Scene Heading are aligned flush left is about
1.5" from the edge of the paper. The Scene Heading is written in ALL CAPS.
Use a period after the INT. or EXT., a hyphen between the other elements of the
Slugline.
The Scene Heading, sometimes called Slugline,
tells the reader of the script where the scene takes place,
2.EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP - SUNSETINT. OFFICE - NIGHT -
CONTINUOUS ACTION
3.EXT. KEY WEST MARINA - DAWN – ESTABLISHING
ACTION
The Rules:
Action runs from left to right margin, the full width of the text on the page.
Text is single-spaced and in mixed case.
When you introduce a speaking character for the
first time, you should put the name in all caps.
The ACTION or Description sets the scene, describes
the setting, and allows you to introduce your characters and set the stage for
your story.
Action is written in REAL TIME.
CHARACTER NAME
The Rules:
The CHARACTER NAME is formatted in uppercase letters and indented 3.5"
from the left margin.
Before a character can speak, the writer inserts a
CHARACTER NAME to let the reader know this character's dialogue follows.
A character name can be an actual name (JOHN) or
description (FAT MAN) or an occupation (DOCTOR).
DIALOGUE
The Rules:
DIALOGUE margin is indented 2.5" from the left margin. A line of dialogue
can be from 30 spaces to 35 spaces long, so the right margin is a bit more flexible,
usually 2.0" to 2.5".
DIALOGUE rules apply when anyone on screen speaks.
When two of your characters speak simultaneously,
that's called dual dialogue or side by side dialogue. In the
script we've been following, our characters might have this conversation:
Frankie and Julie are in a heated
argument.
FRANKIE JULIE Get out of my life! I can't Don't you yell at me! I'll
leave stand the sight of you
any when I'm when I'm good
and more!! ready! Tough!!
PARENTHETICAL
Parentheticals are left indented at 3.0" and
the right margin is 3.5" although that is a bit flexible.
A Parenthetical remark can be an attitude, verbal
direction or action direction for the actor who is speaking the part.
Parentheticals should be short, to the point,
descriptive, and only used when absolutely necessary.
These days, Parenthetical are generally disfavored,
because they give direction to an actor that may not be appropriate once on the
set.
An Extension is a technical note placed directly to
the right of the Character name that denotes HOW the character's voice will be
heard by the audience. An Off-Screen voice can be heard from a character out of
the camera range, or from another room altogether.
Frankie pulls all the covers off of Julie. She sits
up in bed, pulls on a longT-shirt, then swings her legs onto the floor and
shuffles off to the bathroom.
FRANKIE
(continuing)
You're
welcome.
(beat)
Hey, how
long you gonna be? I've got a meeting
and I need to shower.
JULIE
(O.S.)
Twenty
minutes.
TRANSITION
We must begin with this remark: Nowadays, in Spec
Scripts, transitions are frowned upon, a waste of a couple of lines you could
better use for brilliant dialogue, and are only used when absolutely necessary.
The Rules:
When you DO use a Transition, the left margin is at 6.5" and a right
margin of 1.0". Transitions are formatted in all caps and almost always
follow an Action and precede Scene Headings.
b.g. =
background. b.g. is used in an action
paragraph.
Frankie sits on the bed tying his shoes. In the
b.g., Julie takes money out of his wallet. She also pockets his car keys.
CGI =
computer generated image. CGI denotes
action that cannot be filmed normally and will require the use of computers to
generate the full imagery, as used in films like The Matrix.
CGI: His mouth begins to melt, then disappears
entirely.
f.g.
= foreground. f.g. is used in action the same as b.g., except the action takes
place in the foreground.
SFX: The BLAST of a train whistle SPFX
= special effects
SPFX announces that a special effect is necessary
(one that might not require the use of CGI).
SPFX: A beam of light illuminates Frankie's face.
His features slowly melt likea wax figure. M.O.S.
= without sound
The story goes that a German-born director (perhaps
Josef von Sternberg, who discovered Marlene Dietrich) wanted to shoot a scene
without sound and told the crew to shoot "mit out sound," a phrase
which the crew found humorous and thus proliferated it. It is most commonly
used to show impending impact of some kind.
M.O.S. Horses stampeding down Main Street. POV
= point of view
The camera 'sees' the action from a specific
character's position
JULIE'S POV - Frankie sits on the bed tying his
shoes
MONTAGES
A MONTAGE is a cinematic device used to show a
series of scenes, all related and building to some conclusion.
The MONTAGE is formatted as a single shot, with the
subsequent scenes action elements of the complete sequence.
Although a
French word, it was created by Russian director Sergei Eisenstein as to elicit emotions on several levels.
Most often it
is used as a passage of time device. Think of a baby being born, then rolling
over, then taking its first steps, and finally running through the sprinklers.
For example:.
A SERIES OF SHOTS
A SERIES OF SHOTS is similar to a Montage, but it
usually takes place in one location and concerns the same action.
Think of the movie Earthquake...
SERIES OF SHOTS A) Store windows start to
rattle and shake. B) Hanging signs swing back and forth. C) Bricks
and shards of glass begin to fall onto the sidewalks. D) People run for
cover. A SERIES OF SHOTS is formatted as a SHOT.
Just like a Montage, the shot series are action
paragraphs and may also be numbered 1) 2) 3).
Occasionally in a script, you might want to cut back
and forth between two or more scenes. These scenes are occurring at the same
time. Instead of repeating the Scene Heading for each scene over and over, an
INTERCUT is used. This gives the reader the sense that the scene is moving
rapidly back and forth between locations. There is a great sequence of
intercuts in The Deer Hunter of shots of hunters out in the woods with a
wedding going on simultaneously, at a different location. Here's another
example:
INT. SHERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Sherri starts
disrobing in front of her open bedroom window. INT. LENNY'S APARTMENT -
NIGHT Lenny gets up to cross to the fridge to get a beer. He looks out his
window andcatches a glimpse of Sherri across the courtyard. He freezes,
watching her. INTERCUT BETWEEN LENNY AND SHERRI Sherri sits on the
bed and unbuttons her double-breasted suit jacket. Lenny moves closer to
the window for a better vantage point.
TITLE PAGE
The TITLE PAGE has specific information on it. Type
it in the same font as your script, Courier 12. It should not be on special
paper, no graphics - it should just contain only the following information:
Centered on the page, vertically and horizontally -
The title of your script in bold type if possible
Two lines below that, centered on the line - Written
by (author of novel or short story)…………………
Two lines below that, centered on the line - Name of
Author (and co-writer, if any)
In the lower right hand corner your contact
information (include agent or email address)
In the lower left-hand corner you can put
Registered, WGA or a copyright notification.
The Good,
The Bad, The Thin Written
by
Fatty Turner
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