Welcome to indietalk.
Always use Courier 12-point font.
Left Margin is 1.5 inches (appx.15 spaces)
From Left Margin justified left tabs:
Character name is appx. 25 spaces
Parenthetical is appx. 21 spaces
Dialogue is appx. 15 spaces
Dialogue should not run longer than 3.5 inches.
Use an unjustified 1.0 right margin.
1.0 inch top and bottom
There are five main elements of a properly formatted script
Scene Heading/Slugline
Action
Character Name
Dialogue
Parenthetical
Sluglines or Scene Heading
Written in capitals and containing three pieces of information:
(1) Where; (2) Exactly where, and (3) when. (2) and (3) are separated by a
space or a dash, followed by another space.
(1) can be INT. (interior) or EXT. (exterior); (2) is a short identification of the
place; and (3) can be either DAY or NIGHT.
For example:
INT. AIRPORT - DAY
You can use more than one subject.
For example:
INT. AIRPORT - TICKET COUNTER - DAY
INT. AIRPORT/TICKET COUNTER - DAY
You need a new slugline each time you change the place, and/or change the time.
Action, or Description
The screenplay’s visual elements, where we show what is taking place on the
screen. Character descriptions, what they are doing, the places, and everything
the audience will need to assimilate visually. Don’t use capitals for sounds, props,
visuals or emphasis. But you will capitalize the name of each character the first
time you introduce them.
Character Name
In a properly formatted script the Character name is placed above the dialogue,
in caps appx. 25 spaces from the left margin; not centered
Dialogue
This is where you place everything the character says.
Parenthetical
Do not use parantheticals under the character name to show action. And don’t
use them to tell the actor how to read the line. Let the emotion come from your
script and dialogue. Try to avoid using them at all.
Do yourself a favor and use
screenplay writing software. < that's a link to several.
The 3-act structure is quite simple. Really no more than:
Act I the beninning
Act II the middle
Act III the ending
Assuming a script of 120 pages, pages 1-30 are your first act. You set up the story,
meet the characters, establish the premise.
The First Turning Point happens somewhere around page 27, and it sends the script
off into another direction, known as Act Two.
The second act is from pages 31-90 and this is where your main character (or
protagonist) has a whole bunch of problems thrown their way.
The Midpoint occurs around page 57, and this is often a point at which the protagonist
changes from reactive to proactive. He knew he had problems...now he's going to move
toward a solution.
The Second Turning Point occurs around page 87, and once again sends the script into
another direction...hurtling into the Third Act, toward the climax.
The third act is from pages 91-120 and features the final confrontation of protagonist
and antagonist. The climax occurs around page 110 (or later) and all plots and subplots
are resolved by page 120. Fade out.
It's a nice balanced approach. A good structure. And it works no matter the length of
the script.
A 100 page script simply scales back the pages. Act I from 1-25, Act II from 26-75,
Act III from 76-100 with corresponding turning points at 23 and 73 and a midpoint
at 48.
Tips On How To Start: Sit down and write. Just do it. If you have to write your
story like a novel
DO IT then adapt to a screenplay. If you don't hit each "act"
or "turning point" exactly
IT DOESN'T MATTER - write your story and rewrite
it later.
