Use the screenplay format for:

Movies, Television Shows, Plays, Graphic Novels, and Comic Books

Think of it as a blueprint for the story told using a media other words on a page.

Important Components of a Screenplay

Conceptyour original idea or premise

Audiencewho will watch you movie or read your graphic novel

Genrethe category or type of work (action/adventure, comedy, crime, etc)

Treatmentthe pitch (sales)

Synopsisdetailed outline of the story (sales)

Structurethree acts composed of scenes

Plot, subplot, and subtext

Characters and Dialogue

Websites For More Info:

http://www.screenwriting.info/

http://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting

http://sfy.ru/ (full screenplays of classic, modern, and popular films)

Suggested Reading:

Save the Cat! By Blake Snyder

Your Screenplay Sucks! By William M. Akers

Story by Robert McKee

Screenplay by Syd Field

ACT 1 Introduction or Setup

background and characters are revealed

ACT 2 Action

tension builds, conflicts are set up for the character to figure out

ACT 3 Resolution

conflicts are resolved by character

Example of basic structure in three acts:

1. Boy meets girl

2. Boy loses girl

3. Boy wins girl

ACT 1

First plot point marks transition

ACT 2

Rising action = several plot points

ACT 3

Climax = most dramatic plot point

Plot Points

turning points, action points, and

transition points

ACT I ACT II ACT III

ACT I ACT II ACT III

Expanded Example:

ACT I

Jordan is an ordinary 17 year old football star.

Jordan bumps into Ceci at a store and falls for her.

ACT II

Jordan follows her home and realizes that shes

the younger sister of his enemy (the quarterback

of the opposing football team).

Jordan tries but cant forget about her. He keeps

seeing her everywhere.

Finally, he gives in and asks her out.

They have a wonderful date but when he brings

her home, his enemy is waiting.

ACT

Jordan and his enemy get into a fight and Ceci is

hurt.

While she is recovering, her brother comes to his

senses and befriends Jordan.

TITLE

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

TITLE

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

Source: http://www.writersstore.com/how-to-write-a-screenplay-a-guide-to-scriptwriting

Scene Heading Indent: Left: 0.0" Right: 0.0" Width: 6.0. A scene heading is a one-line description of the location and time of day of a scene, also known as a "slugline." It should always be in CAPS. Example: EXT. WRITERS STORE - DAY reveals that the action takes place outside The Writers Store during the daytime. Subheader Indent: Left: 0.0" Right: 0.0" Width: 6.0." When a new scene heading is not necessary, but some distinction needs to be made in the action, you can use a subheader. But be sure to use these sparingly, as a script full of subheaders is generally frowned upon. A good example is when there are a series of quick cuts between two locations, you would use the term INTERCUT and the scene locations.

Action Indent: Left: 0.0" Right: 0.0" Width: 6.0." The narrative description of the events of a scene, written in the present tense. Also less commonly known as direction, visual exposition, blackstuff, description or scene di-rection. Remember - only things that can be seen and heard should be included in the action.

Character Indent: Left: 2.0" Right: 0.0" Width: 4.0." When a character is introduced, his name should be capitalized within the action. For example: The door opens and in walks LIAM, a thirty-something hipster with attitude to spare. A character's name is CAPPED and always listed above his lines of dialogue. Minor characters may be listed without names, for example "TAXI DRIVER" or "CUSTOMER."

Dialogue Indent: Left: 1.0" Right: 1.5" Width: 3.5." Lines of speech for each character. Dialogue format is used anytime a character is heard speaking, even for off-screen and voice-overs.

Parenthetical Indent: Left: 1.5" Right: 2.0" Width: 2.5." A parenthetical is direction for the character, that is either attitude or action-oriented. With roots in the playwriting genre, today, parentheticals are used very rarely, and only if absolutely necessary. Why? Two reasons. First, if you need to use a parenthetical to convey what's going on with your dialogue, then it probably just needs a good re-write. Second, it's the director's job to instruct an actor on how to deliver a line, and everyone knows not to encroach on the director's turf!

Extension Placed after the character's name, in parentheses. An abbreviated technical note placed after the character's name to indicate how the voice will be heard onscreen, for example, if the character is speaking as a voice-over, it would appear as LIAM (V.O.).

Transition Indent: Left: 4.0" Right: 0.0" Width: 2.0. Transitions are film editing instructions, and generally only appear in a shooting script. Transition verbiage includes:

CUT TO:

DISSOLVE TO:

SMASH CUT:

QUICK CUT:

FADE TO: As a spec script writer, you should avoid using a transition unless there is no other way to indicate a story ele-ment. For example, you might need to use DISSOLVE TO: to indicate that a large amount of time has passed.

The Scene Heading or Slugline is composed of 3 pieces of information and written in caps.

1. Location typeINT (interior), EXT (exterior)

2. Location descriptionany note that describes where scene is taking place

3. Time of DayDAWN, MORNING, EVENING, DUSK, NIGHT

Examples: INT. LIBRARY DAY INT. LUCYS BEDROOM DAWN

EXT. GRAVEYARD NIGHT EXT. PARKING LOT DUSK

Your Turn!

The Action line provides brief scene description and characters movements in present tense.

Full sentences are not required. When a character is first introduced (brought onscreen), their

name should be in all caps.

Examples: PATRONS waiting impatiently in line at the Circulation Desk. The LIBRARIAN,

who is sitting at the desk, ignores them.

LUCY stomps into bedroom wearing pink pajamas.

Your Turn!

The Dialogue is centered on the page. Characters names are in caps with Parenthetical and

dialogue directly below.

Examples:

PATRON AT FRONT OF LINE

(angry, shaking fists)

What do we pay you for anyway, if

youre just going to sit there all day?

LUCY

(mumbling out loud to herself)

Stupid babysitter! Im too old for a

babysitter!

Use Transitions sparingly to move from one scene to another.

Example:

FADE IN:

INT. LUCYS BEDROOM DAWN

LUCY stomps into bedroom wearing pink pajamas.

LUCY

(mumbling out loud to herself)

Stupid babysitter! Im too old for a

babysitter! Ill show them!

CUT TO:

EXT. BUS STATION DAY

Lucy boarding a bus with backpack slung over one shoulder and teddy bear tucked under

the other arm. She looks scared and lonely.

BUS DRIVER

(all business)

Ticket please. Got any bags?

Lucy shakes her head and hands the ticket to the driver.

Your turn!