Specifications | Types | Slug line | Scene Description Lines | Terms | example

Why bother with format? Suppose you were a film executive and you liked two stories equally well, but had to choose only one. Shooting a film costs several thousand dollars a minute, sometimes close to a million. When you looked at one script, you weren't able to tell how long it was, how many scenes were to be filmed outside at locations requiring expensive transportation, or how many scenes were to be filmed at night, keeping expensive actors and film crews up all night. The writer hadn't bothered to put it in the correct format, and who knows what else he might have neglected. Which one would you choose? An example scene from Prom Dateillustrates the proper format.

Screenplay Script Technical Specifications

Typewritten. 1-1/2 inch left margin. 1 inch top, right, and bottom margins. Type: Monotype font (such as Courier New), 12 point.

Binding: Preferred - Three hole bound with brass brads. No cover, or plain cover with title and writer's name.

Title page: Title mid-page. Writer's name mid-page. Name, address and phone at lower left corner. 

No cast page, or scene layouts, or other pages.

Dates and draft numbers are not recommended. A WGA number is common, and is typically used in place of a copyright notice (which is dated). Scripts must be registered, for a fee, with the Writer's Guild to obtain a WGA number. 

First story page: No title or writer's name on this or following script pages. A running heading is acceptable but not common.

Dialogue lines: Dialogue lines are limited to 3 inches in length.

Types of scripts

You may hear of several types of scripts. Although there are representative styles of scripts, there is no standard script format. The following format information is based on commonly accepted conventions.

Masterscene Script: Scene by scene presentation of the drama. This is the form usually used for initial readings, and the format used for this guide..

Shooting Script: A very technical script listing the camera shots to be used during filming. Shooting scripts are prepared by directors, or other experienced professionals, from masterscene scripts. This form is not used with this guide.

Teleplay Script: Television script. This form is not used with this guide. But for information, TV shows specify the type format they use. They often use a format that resembles an audio/visual script with dialogue on one side of the page and camera and technical directions on the other. They also often use the scripts typically used by the film industry. Drama, sitcoms, soaps, and TV movies all use different formats. A guide such as The Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats gives representative samples. Scripts for TV only need to follow a special format when submitted to a specific show, and it would be necessary to write the producer for specific instructions. 

DON'T SEND SCRIPTS or more than a brief paragraph of information about a story to the film or TV industry - they will only be refused.

Slug line

Scenes are always preceded by a slug line that tells whether the scene is inside or outside, the location, and whether it is day or night. Examine the following slug line and see if you can easily write one yourself: 

INT.  JOHNNY'S APARTMENT - DAY

INT. = Interior, EXT. = Exterior

Scene Description Lines

The slug line is followed immediately by scene description lines. These tell more about the setting, who is in the scene, and sometimes where they are located and what they are doing. Important instructions are placed here. 

Scene instruction lines occur throughout the scene as needed. They often instruct about essential character physical actions. 

Characters sometimes talk when they aren't within camera range, or are on the phone, radio, etc. When this happens, you write the character name and dialogue as usual, but next to the character name write (O.S.) when they are off screen, or (V.O.) when the voice is dubbed or reproduced (voice over).

Two other conventions: Everything is written in present tense - don't put ed on the end of words. Put a character's name in ALL CAPITALS in the scene description lines the first time the character appears in the script.

Terms

Only one technical term is needed in Masterscene scripts: DISSOLVE.

Scene changes: In modern film, scenes change abruptly from one to the next. This is termed CUT TO, and is unnecessary to write in the script unless there is some risk of confusion. To show that time has elapsed, DISSOLVE is used. This means the ending scene, or shot, fades out while the next fades in. When needed, DISSOLVE should be written at the right margin:

Shots tell the director what the camera is pointed at. Don't use the word camera in a script, always use SHOT. Specifying shots and other technical things interferes with reading the story. Avoid using shots if at all possible. The writer's job is to tell the story in words. The director's job is to tell it cinematically. He will decide what shots are necessary. For example, if Elizabeth sees a bug inside her milk glass, just write: "Elizabeth sees a bug inside her milk glass. She makes a face." The director will decide what shots to use to show that.

The following example scene from Prom Date illustrates the proper format to use. The names of the script elements are in bold. Note: It isn't possible to show exact formatting in HTML.

Example scene illustrating formatting
Note: it is very difficult to display screenplay formatting in HTML. This is an approximation.

EXT. CROWN HILL HIGH SCHOOL - DAY (Slug Line)

SHAUN and TIM are walking away from the school carrying books. RYAN is about to leave in a funny car. Shaun is ignoring his sister, ELIZABETH, who is approaching with her boyfriend, JOHN. (Scene description lines)

SQUEALING TIRES (Sound effects line)

All of the students hug the inside edge of the sidewalk or take to the grass. Tim steps on Shaun's sister, Elizabeth, who is walking by. The cars on the street clear a wide path for Ryan. (Scene instruction lines)

HORNS HONKING, POLICE SIREN

              ELIZABETH
          (Smug.) (Dialogue direction line)
      Shaun, do you have a date for
      prom? (Dialogue line)

Shaun and Tim ignore Elizabeth and walk on. DAVE walks by them toward the parking lot.

              DAVE
      Hi, guys.

              SHAUN
      Hail, Dave.

              TIM
          (Under breath)
      King of Geeks.

LAURA exits the parking lot with a CAR LOAD OF GIRLS. Shaun and Tim watch as the car approaches.

              SHAUN
      What wouldn't I give for a
      prom date with Laura?

              TIM
      Give your brain, you won't
      lose much.

              SHAUN
      At least we're not geeks.
      Geeks never get dates.

Laura and Dave the Geek exchange waves. Shaun and Tim stand on the sidewalk with their eyes bulging. Shaun drops his books on the sidewalk and then trudges toward the gym.