Today there is no excuse for not using a professional screenwriting program, such as Final Draft or
Movie Magic Screenwriter to format and write your screenplay. Even still, it is important to understand the proper way to
format writing individual scenes.
1. Always begin your scene with a SLUG LINE. In screenplay formatting this is: INT. HOUSE - DAY. The
abbreviation INT. or EXT. is used specifying Interior or Exterior, followed by the SET, in this example:
House, and then the Time of Day, usually specified with DAY or NIGHT.
Figure: Starting your Screenplay
2. Always begin your scene with a SLUG LINE. In screenplay formatting this is: INT. HOUSE - DAY. The
abbreviation INT. or EXT. is used specifying Interior or Exterior, followed by the SET, in this example:
House, and then the Time of Day, usually specified with DAY or NIGHT.
3. When writing a character who has dialogue, always CENTER their name on the page.
4. When writing the actual dialogue, it must begin directly underneath the Character Name (single space),
and indented about 3 inches from the left-hand edge of the page. If you are using a screenplay program, such
as Final Draft, the DIALOGUE Element is already formatted for you.
Figure: Dialogue
5. Double-space between the end of the scene and the words CUT TO:, and again between the words
CUT TO: and the following scene heading. This is called a TRANSITION element.
Figure: Transition
5. Double-space between the end of the scene and the words CUT TO:, and again between the words
CUT TO: and the following scene heading. This is called a TRANSITION element.
6. A feature film should be no more than 129 pages long
Studios want to distribute films that are between 90 minutes to 2 hours in length.
The rule of thumb for film length is that one page equals one minute of screen time.
A script that is 130 pages or more would last more than 2 hours, and although there are
plenty of films that are over 2 hours in length, I guarantee that they are guaranteed
block busters like the Marvel films.
7. Try to refrain from parenthetical directions to Actors
As a screenwriter, your job is to give the characters action and dialogue. It is not your job
to tell the actors "how" to deliver their lines. This is the Director's job. It is very
distracting to the reader to pause and read (very angrily) or (with a hint of sarcasm) in the
dialogue. Even though screenwriting programs have the capability to add parenthetical notes, try
at all costs to avoid them.
Parenthetical Directions
8. Omit Camera Directions
I've read hundreds of screenplays, and this is without a doubt the most difficult thing to
follow. You are the creator of your story -- you have a vision for how it should be filmed. After all,
you are not writing a novel. A film is a visual medium. But again, this rule is just as important as
all the others: DO NOT SPECIFY SHOTS, like: TRACKING SHOT ON JIM, MEDIUM SHOT ON SALLY, ZOOM IN ON GEORGE.
If you want to write the "mood" of the scene, do it in the ACTION. Let the Director interpret how
to shoot the film.
There are a few instances where you can include camera direction. For example:
