to the characters name to who the character is speaking to or how they are speaking.  Parentheticals are always inside parenthesis an on appear on their own line.  If they hit their left margin they wrap around to the next line.  Use parentheticals sparingly and for clarification purposes only.  Not only do they take up space, slow down the pace but they annoy actors.  How would you like to be told how to say every word?

Parentheticals look like this…..

CHARACTER NAME

(This is where the parenthetical is placed)

The dialogue follows after the parenthetical.  You may also

also place another parenthetical in the middle of dialogue

if needed like this….

(More direction)

More dialogue must follow this.

Parentheticals are also used to let use know the location of the character that is speaking.  This direction appears next to the Character’s Name.  There are two cases where this is found: VOICE OVER (VO) AND OFF SCREEN (OS).

VOICE OVER (VO) is typically used when a character or narrator’s voice can be heard talking from some unknown place.  Occasionally, the character is on screen and we are hearing his thoughts as he narrates his own story through a voice over.

OFF SCREEN (OS) is used when a character is speaking in a scene but does not actually appear on the screen.

Parantheticals should be 3.1 (31 spaces) from the left edge of the paper and end 2.9 inches (29 spaces) from the right edge of the paper.

(6) TRANSITIONS are used to indicate a change from one scene to the next.  In a spec script, they should be used sparingly.  Typical transitions are:  FADE IN, FADE OUT, CUT TO, MATCH CUT, MONTAGE, INSERT, INTERCUT, SERIES OF SHOTS, DISSOLVE TO and BACK TO SCENE.

Transitions should be right justified, one inch from the right edge of the paper OR 1.5 inches from the left edge of the paper

LENGTH: Your script should be anywhere from 90-120 pages.  Comedies rarely exceed 100 pages while dramas tend to be a little longer.  The latest trend in Hollywood has shortened the desired maximum length from 120 pages to 110.  DO NOT cheat by using thinner margins or smaller font.

FONT: Always use, Courier New-12 point-10 pitch.  It is important not to cheat on this, both for the eyes of industry professionals who read dozens of scripts a day, but also because this font style and size keeps to the standard one page is one minute of screen time.

TITLE PAGE: The title of your script should be centered on the page both vertically and horizontally.  It should appear in all capital letters.  There should be a double space and the word “by” should be typed you then double space again and type your name.

In the lower right hand corner, right justified should be: Your name, mailing address, phone number and email.  If you have decided to register your script with the Writers Guild or ProtectRite (which you can do on WritingRoom.com, under Create Writing) you may enter your registration number.

MARGINS and SPACING. This is where a screenplay formatting software really does come in handy, but once you get the hang of setting margins, it really isn’t too bad.  And get this–WritingRoom’s future screenplay writing application that will set margins and spacing for you…it will make life much easier.  Until then, here are the basic margin and spacing rules:

Page Margins:

-Left: 1.5 inches

-Right: 1 inch

-Top: 1 inch

-Bottom: 1 inch

-The Scene Heading should be 1.5 inches (15 spaces) from the left edge of the page.

-The Action should be 1.5 inches (15 spaces) from the left edge of the page.

-The Characters Name should be 3.7 inches (37 spaces) from the left edge of the page.

-The dialogue should be 2.5 inches (25 spaces) from the left edge of the paper and end 2.5 inches (25 spaces) from the right edge of the paper.

-Parenthetical should be 3.1 (31 spaces) from the left edge of the paper and end 2.9 inches (29 spaces) from the right edge of the paper.

-Transitions should be 1 inch (10 spaces) from the right of the page.

-Page numbers should be 1 inch from the edge of the right page.

Spacing:

DOUBLE SPACE between the SCENE HEADING and ACTION.

DOUBLE SPACE between ACTION PARAGRAPHS.

DOUBLE SPACE between ACTION and CHARACTER NAME.

SINGLE SPACE between CHARACTER NAME and DIALOUGE.

DOUBLE SPACE between DIALOGUE and the next CHARACTER NAME

SINGLE SPACE between CHARACTER NAME and PARENTHETICALS

SINGLE SPACE between PARENTHETICAL and DIALOGUE

PHYSICAL ELEMENTS: There are some basic physical elements of script that must be followed before turning over to a producer:

-A front and back cover, 110 lb solid white paper

-Title Page

-3 whole punched

-Held together by 1 ¼ inch #5 brad

DO NOT: There are things that people just seem to want to do but DON’T!!!

-Do not use any fancy covers, they will not help your script to be noticed.

-Do not write first draft, final draft

-Do not date your scripts

-Do not include a budget

-Do not number scenes, add camera or editing direction

-Do not suggested a talent list

-Do not include a list of characters or sets

-Do not include a synopsis, unless you are asked to do so

Movie script format is very important if you are a new screenwriter.  As it usually goes, you are likely excited to see some of the ideas that have been spinning around in your head be put down on paper. However, while you feel the creative juices flowing with characters and plots, you also may be unsure of how to put it all down in an understandable way. There is a correct format for movie scripts and if you don’t know it, your scripts will be passed over by directors for that reason alone. They can’t make a movie if they can’t understand what the author intended.

It’s All in the Details

In order for your movie script to be understood by both the actors and directors, every aspect of the script needs to be separated and formatted. This includes everything from scene numbers and directions, to characters and dialogue, all the way to the action portions of the story. If this isn’t done properly, it will affect your marketability, no matter how good your plot line. Even as an amateur or beginner, you should always begin the process correctly, especially if you plan to move up in this career. While you can start with software that does much of this for you, it’s also important to understand and recognize errors which may harm your movie script format efforts.

Margins Are Important

One of the main techniques that makes movie scripts readable is the difference in the margins. For example, action and stage directions are usually placed towards the left hand margin, while characters and their dialogue and action sit towards the center of the page.

Capitalize and Punctuate Correctly

Certain things in your movie script should always be placed in capital letters. These most certainly include the names of all of the characters involved in your script. However, you should also capitalize action words. For example, if you want the scene to include a sentence indicating that a mirror will break, you would capitalize the action word. In this case, that would be “BREAK”. This lets the actors and directors easily pick out what is actually supposed to be happening in a scene. Also, dialogue does not need to be placed in quotation marks in a movie script. It is already distinguishable with proper movie script formatting. You should, however, punctuate the dialogue sentences correctly.

Page Breaks

Whenever you’re writing a movie script, you are limited to the space on each page. Throughout the script, it’s inevitable that you will end up moving to another page in the middle of dialogue or action. If this happens, you should let the reader know that the event isn’t finished. When flow is interrupted by a page break, this should be indicated by (more).  On the beginning of the following page, include (cont’d).

Obviously, there is much more to think about to be sure that you are getting it all right. However, the more you practice and study scripts, the more familiar you will be with the process. If you have any questions or are uncertain of what the most correct format is, you should always err on the side of caution and look up examples of the proper movie script format.