Post 5: Formatting Scripts

When Formatting Scripts there is a lot of attention to detail that needs to be followed so that the script is set out well and easy to understand by the whole film crew including actors. Also the layout is important as if follow the correct format then each page of script, should equal to a minute worth of dialogue. Below is what is expected of a films/screen play script and what I will need to follow correctly to make the script for my short film successful and as professional as can be.

Margins

Each element of the script has different margins to show that’s what it is.  

Stage direction and shot headings - have a margin of 1.7" of the left and 1.1" on the right. 

Dialogue has a left margin of 2.7" and a right margin of 2.4".

Character names over dialogue - (speaker) have a left margin of 4.1".

Scenes transitions - such as CUT TO: and FADE OUT, have a left margin of 6.0".      

Top page margin - is .5" (or three single lines) before the page number. A single blank line separates the page number from the body of the script, which begins with either a CONTINUED: or a new shot heading/slug line.

Bottom page margin - is at least .5" (or three single lines) following the (CONTINUED) or the end of a scene.

Total page length - is a maximum of 60 lines,which included everything even the page number (but not including the 3 line margins at the top and bottom of the page).

                       

Formatting dialogue

Words are never broken by a hyphen at the end of a line of dialogue unless it's a naturally hyphenated word, such as twenty-three, point-blank, etc.

Formatting shot headings

All shot headings are placed on a line by themselves with two blank lines above and one blank line below. This includes any so-called "hidden" shots which may be embedded in descriptive passages.

Scene transitions

Scene transitions such as CUT TO: and DISSOLVE TO: are entirely optional, but when used should be preceded by one blank line and followed by two blank lines. When breaking pages, the scene transition must remain with the shot just completed. In other words, it is never permissible to start a new page with a CUT TO: or a DISSOLVE TO:. It must be placed at the bottom of the previous page.

Here are some links to websites of which I researched and gathered information from.

http://www.simplyscripts.com/WR_format.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/send-a-script/formatting-your-script

Here is an example script with added notes round the side to show where and what should go where on the script. This image made it easier for me to understand the concept of Formatting a script.