Script Formatting

[Bocca]

Okay, okay...Stupid question I know.

But I've never been taight/been able to find out how to format a script properly.

What are the basic guidelines? Like with the INT. EXT. etc, what goes in Italics and what gets Capitalised, where on the page do I write the action/dialogue/notes etc.?

Sorry lol, I searched google but all I got was a bunch of ScriptWriting Software which promisesto make yoiu a Hollywood Hot Shot for only a few bucks.

[Mr.Anderson]

at the beginning of every scene it needs to say either EXT. (exterior) or INT. (interior) then either DAY, NIGHT, DUSK, MORNING so on. Just the time of day.

then a dash. Then the location. Action descriptions and Dialogue should be pretty self explanatory. FADES or CUTS will be in the lower right hand corners of scenes.

And changing ANY setting, calls for a new scene heading. No matter what. Example:

INT. DAY-INSIDE BRIAN'S CAR

Brian opens the car door.

:CUT TO

EXT. DAY-OUTSIDE, NEAR BRIAN'S CAR

Brian walks away.



I use Final Draft 7. It works great, and does alot of the setup for you.

[Vor]

i know for a fact that there were a couple tutorials on here about that kinda stuff, all i gotta say is download Celtx (its free) and it shows you how to do everything, its pretty easy too .....

[Bocca]

awesome, thanks. Is Final Draft 7 free? *goes to search google* I'll definitely look into Celtx, thanks

[Mr.Anderson]

Im not sure....but uh...yeah, i got it free. shhh.

[Bocca]

haha, I shall have to do some searching to see if theres a way to...acquire it. thanks for the tip.

[wildabeast009]

Technically there is no "correct" way. BUT there is a way that is easy to read and everyone understands. It is also the only way agents will accept it. It is also the way that pretty much every script in hollywood and other film markets is formatted/written. For me, the Scene Heading is the most important part of the formating, because it is what quickly estblishes the location. Mr. Anderson is correct except that the LOCATION goes before the time. e.g. INT. MIKE'S HOUSE - DAY. (But that's just nit-picking.) The main reason I always make that exact in scripts and what-not is because it makes it easier to read and in Final Draft(and maybe others too, im not sure) it makes the scene/location reports a hell of a lot nicer looking. But it is ofcourse what suits your needs best. Here's a very helpful link. http://www.scriptwritingsecrets.com/contents.htm

[youngfilmmaker]

I use Scriptbuddy.

Go to www.scriptbuddy.com

Its like a template its really useful

[nigel101]

www.makingthefilm.net
theres info on selling advice , script formating and storyboard formats.

[NPMAX]

There are some free MS Word plug ins but I recommend Final Draft 7, that being said time of day etc doesn't matter as much as the sluglines ( Int./Ext. etc), format really just depends on who you are working with I have seen people with budgets work off of scripts that weren't formatted to any standard, as well aas totally anal rententive scripts. While I usually stick to the preferred method as it saves time in revisions there is no correct way.

[chrisgreen]

When writing i've used Word (with my self-made templates) Final draft 7 and Celtx and i have to say, out of all of them i preferred Celtx. It's very easy to use and has some decent tools which come with it, and... oh yeah, it's free (and legal) too! Saying that Final Draft is a good peiece of software and i haven't found anything wrong with it as yet, i just prefer Celtx.