First Page A screenplay always begins with “FADE IN:” This has nothing to do with a fading transition on the screen, but it is an international custom for how you should start your script. Last Page At the end of your script you should type The End and centre it, or double space, to the far right of the page, and type FADE OUT. Again this “FADE OUT” has nothing to do with a fading transition on the screen, but it is just customary to end your script in this way. Scene Headings: Location INT/EXT: This refers to the location of the scene. If it is inside it is INT (for interior); if it is set outside it is EXT (for exterior). This should be followed by the location. Scene Headings: Time DAY/NIGHT: This refers to whether the scene occurs in the day or night. This follows the location. Note: There is no such thing as EVENING or MORNING. Just use DAY or... NIGHT!! NISI MASA Script Contest 2009 - European short film Competition – A Short Scriptwriting Guide A Short Screenwriting Guide © 2006-2009 by Fedor Sendak Limperg Introducing your characters The first time a character appears in your script, you write the name in CAPITALS, followed by a first impression-description of the character. Please do not write only the age of this person. I mean, how can we ever see a person is 44 or... 45? Just use your screenwriting talent, and come up with something better. When you write: “JOHN a fragile, middle aged man” it is already better. Acting instruction under dialogues Avoid acting instructions under the dialogues as much as possible. The emotions should be clear from the context most of the time... don’t take the easy way by writing it under the dialogue. That will not make good cinema in the end! No numbering for scenes Avoid numbering scenes at this moment. Do not forget to number the pages though. You only number the scenes when it is a shooting script which will only be seen by yourself or when actually shooting the film. Now, they make no sense, since scenes can still move within the script. Dont direct inside the script. An often seen mistake is to include camera movements in your script. Although we admit there are occasions that this cant be avoided, in 99% of the cases it shouldn’t be there. This should be the job of the director, not the writer. Directing terms includes “CUT TO”, “WIDEN SHOT”, “PAN ACROSS”. You only use these – very very rarely - when the moment will be completely misunderstood without it. In general these are terms only for the shooting script. This is why you might see them in some professional scripts. Those scripts are not meant to be read by people like from a jury. Actually it will “clog up” and distract the read. Your script should flow smoothly as a readable piece, not a series of instructions. Some format difficulties can be easily solved by using screenwriting software. Check out the next pages to find the right program to use for your script!
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:22:19 +0000
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