Script Format

• Which is the best part of show and tell?

THE SHOW!

Screenplay Format

A few things you should know

• Scripts are written using Courier font, 12 pt., 10 pitch (that is 10 characters per inch) Dont use bold, italics, etc.

• Software makes it easy!

• Final Draft is the standard

• Celtx is great, and its free!

• Each page is one minute long

Title Page

• There is a very specific way to make a title page. Don’t add pictures, use colored paper or anything of the sort. Nothing brands you an amateur faster than doing this. Your script will go straight into the trash. Final Draft and Celtx have a template for this

• Don’t staple scripts. Two hole punch with brass braids is the standard, But for us, we can staple.

Writing Rule #1 Show, don’t Tell

• We will have nothing to do with “is, are, am, was, were.” They don’t help us and offer no description. If you are using them, you are “telling” the action

• Make your subject do something. To do this we need action verbs.

The sun was hot.

BORING

Make your hot sun do something by using an

active verb

• The hot sun scorched the dry desert floor

Rule #2 Strong Verbs

• We don’t “say”

• We don’t “walk”

• We don’t “look”

Rule #2 Strong Verbs

• Utter, mutter, whisper, shout, bellow, cry

• Race, amble, trot, dash, cruise, saunter, skip

• Spot, glare, stare, spy, peek, gaze, squint

VO• If the character is heard but is not physically talking in

the scene, or is not in the scene at all. Or is acting as a narrator, follow the character name with (V.O.) voice over

O.S.• If the character is not present within the scene,

(on the phone) follow the character name with (O.S) off screen

• Screenwriting is still WRITING! A character can mosey, amble, sashay, shuffle, saunter, stumble, limp, clamber, stride or careen but for heavens sake, don’t let them “walk”. Inject energy!!

• Learn to love re-writing your own work. No first draft has ever been produced. The re-write is 90% of the work of producing a script.

• “write what you know” is a common saying, but don’t let that limit you. If you want to write about ninjas then you are going to have to do a lot of research about ninjas

Don’t direct, just write.• “We are close up on a coffee cup, then we

zoom out to reveal the soy creamer sitting on the counter. Pull focus to the dead barrista in the back of the room.

Screenplay Assignment

• Work by yourself or in the group of two that you wrote your treatment with

• Write a script based on your treatment. If you hate your treatment, then its ok if you want to start fresh with a new idea.

• You will work on this in class and at home if you wish using Celtx software. You need an email account to use Celtx.

Handout

• Use this handout as a guide when writing your script.

• http://writewhatyoudontknow.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/sample-screenplay-page.gif

• We will have a quiz over this handout the next time I see you.