Question:

How do I follow screenplay format?

Empty Space

With action, try to make most of your paragraphs three lines (sometimes four, rarely five). Employ the psychology of empty space to help your cause. Empty space in an advertisement, for example, raises the likelihood a consumer will read it. Empty space in a screenplay—as opposed to ten-line paragraphs and constant four-sentence dialog—makes a reader's task easier, and makes that reader more likely to turn the page (repeatedly, until FADE OUT).

Scene Headings

Scenes in a screenplay start with a scene heading—which usually needs only one line. The typical scene heading begins with an abbreviation that notes whether a scene is interior (INT.—indoors) or exterior (EXT.—outdoors). Next, comes the location, followed by time information (DAY, NIGHT, MORNING, CONTINUOUS, SAME TIME, MOMENTS LATER, etc.).

Example: INT. BUBBA'S BAR –- NIGHT

Margins

The screenplay page needs a wider left margin than right, which leaves room for binding. Between the left and right margins, you need six inches for screenplay content. If you have screenwriting software, like Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000, use the default margin settings. Otherwise, try to measure the margins of any recent scripts from pro writers you can obtain and go with the average.

Page Numbers

Readers expect page numbers in the upper right corner of every page of your screenplay. As you would with your screenplay, use Courier New, 12 point.

Shots

Camera angles and shots are the director's domain—period. Writing them into your screenplay will detract from its rhythm and readability, and from your chances of moving from aspiring screenwriter to professional screenwriter. If you simply must include shots, research screenwriting books for additional information on terms and abbreviations.

Characters

Introduce a new character in a screenplay with ALL CAPS. Thereafter, use Initial Caps in action and ALL CAPS above a character's dialog.

Font

The widely accepted screenplay font is Courier New, 12-point. It would be wise to stick with that font. Let the story you write stand on its own merits. Movie industry readers are said to average 400 screenplays per year. Don't give them excuses to put yours down and move on to the next screenplay in the pile.

Transitions

One scene in a screenplay ends and another begins, until we reach FADE OUT. INT. (interior) and EXT. (exterior) make new scenes self-evident. Deciding the “perfect” transition from one scene to another is up to the director. When you do include transitions in your work, right justify them and end them with a colon.

A Caveat

The desired format in Hollywood seems to vary, depending upon the source. In general, the message to writers seems to be that spec scripts need to be very readable to stand a chance. Keep in mind that the director ultimately decides shots, angles, and transitions. These are tempting to add. Doing so gives Hollywood's overworked readers one more reason to move on to another script.

Action

In a screenplay, action is what we see—or nonverbal sounds we hear. Usually, the first element type in a scene after its heading is action. Don't fill your action with feelings you state for characters, nor by stating something is not happening. Focus on what is happening—on what the moviegoer will see after a production company turns your great idea into a movie.