How To Format Scenes In A Film Script

How To Format Scenes In A Film Script

How To Format Scenes In A Film Script: VideoJug presents a film on the screenwriting basics to formatting the scenes in your film script like a professional. Give those Hollywood screenwriters a run for their money with VideoJug's tips on formatting scenes in a film script.

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Step 1:

You Will Need

• A sample of a professional script

We'll cover the basics, but have a copy of a professional script on hand for reference before you start - it'll be invaluable, and will show you all the ins and outs of how a properly formatted screenplay should look.

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Step 2:

Scene Headings

The general rule in a film script is that a new scene and scene heading are needed every time the location or time changes.

The purpose of a scene heading (also known as a 'slug line') is to let the reader know the time and place of each new scene, and they follow a strict format. Slug lines should always be written in capital letters, and the information should always be presented in the following order:

Where:

First you must describe where the action takes place. This is done by specifying firstly whether it takes place inside or outside.

INT. (meaning 'interior') for inside say a house
EXT. (meaning 'exterior') for outside, maybe in a field.

Then you become more specific and describe the general location. The aim is to provide clarity for the reader. For example:

INT. HARRY'S FLAT DAY

or

EXT. A RESIDENTIAL LONDON STREET DAY

Remember, if the scene takes place inside a vehicle compartment then it is an interior scene, even though the vehicle itself is outdoors. For example:

INT. HELICOPTER IN FLIGHT NIGHT

Sometimes, you may want to describe action from the camera's point of view within a scene - either indoors looking out or outdoors looking in, and you should use the following notation:

When the camera's point of view is inside filming an event happening outside, you should write it as follows:

INT./EXT. HARRY'S FLAT MORNING

If the action is happening inside and the camera is looking in from outside, then it is written like this:

EXT./INT. HARRY'S BALCONY AFTERNOON

When:

The most commonly used terms are DAY or NIGHT, and are always positioned at the end of the slug line. You can be more specific if you feel you need to be. You can use DAWN, MORNING, AFTERNOON, LATER, A FEW MOMENTS LATER, EVENING and so on. If in doubt, It's easiest though just to stick to DAY or NIGHT.

If a scene or conversation between characters continues unhindered from the previous scene, but the location changes, you may wish to use FOLLOWING or CONTINUOUS to signify this.

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Step 3:

Format points to remember

It's not common practice to underline scene headings. Make sure you leave a space between the heading and the text. Also double space between scenes. Do not number scenes - they will get numbered later on if your script makes it to production.

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Step 4:

Scene Direction

The 'scene direction' is the text containing all the narrative, non-dialogue descriptions of events and characters' actions that drive the story. It is also known as 'business' or 'the blackstuff'.

It should be positioned 1.5 inches from the left-hand edge of the page, and each line should be 6 inches wide on the page. Narrative text should be single-spaced, written in the present tense and in lower case, and should be as clear and concise as possible - avoid long paragraphs, and try to break them down into smaller actions or ideas.

Your job as the writer is to focus on characters and storyline, not the nuts and bolts of production, so describe only what is essential to the plot. For more information to write succinct action and scene directions, watch VideoJug's film "How to Write Action" .

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Step 5:

Entrances and Exits

Traditionally, 'CUT TO:' was used to signify a change of scene, but many writers now don't bother, assuming that a new scene heading makes the scene change clear enough.

Other terms used to indicate scene beginnings and endings of scenes are:

FADE IN: (which, like we said, is always at the start of the script)
FADE OUT: (which is always written at the very end)
DISSOLVE TO:
FADE TO BLACK:
FREEZE FRAME:

If you are going to use FADE OUT or FADE TO BLACK, remember to FADE IN again on the next scene.

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Step 6:

Title Over

Sometimes in a new scene your action will jump drastically in place or time (as happens in a flashback), and you may want this to be noted on screen to avoid confusion.

To do this, write 'TITLE OVER' followed by a colon, aligned to the same margin as the narrative descriptions and directions (1.5 inches in from the left edge). Skip a line, and in the centre of the page write the time, date, place - whatever information you feel is essential to making sense of the story.

Now you've mastered the basics of laying out your scenes, you're ready for our film on writing characters and dialogue.