Structuring A Script
This is my favorite part! I'm going to learn how to format the script for a screenplay in this blog post. I have no problem creating stories in my head - I'm very imaginative - but I've never had the means to visually bring them to life. Sure, books are awesome, but being able to show others what I see in my head would be amazing. So, this blog post is all about formatting scripts.
Structure
Title: This is the only thing on the first page of the script. This includes writing the title and name of the screenplay writer.
Logline: This is a really brief description of the plot of the film. The longline usually does not exceed a sentence, but it may be two sentences if necessary.
Background Information: This is split into two parts. The character background describes the main characters's defining features, personality, and role in the story. The act or scene background describes the plot of that specific section of the film.
Act/ Scene Numbers: This states which act and scene you are in for the film. It is used to guide and orient the reader of the script by saying where in the story they are.
Scene Headings: The scene headings details when and where the scene takes place. It starts with either INT. or EXT. to describe whether the characters are inside or outside. It states when and where in the format of "LOCATION - TIME OF DAY".
Transitions: This is used to describe how the scene is transitioned into or out of. It can also be used to show transitions to another part of the same scene. For example, "FADE IN - BLACK".
Subheadings: While it is always detailed in the scene headings, the setting is sometimes specifically described in the subheadings of the script.
Characters: Some of the characters in the scene are detailed in the actions paragraph. They show who does what.
Actions: This is usually a paragraph before a dialogue and there can be multiple within a scene. This details the actions a character is making throughout a scene.
Speaking Character: This describes who is speaking certain lines throughout a dialogue.
Parentheticals: This provides specific directions or information for the characters to heed while they are speaking their lines. They are can be placed before or at the end of dialogue. Some examples include "(to John)" or "(pointing to flyer on wall)".
Dialogue: The lines that the characters speak in a scene. This takes up most of the scene and give a lot of information about character interactions, especially when paired with parentheticals.
Shots/ Angles: This allows the screenplay writer to provide information about the order of shots and angles in a scene. This helps the producers and directors visualize the writer's ideas.
Guidelines
The title is usually centered in the middle of the page. The logline, background, scene heading, actions paragraph are all aligned to the left. The speaking characters, dialogue, parentheticals are aligned in the center. Finally, the transitions, angles and shots are aligned to the rightmost side of the page. Additionally it is important to note that the title (excluding the screenplay writer), scene heading, speaking characters, and transitions are written all uppercase and bolded font. The screenplay writer may be written in all capitals if the writer chooses, though the name of the characters must be written this way throughout the script.
Reflection
Now that I know the structure and guidelines of writing a script, I can finally start planning my film more. Of course, to plan my film I will have to do some research on some aspects of things like the setting and time period of my film. But now that I know how to write scripts, I will definitely try to start writing one for my brief. While this should start with my background information, I already have an entire sequence in my head fo the script. So, I'm going to write my script and write the character roles instead of names for now. I will edit this after I do my background information. That will be my next blog post.
Until then, farewell!
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