Author Topic: the correct way to write a script? multimedia light & magic
posted 02-01-2001 01:17 PM
guys, is there any guidelines to follow?

do you center the speech?

where do you put brackets in?

what's italicised? (if i spelled that right.)

or are there different ways of doing it??

Gamecat
posted 02-01-2001 02:27 PM
Yes. Not really... close though... above an to the left of the dialogue kinda... hmmm can't thibnk of anything really... yes... but there is a standard.

Ok Basically there is a very strict format to the traditional script. Even down to what font you use. I'll try to give you the actual specs for everything when I get home tonight, but I suggest you buy one of the many script format books out there. It's really an important thing to know, because when the studios read thousands and thousands of scripts, and come across yours, if it's not done in the correct format, chances are they will skip over it figuring that you're not going to be professional in other areas either. You can also buy software that does it for you. They're pretty nice, thought they can be pretty expensive.

Sluggo
posted 02-01-2001 05:42 PM
take a look at http://dailyscript.efront.com/help/format.html

Actor
posted 02-01-2001 10:01 PM
The is a standard that is written with the assumption that you are going to be writing on a typewriter, not a word processor. I.e., an 8 ½ inch paper at 10 columns / inch. To emulate this on most word processors you must use 12 point Courier font. There is no bold type, no italics, no underlining.


  • The left margin is at column 15.
  • The right margin is at column 70.
  • Slug lines start at column 15
  • Action goes between column 15 and column 70
  • Dialog goes between column 25 and column 60
  • Character names (indicating who is speaking) start at column 35. Character names are capitalized.
  • Hints to actors go between parenthesis with the left parenthesis at column 30, and are on the line between the character name and the dialog.
  • The first time a character's name appears in the action it is capitalized.
  • Transitions begin at column 55
  • Some writers capitalize all sound effects

quote:

guys, is there any guidelines to follow?

IMHO the best guidelines are in How NOT to Write a Screenplay by Denny Martin Flinn


quote:

do you center the speech?

Yes and no. Left margin for speech is 2 ½ inches. Right margin for speech is 2 inches.

quote:

where do you put brackets in?

What brackets?

quote:

what's italicised? (if i spelled that right.)

Absolutely nothing gets italicized.

quote:

or are there different ways of doing it??

Again, yes and no. Small variations from the "academy standard" are not going to get your script rejected. If they say it does then it's just an excuse, not a reason.


My own philosophy is that since I intend to film it myself I will format it however I want. Once it is edited no one is going to ask to see the script.

[This message has been edited by Actor (edited 02-01-2001).]

HBK
posted 02-02-2001 12:06 AM
Hey thanks you guys......Sluggo that link is a really great reference to have!

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