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Intro To Screenplay Formatting

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trisha cornellia
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Intro To Screenplay Formatting

Uploaded by

trisha cornellia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Intro To Screenplay Formatting

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WRITING YOUR FIRST SCREENPLAY!
We're here to help you learn the screenplay format as quickly as possible, so you
can spend your time doing what you love: Writing!
All you need to get started is an understanding of the four main line types:
1. Scene Heading
2. Action
3. Character
4. Dialogue

These four line types will make up the majority of your script. To learn more about
when and how to use these, check out our step-by-step guide below:
2.

1. Start with a SCENE HEADING (or Slugline):


This is a single-line description of the location and time of day, made up of 3
parts: Indoor (INT.) or Outdoor (EXT.), the specific location, and the time of day.

You should use a new scene heading for each change of location, and it's
important to maintain consistent names throughout the script. If the location is
written as NANCY'S LIVING ROOM the first time, that's the only name that
should be used for that location. (Don't worry, previous locations will auto-
suggest for you in WriterDuet, to make staying consistent as easy as possible!)
When indicating time of day, use a hyphen to specify DAY, NIGHT, or
CONTINUOUS (no time change from previous scene). It's best to avoid specifics
here (e.g. SUNSET) unless absolutely necessary.
3.

2. Write some ACTION lines:


These are a present tense, narrative description of what is happening.

A few main elements of action lines to remember:


Character introduction: Use all-caps for the first introduction of a speaking
character. Optionally, follow with their approximate age in parentheses, then a
brief description.
Present tense: The audience can only see what is actively happening. Don't end
your verbs with -ing or -ed. WriterDuet has a Present Progressive checker to
catch any mistaken -ing verbs!
Stay concise: For readability, try to keep each Action paragraph to 4 lines max.
Break apart separate moments to build your readers' momentum.
4.

3. Give your CHARACTERS a voice with DIALOGUE:


Character lines are automatically in all-caps and indicate who is speaking.
Dialogue lines directly follow and indicate what the character is saying.
WriterDuet automatically remembers your characters, and predicts what line type
you'll need!

Other notes for Character Lines:


By default (CONT'D) appears when the same character speaks twice in a row.
WriterDuet will add these for you automatically! For example:
NANCY
Are you kidding me? I am not going
outside.
Fred looks at her with pouting, puppy dog eyes.
NANCY (CONT'D)
Okay, fine.

Write (V.O.) after a character's name when the character is not physically
present, for example with narration.
Write (O.S.) after a character's name when the character can be heard but not
seen, for example in another room.
5.

4. Take out the fluff


A screenwriter's job is to tell a story, not direct a movie. Writing every detail about
how to execute the production can be distracting for the reader. Take the
following scene for example:

INT. NANCY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT


Nancy takes a sip from a mug and looks towards the window.
CUT TO:
CLOSE UP ON RAIN HITTING WINDOW
She pulls another blanket onto herself and shivers. The
camera WHIPS AROUND to the door as FRED barges in.
Nancy gasps.
FRED
I'm home.
FADE TO BLACK.

Things like describing camera movements or transitions are generally


unnecessary, unless they add to the storytelling. Remember that your first
audience is probably a script reader, not a cinematographer.
Aim to paint a picture with your descriptions without explicitly describing technical
terms and pulling your reader out of the story:

INT. NANCY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT


Nancy is alone in her spacious living room, bundled under
multiple blankets. A HOWLING STORM rages outside.
Nancy takes a sip from a mug and looks towards the window.
It's pouring buckets.
Suddenly, the door FLIES OPEN as FRED enters, completely
soaked. Nancy gasps.
FRED
I'm home.
6.

5. Other formatting notes


Generally avoid bold and italics. Underlining key words is the preferred method
of drawing attention to a key word, but do so judiciously.
(Parentheses) should be rare, one line, and never at the end of a Dialogue block!
Use these to imply tone for the subsequent dialogue, for example:
NANCY
(lying poorly)
I just remembered! I have to make
50 crêpes for my family.

6. Happy writing!
That's it for screenplay formatting basics!
If you want an even deeper understanding of syntax and style, we recommend
reading screenplays from writers you enjoy to see their technique right on the
page!
Not sure where to find screenplays to read? Check out our blog post round up of
the 2021 Oscar-nominated screenplays here!

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