Guidelines for Scriptwriting

Guidelines for Writing a Guidelines for Writing a Film Industry Standard Film Industry Standard ScriptScriptBy Joseph CrossBy Joseph Cross

Before you even start Before you even start writing...writing...

Remember to have your whole document set Remember to have your whole document set up so that whatever you type is in size 12, up so that whatever you type is in size 12, Courier typeface.Courier typeface.

So for example it will look like this;So for example it will look like this;This would be the typeface that you would use throughout the whole of your script.This would be the typeface that you would use throughout the whole of your script.

Plus when you finally come to print remember Plus when you finally come to print remember that the industry also like your script to be that the industry also like your script to be printed on good quality white paper, 8 and a printed on good quality white paper, 8 and a half by 11 inches and at least 16 pound bond.half by 11 inches and at least 16 pound bond.

Found from: Found from: http://www.raindance.co.uk/Docs/ScriptFormatGuide.pdf

andand‘‘The Tyranny of Story Audience Expectations and The Short Screenplay By Ric BeairstoThe Tyranny of Story Audience Expectations and The Short Screenplay By Ric Beairsto

Now you have your Now you have your document set up...document set up...

There are some important things to keep in mind;There are some important things to keep in mind;

The first being, each page, when formatted correctly, is roughly worth The first being, each page, when formatted correctly, is roughly worth about a minute of screen time.about a minute of screen time.

Also, remember that you should never use camera directions because Also, remember that you should never use camera directions because they are clumsy and will break up the flow of the script.they are clumsy and will break up the flow of the script.

Furthermore, don’t number your scenes. You can only give your scenes Furthermore, don’t number your scenes. You can only give your scenes numbers when the short has been budgeted and scheduled to be shot.numbers when the short has been budgeted and scheduled to be shot.

Moreover, when writing, you will have the grammatical urge to Moreover, when writing, you will have the grammatical urge to hyphenate words from one line to the next and break a sentence from hyphenate words from one line to the next and break a sentence from one line to the next. DON’T. If you need to carry on a passage of one line to the next. DON’T. If you need to carry on a passage of dialogue on to another page type (MORE) at the character cue tab and dialogue on to another page type (MORE) at the character cue tab and then (CONTINUED) after the character cue on the following page.then (CONTINUED) after the character cue on the following page.

Found from: Found from: http://www.raindance.co.uk/Docs/ScriptFormatGuide.pdf

A Few DefinitionsA Few DefinitionsThis is a SCENE HEADING or SLUG LINE.This is a SCENE HEADING or SLUG LINE.

They start in full caps and begin each scene. they also tell us if it is inside They start in full caps and begin each scene. they also tell us if it is inside (INT. for interior) or outside (EXT. for exterior).(INT. for interior) or outside (EXT. for exterior).

So on your script it would look like this;So on your script it would look like this;INT. AN ABANDONED ROOM - NIGHTINT. AN ABANDONED ROOM - NIGHT

Also try to stick to DAY and NIGHT, things such as LATE AFTERNOON or Also try to stick to DAY and NIGHT, things such as LATE AFTERNOON or EARLY MORNING are sort of cheating the page as you can’t really tell that EARLY MORNING are sort of cheating the page as you can’t really tell that

it will be that time of day in the shot.it will be that time of day in the shot.Also if you include things such as ‘DAY 3’ which once again isn’t evident on Also if you include things such as ‘DAY 3’ which once again isn’t evident on

the screen it won’t look very professional at all.the screen it won’t look very professional at all.

The description only has to be a The description only has to be a small description of the scene it small description of the scene it doesn’t have to go in to depth, doesn’t have to go in to depth, that’s up to the Director and Art that’s up to the Director and Art

Director. The action is in the present Director. The action is in the present so remember to use present tense so remember to use present tense

such as ‘plays’ instead of ‘is such as ‘plays’ instead of ‘is playing’. playing’.

To introduce a character CAPITALIZE To introduce a character CAPITALIZE his or her name when they first his or her name when they first appear ‘on screen’. Do never appear ‘on screen’. Do never

capitalize the name again. Follow capitalize the name again. Follow this with a brief description of the this with a brief description of the character, it doesn’t have to be character, it doesn’t have to be anything magic, but it is very anything magic, but it is very

difficult to see on screen that a difficult to see on screen that a character is for instance ‘Ryan’s character is for instance ‘Ryan’s

Wife’.Wife’.

Definitions ContinuedDefinitions ContinuedThese are PARENTHETICAL DIRECTIONS. They These are PARENTHETICAL DIRECTIONS. They

appear just underneath the characters name and appear just underneath the characters name and basically direct the character in which way to basically direct the character in which way to

deliver the line, so for example if it said (Angry) the deliver the line, so for example if it said (Angry) the line would be delivered with anger in the voice.line would be delivered with anger in the voice.

Remember that these are actually directions and Remember that these are actually directions and should be used infrequently by the screenwriter, should be used infrequently by the screenwriter, and mainly used when the line is susceptible to and mainly used when the line is susceptible to

being misunderstood, such as the case of sarcasm, being misunderstood, such as the case of sarcasm, or when the scene is full of multiple characters, and or when the scene is full of multiple characters, and

it shows who the line is aimed at.it shows who the line is aimed at.

There is also the option for (O.S.) for Off Screen There is also the option for (O.S.) for Off Screen Dialogue, when the character is in the scene but Dialogue, when the character is in the scene but not in the shot. (V.O.) for Voice Over, when the not in the shot. (V.O.) for Voice Over, when the character is not neccessarily in the scene but is character is not neccessarily in the scene but is speaking directly to the audience in a private speaking directly to the audience in a private fashion. Plus (PHONE VOICE) for a voice that is fashion. Plus (PHONE VOICE) for a voice that is

audible through a phone.audible through a phone.

Definitions ContinuedDefinitions Continued

This is DIALOGUE. With dialogue you have to eb careful not to This is DIALOGUE. With dialogue you have to eb careful not to include too much and keep it roughly four lines otherwise it include too much and keep it roughly four lines otherwise it

becomes too lengthy.becomes too lengthy.

A Dash (-) following a speech usually indicates that the speech has A Dash (-) following a speech usually indicates that the speech has been interrupted.been interrupted.

An Ellipses (...) usually indicates the speaker has trailed off. But An Ellipses (...) usually indicates the speaker has trailed off. But beware of too many ellipses because otherwise it will look like a beware of too many ellipses because otherwise it will look like a

‘naive and futile attempt to direct from the keyboard’ in the words ‘naive and futile attempt to direct from the keyboard’ in the words of Richard Walter.of Richard Walter.

If Character A speaks, followed by a bit of description/action, then If Character A speaks, followed by a bit of description/action, then Character A speaks again, repeat the Character’s name, then Character A speaks again, repeat the Character’s name, then

either follow it with (CONT’D) or use (Continuing).either follow it with (CONT’D) or use (Continuing).

DefinitionsDefinitions Continued ContinuedThis is cut to. Some directors don’t include it as they argue that transition is implied from changing from one scene to another.

This is a scene heading. Used for designation whether the scene is interior or exterior and whether it’s a night or day.

This is a scene description, it describes what goes on in the scene before dialogue or directions begin.

Character cues are used, to designate which character is speaking the line of dialogue that follows.

Measurements

Dialogue – 3” inches in from the left hand margin

Scene Description – 1 ½” from the left margin and 1” from the right margin

Character Names – 4” in from the left margin

Parenthetical Directions 3 ½” in from left margin