SCREENPLAY FORMAT LENGTH OF SLUGLINE FULL

Approximately 55 lines per page regardless of paper size.

Straight 1 inch (0.5 inches to 1.25 inches), irregular margin.

This rule is being followed everywhere, and it’s true in it’s own sense. So using 12- point courier font will be highly impactful and will even give a vibe of professionalism along with great user readability.įollowing all the below mentioned margin rules are even more important because margin helps to add up neat and clean spaces in an even format throughout the document. Consider how people talk to each other in real life and how that character would really respond to a situation.12-point font is easily readable and also follow “ one page per minute of screen time rule“. A bracket is also given on the next page to show the dialogue has continued (cont’d).ĭialogue should be natural and not give too much description. When a conversation runs to the bottom of the page, a bracket saying more is given to indicate this (more). The dialogue can come before or after a script slug. The character’s name is first in capitals and the dialogue underneath. When writing a screenplay, dialogue should be formatted to script centre. Finally, consider how your characters will get to the third script act and what leads them to the end. The second script act is when the journey comes to a turning point in other words, what difficulties does the lead character face and how will they overcome them. You might also want to let them know the genre of the script. The reader must know the time, location and general pace of your script.

The first script act is when the setting and main characters are established.

Like in a novel or play, a traditional script has three acts - the beginning, middle and end. John’s phone beeps, he reads the message. In the distance, a man watches him behind a car window. He stops walking and looks behind him, then to his front. JOHN (34), a black man, walks on his own, wears a leather jacket despite the hot weather, and a cigarette hangs from his mouth.

The city park is busy, kids play, couples walk hand in hand. Like location descriptions, you don’t need to give every detail on a character, only what is essential to the story. But only if this is all relevant to the story. You can also provide detail on their race, health, notable features and props. Their age is also given in brackets or a general indication of age, such as (in their late 20s). Even if they are introduced during the third script act. When you first introduce a character, you type their name in capital letters. An office worker in the car beside her shouts insults at the car in front of him - but Alice doesn’t let that stop her from singing. In one car, we see ALICE (24), she sings aloud to the car radio. For example, if the location is a hospital, you don’t need to describe the colour of the walls, the general setting is known.Ī busy city street filled with cars, rush hour and impatient office workers beeps their horns.

SCREENPLAY FORMAT LENGTH OF SLUGLINE FULL

You don’t need to give full detail of a location or character unless it is essential to the story. It explains directly what is happening and what the audience can see on screen. Unlike novels, the script deception is purely visual and straightforward. The script description goes after the heading and maybe be between a script slug. He peeks through the gap and holds his breath. John is careful not to make a sound as he strolls towards the window. The living room is pitch black, apart from a distant street light that glows through a small gap in the curtains. John puts his phone on the kitchen counter and walks into the living room. The phone beeps, and he reads the message. You don’t always need to include a script slug, only if you feel the reader must understand the action change. The script slug is written in capitals and shows the movement away from the main action. This slug line can indicate a location change, a piece of camera direction or give attention to additional detail.įor example, if in John’s flat we cut to a message on his phone and then follow him to his living room. More commonly known as the script line, the script slug is a sub-header for a scene after the heading. If needed for clarity, you could also add additional details like the date (1960) and room (JOHN’S FLAT/KITCHEN). However, you can also use time of day modifiers such as DAWN or DUSK. The time of day is typically DAY or NIGHT. This is followed by the location title and the scene time of day. First, whether the scene location will be interior (INT) or exterior (EXT). This first line includes some key features on what the scene looks like and is typed in capitals. At the very top of a scene is the scene heading.

Screenplay format length of slugline