1. Script Format

2. l Correct formatting of a script is essential. Production
company’s studios, directors or producers will not
read a script that is incorrectly formatted.
l 12 Point, Courier font.
l Use a formatting program to help you.
l www.celtx.com

3. Title Page
‘Title of your Script’
An Original Screenplay
By
Your name

4. l Do not include artwork or “First Draft” or “Second
Draft” on the front cover.
l Professional film scripts should have one contact
address in the bottom left-hand corner, with a phone
number and email address where applicable.
l The agent’s contact details (where applicable)
belong in the bottom right-hand corner.

5. l The scene heading (slugline)
Interior or Exterior, Location and Time.
l The action area (description)
Only what you see if you were watching the screen
l The character name
l The dialogue

6. FADE IN:
INT. LABORATORY – MID-DAY

7. l To establish a more definite context, you would
write:
l INT. LABORATORY – WORKBENCH – MID-DAY.

8. SCENE DESCRIPTIONS
l Description will make up the bulk of what is written
in a script.
l Define the world of the story.
l Introduce the principal characters.
l Character introduction needs no more than a
single descriptive sentence.

9. l In all your descriptions cut out everything that does
not further the story line.
l Simplicity/Clarity/Visually captivating description.

10. l The description tells the story.
l Good descriptive writing provides the basic
elements of visualisation.
l It provides the opportunity to captivate your reader.

11. Correct Format
l Only a production script contains editing and camera
directions (and scene numbers).
l These should not be included in a submission script,
only present the basic story.
l How the story is interpreted on the screen is up to
the director.

12. l A script contains no internal thought.
l John walks slowly down the street,
wondering why Carol did not return any
of his calls.
l How are John’s thoughts going to be shown to the
audience.

13. l Motivation and reasons for characters' behaviour will
be revealed through their actions, reactions and
dialogue.
l Visual description should contain only what you
would SEE if you were watching the screen.

14. DIALOGUE
l The final essential element of any screenplay is the
dialogue.
l Decide if each speech contributes to the story or is it
merely ‘fill’.

15. l Try not to use more than 5-6 lines of dialogue at a
time.
l If a character has to give a long speech, break it up
by inserting a suitable line of visual exposition.

16. l He turns and walks to the window.
or
l He takes a sip of his drink.

17. l This may be inconsequential, but assists readability
and prevents the script appearing "top-heavy" with
dialogue.
l Remember, film is a visual medium. Only write the
dialogue that is essential to the story or your
characters’ nature.

18. If a pause is desired between two lines in dialogue,
this is indicated by the words ‘beat’ or ‘pause’ in
parenthesis, lined up with the left margin of the
dialogue, as follows:

19. Sally
Sure I'm mad at you.
(BEAT)
When will you learn to
think of someone besides
yourself?
(PAUSE)

20. l (BEAT) and (PAUSE) are artistic directions: they
appear within the dialogue.

21. l If Joe in the dining room is on camera, talking to
Mary in the kitchen, whom we don’t see, the format
is as follows: (O.S.), "Off Screen", as follows:

22. JOE
Sally, can you bring
the wine in?
SALLY (O.C.)
Red or White?

23. Flashbacks
l INT. JOE’S HOUSE – CELLAR – NIGHT
(FLASHBACK)
l Remember, each flashback is a new scene, even if
it takes place in the same location as the current
action.

24. Inserts
l This is a cutaway shot to get close on something
small. Use this only when necessary.
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Joe opens his mail.
Insert – A LETTER

25. SOUNDS
l Important sounds can be capitalised.
They hear a CRASH of glass in the
other room.
l Or,
The SOUND OF BREAKING GLASS is heard.“
l Use this sparingly, however, as it can get tiresome if
repeated for every sound effect throughout a long
script.

26. l At the end of the script,
l FADE OUT
l is placed at the right hand margin, two spaces
below the last line of visual exposition.

27. Finally…
l Check your spelling and your grammar
l Do not break sentences between pages.
l Do not hyphenate words from one line to the next or
number individual scenes.

28. l Do not use semicolons anywhere.
l Only commas or full stops between sentences.
l Do not capitalise any lines of dialogue.

29. Production Script
l The production script will be the dialogue script with
the inclusion of camera, lighting and sound
information.

30. FADE IN:
EXT. FRONT OF HOUSE. DAY.
1. Opening shot – CU – finger in door bell
Foley of door bell ringing
Lit with early morning natural light
RICHARD JONES, 20 year old male stands in front of
a shabby looking front door. His is of slight
build, wearing glasses
2. LS from across the street behind Richard
Large depth of field
Roar of traffic noise

31. Camera Direction
l Shot type – LS, MS, CU
l Camera Movement
l Focus techniques – DOF, Pull Focus etc

32. Lighting
l Natural or artificial
l Soft or Hard
l Direction and angle
l Shadows

33. Sound Design
l Use of sound effects
l Any particular music

34. l The production script is not page limited.
l For a 5 minute film it will usually be around 10 to 15
pages

35. l Think about how your shots go together.
l How can you help tell the story through your camera
and lighting set-ups.
l How can you use sound to enhance the mood of a
scene.

36. Next Week
l TV
l Please sign up tutorials or e-mail scripts.