By Lauren Bagley
One of the major components of a film is the script. Without a script, there is virtually no film. Once a writer has an idea for what their film is about, they can begin writing their script. It is important to keep in mind that scripts are not necessarily written chronologically. Screenplay writing is like other types of writing; the writer can write whatever scene comes to them in that moment and rearrange the story later.
The first step to any script is writing the title page. This page consists of the title of the work and who wrote the script. In the case that the script is based on another piece of work, the work it is based on would be included on the title page as well.
A title page is necessary to a script as it contains a lot of vital information. The title page consists of the name of the script, the name of the writer(s), and if the script is based off any other piece of art. Some scripts are original, while others are adapted from another piece of work. For example, Sunset Boulevard is an original screenplay while American Fiction is an adapted screenplay. In the case of the American Fiction script, there would need to be credit given to the book the script is based on.
Below is a screenshot of the title page from the American Fiction screenplay.
Below is a screenshot of the title page from the screenplay Sunset Boulevard.
Some types of writing have a specific format, and screenwriting is one of them. The format a script has is to help with the concept that one page of writing equates to one minute of screentime. According to “Screenwriting Guide: How to Write Your First Screenplay – 2024,” it is important to do the following to set up a script:
1. Use 12-point, Courier font
2. Single-spaced
3. One-inch margins on the top and bottom
4. One-inch margin on the right
5. One-and-a-half-inch margin on the left
After setting up the page format and title page, a writer can begin their script. The two aforementioned scripts, Sunset Boulevard and American Fiction, are good scripts to look at for understanding formatting. There are also key rules to the way in which scripts introduce a scene, characters, and transitions. The following are some key rules to revealing scenes in a script:
· A scene is introduced by using all bold, capital letters
· To describe a scene’s setting, the following three things must be present:
1. The abbreviation INT., for interior, or EXT., for exterior
2. A description of the setting such as, “MONICA’S BASEMENT”
3. The time of day in the scene
· Dashes between each element of the scene’s introduction
· For example, “INT. – MONICA’S BASEMENT – DAY”
After the scene heading, there is typically an action line. This line may consist of more important details of the scene. For example:
“In the dreary city of Seattle, Monica sits waiting for her friends to arrive as the rain outside starts to pour harder and harder.”
The way in which characters are introduced is important as well. When a character is introduced, either in an action line or within dialogue, their name is capitalized. For example:
“Monica hears a knock at the door, walks over, and opens the door for her friend. SAMANTHA enters the room without saying a word and sits down on the couch.”
The capitalization of different character’s names is to bring attention to their entrance.
In turn, this helps actors to know when they appear in the script. This capitalization typically occurs in action lines.
There is a specific process to how a script displays when a character speaks. A character’s name will be written in all capital letters in the center of the page. In this context, the character’s name is not in bold because they were most likely already introduced in an action line. A good rule is to announce a character’s presence in an action line before they speak in the scene. Additionally, dialogue between characters is two and half inches from the left. An example of dialogue between two character’s is as follows:
MONICA
What’s the matter now, Samantha?
SAMANTHA
I just wish we didn’t live in Seattle. It rains here all the time! I’d rather live in rural North Carolina than here.
The process of writing a script, or any kind of writing, can be overwhelming at times. This is why understanding the basics of screenwriting can be useful. While a writer is trying to figure out the way a scene should play out, they do not also have to worry about how to format the scene. By learning the basics of screenwriting, anyone can write a script.
References
Jefferson, Cord, director/writer. American Fiction. Orion Pictures, 2023.
“Screenwriting Guide: How to Write Your First Screenplay - 2024.” MasterClass.
Wilder, Billy, director/writer. Sunset Boulevard. Paramount Pictures, 1950.
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