How to write and format screenplays like a pro! Script writing tips and tricks

Summary

This video script offers an insightful guide on crafting a professional screenplay, emphasizing its foundational role in filmmaking. It delves into the historical standardization by Hollywood studios and provides practical advice on software selection, such as Writer Duet and Microsoft Word. The tutorial meticulously explains screenplay formatting, including slug lines, action descriptions, character introductions, dialogue formatting, and scene transitions. It also touches on the use of direction for actors and the importance of not including music details, leaving that to composers and directors. The host encourages aspiring filmmakers to utilize lockdown time to practice screenplay writing, suggesting Writer Duet as a free tool to kickstart their filmmaking journey.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The screenplay is crucial as it's the first step in filmmaking, preceding storyboarding, casting, and other processes.
• 📝 Screenplay formatting standardization emerged in the 1930s and 1940s due to Hollywood studio system practices.
• 💻 Various software options exist for writing screenplays, including free versions and those that require premium subscriptions.
• ✏️ Screenplays are formatted with Courier size 12 font, with one page typically equating to one minute of screen time.
• 📑 A slug line begins a scene, indicating if it's an interior or exterior shot, the location, and the time of day.
• 🏞️ Action descriptions in a screenplay are written in the present tense and detail what happens in the scene.
• 🗣️ Dialogue is centered on the page, with character names in capital letters, and can include direction on delivery in brackets.
• 🔄 Transitions between scenes are noted on the right margin, using terms like 'Cut To' or 'Back To'.
• 🎵 Music and sound are typically not detailed in the screenplay, as this is the responsibility of the composer and director.
• 📚 The tutorial encourages aspiring filmmakers to practice screenplay writing using free tools like Writer Duet.

Q & A

Why is the screenplay considered the first step in the filmmaking process?

The screenplay is considered the first step in the filmmaking process because it lays out the story, characters, and dialogue that will be used in the film. It precedes storyboarding, casting, costume design, and other aspects of production, providing a blueprint for the entire film.

What is the significance of standardized screenplay formatting?

Standardized screenplay formatting is significant because it originated from the Hollywood system in the 1930s and 1940s, where big studios like Paramount and MGM streamlined and standardized filmmaking processes. This consistency allows for easier collaboration and understanding across different studios and professionals in the industry.

What software or tools are recommended for writing a screenplay?

The recommended tools for writing a screenplay include Studio Binder, Write a Duet, and even Microsoft Word or Google Docs. These tools offer varying levels of functionality, with some providing free accounts and others requiring more manual formatting.

What is the purpose of a slug line in a screenplay?

A slug line in a screenplay indicates the start of a new scene and provides essential information about the setting, such as whether it's an interior or exterior location, the specific location, and the time of day. It is written in capital letters and helps to clearly delineate scene changes.

How does the font and size in a screenplay affect the perception of its professionalism?

The font and size in a screenplay are crucial for maintaining the industry standard, which is typically Courier size 12. This not only ensures that the screenplay looks professional but also adheres to the convention that one page of a screenplay equates to approximately one minute of screen time.

Why is action description more prevalent than dialogue in a screenplay?

Action description is more prevalent than dialogue in a screenplay because it sets the scene and describes what is happening visually. It provides direction for the actors, the director, and the crew on how to interpret and execute the scenes, which is essential for the filmmaking process.

How should characters be introduced in a screenplay?

Characters should be introduced in a screenplay by writing their names in capital letters the first time they appear in a scene. This draws attention to their introduction and is a standard practice in screenplay formatting.

What is the convention for writing dialogue in a screenplay?

In a screenplay, dialogue is centered on the page, with the character's name written in capital letters. The spoken line is slightly indented towards the margin. If there are specific directions on how a line should be delivered, these can be added in brackets.

How are scene transitions represented in a screenplay?

Scene transitions in a screenplay are represented on the right-hand margin and are typically written as 'CUT TO' or other film terminology like 'FADE TO' or 'DISSOLVE TO'. This indicates a change to a new scene and is a clear way to denote scene changes for the reader.

Why is music and sound rarely described in a screenplay?

Music and sound are rarely described in a screenplay because these elements are typically the responsibility of the composer and director. The screenplay focuses on the visual and narrative aspects, leaving the auditory details to be developed during post-production.

What advice does the speaker give for someone looking to start writing a screenplay?

The speaker advises that the best thing to do when in lockdown or with free time is to start writing a screenplay. They recommend using a free service like Write to G wet to help with the process and suggest that once a screenplay is completed, the next logical step is to learn about storyboarding.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Importance of Screenplay in Filmmaking

The speaker introduces the importance of a screenplay in the filmmaking process, emphasizing that it is the foundational step before other aspects like storyboarding, casting, and costume design. They explain that understanding proper formatting is crucial for professionalism and consistency, noting that standardized screenplay formatting originated from Hollywood studios in the 1930s and 40s.

05:05

🖥️ Choosing the Right Software for Screenwriting

This section covers various software options for writing screenplays, such as Studio Binder, Writer Duet, and even Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The speaker explains the advantages and limitations of each, recommending free versions for beginners. They stress the importance of using a consistent format—specifically Courier font, size 12—to maintain industry standards, where one page typically equals one minute of screen time.

10:06

🎥 Starting with a Slug Line

The speaker explains the purpose of a slug line, which marks the beginning of a new scene and establishes key details like whether it's an interior or exterior shot, the location, and the time of day. They use an example of a scene in an interview room, formatted in all caps to demonstrate how it's done.

📝 Writing Action Descriptions in Present Tense

The focus shifts to describing action in screenplays, which should always be written in the present tense. The speaker explains that when a character is introduced for the first time, their name should be in capital letters. They provide an example of a scene where the Joker is laughing uncontrollably, demonstrating how to describe actions and introduce characters.

💬 Formatting Dialogue in Screenplays

The speaker outlines the conventions for writing dialogue in a screenplay. Dialogue is centered on the page, with the character’s name in capital letters above their lines. They also explain how to add direction to the dialogue by specifying how a line should be delivered, using the Joker's dialogue as an example, where he speaks quietly.

🎬 Indicating Scene Transitions

This section explains how to show transitions between scenes in a screenplay, such as using 'cut to' or 'dissolve to,' which are aligned on the right side of the page. The speaker uses an example of a scene transition from an interview room to an exterior alleyway, demonstrating the importance of slug lines to establish new scenes.

📹 Cross-Cutting Between Scenes and Voiceovers

The speaker introduces the concept of cross-cutting between scenes, explaining that frequent repetition of slug lines is not necessary. They also demonstrate how to indicate a voiceover, using the Joker’s continuous laughter as an example of a sound that carries over from one scene to another.

🎭 Final Scene and Emotional Shifts

This paragraph focuses on the final part of the clip, where the Joker’s mood shifts after being asked a serious question by the hospital worker. The speaker explains how action and dialogue can reflect emotional changes, showing the contrast between the Joker's laughter and his more vacant expression after the question is posed.

📜 Recap of Screenplay Formatting Rules

The speaker summarizes the key formatting rules discussed in the video: using slug lines, writing action in present tense, formatting dialogue in the center of the page, and indicating transitions on the right margin. They emphasize that music is typically not included in screenplays, as it falls under the responsibility of the composer and director.

🎥 Encouragement to Start Writing

The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to start writing their own screenplays, recommending Writer Duet as a helpful free tool. They highlight that lockdown is a great time to practice screenwriting and suggest viewers check out the speaker’s video on storyboarding as the next step in the filmmaking process.

Keywords

💡Screenplay

A screenplay is the written script of a film, including dialogue, scene descriptions, and actions. It serves as the blueprint for the movie, guiding the production process. In the video, the importance of a screenplay is emphasized as it is the first step in filmmaking, preceding storyboarding, casting, and other elements. The video aims to teach viewers how to format and write a screenplay, highlighting its foundational role in the industry.

💡Format

In the context of the video, 'format' refers to the standardized layout and style used in screenplays. This includes specific fonts, margins, and the way scenes, actions, and dialogue are presented. The video explains that following a professional format is crucial for a screenplay to be taken seriously in the industry, as it originated from the Hollywood system's standardization efforts in the 1930s and 1940s.

💡Slug Line

A slug line is a term used in screenplays to denote the beginning of a new scene. It is written in capital letters and typically includes information such as whether the scene is interior or exterior, the location, and the time of day. In the video, the slug line is used to illustrate how to start a scene, setting the stage for what follows, such as 'INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY'.

💡Action

In screenplay terminology, 'action' refers to the descriptions of what is happening in a scene, including character movements and settings. It is written in the present tense and is distinct from dialogue. The video emphasizes that action descriptions are a significant part of a screenplay, often constituting more of the script than dialogue. It provides examples of how to write action, such as describing a character laughing or a scene transition.

💡Dialogue

Dialogue in a screenplay is the spoken lines of characters. The video explains that dialogue should be centered on the page and the character's name who is speaking should be written in capital letters. It also touches on providing direction for how a line should be delivered, using parentheses to give additional context, such as 'Joker (very quietly, under his breath)'.

💡Transition

A transition in a screenplay indicates the shift from one scene to another. The video describes how to denote transitions, such as 'CUT TO:', which is aligned on the right-hand side of the page. Transitions are crucial for understanding the flow of the story and how scenes connect within the narrative.

💡Software

The video mentions various software options for writing a screenplay, such as Studio Binder, Writer Duet, and even general office software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The choice of software can affect the ease of formatting and the tools available for writing, with some offering specialized features tailored for screenplay writing.

💡Character Introduction

When introducing a character in a screenplay, their name is written in capital letters to distinguish them. This is important for drawing attention to new characters and is a convention in screenplays to make it clear when a character is being introduced. The video provides an example with 'Joker' to illustrate this point.

💡Voiceover

Voiceover in a screenplay refers to a character's voice being heard while a different scene is visible. The video demonstrates this with an example where Joker's laughter is heard continuing from a previous scene over a new visual, indicated by 'Joker (voiceover)'. This technique is used to connect scenes and provide continuity.

💡Camera Movement

While screenplays typically leave specific shot choices to the director and cinematographer, there are instances where camera movements are mentioned if they are essential to the storytelling. In the video, 'WE TRACK BACK' is used to describe a camera movement that sets the scene, illustrating the rare occasions when such details are included in a screenplay.

💡Cross-cutting

Cross-cutting is a film editing technique that involves switching between two or more scenes or lines of action. The video touches on this concept when discussing scenes with multiple transitions, indicating how a screenplay might indicate the back-and-forth between different scenes, which can be tiresome to write out repeatedly.

Highlights

Screenplays are crucial as they are the first step in the filmmaking process, preceding storyboarding, casting, and costume design.

Standardization of screenplay format originated from Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s to streamline filmmaking processes.

To write a screenplay, choose software like StudioBinder or Writer Duet, or use Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Screenplay format conventions are essential for professional appearance and industry recognition.

A screenplay's font should be Courier size 12, correlating to one page per minute of screen time.

The process of turning a video clip into a screenplay is demonstrated step by step.

A slug line at the beginning of a scene indicates the location and time of day, written in capital letters.

Action descriptions in a screenplay are written in the present tense and detail character movements and scene settings.

Character names are capitalized when first introduced, and dialogue is centered on the page.

Direction for actors can be provided in brackets, detailing how a line should be delivered.

Transitions between scenes are indicated on the right margin, using terms like 'Cut To' or 'Back To'.

Scenes can contain no dialogue, relying instead on detailed action and setting descriptions.

Camera movements like 'track back' are occasionally mentioned in screenplays to guide the visual storytelling.

Voiceover indications are used to show ongoing sounds from previous scenes.

Music and sound are typically not detailed in a screenplay, leaving that to composers and directors.

The tutorial encourages aspiring filmmakers to practice screenplay writing using free tools like Writer Duet.

Screenplay writing is a fun and essential skill for anyone looking to advance in the filmmaking industry.

The video concludes with a recommendation to also watch a tutorial on storyboarding for further filmmaking insights.

Transcripts

hi everyone we're still in lockdown so

we're in my home and it seems like a

really good chance to talk to you about

how to write a screenplay

now the screenplay is so incredibly

important because it's basically the

first step that you can take in the

filmmaking process it precedes

storyboarding casting costume design you

can't really do any of these things

until you have the screenplay so in this

video I'm going to show you how to

actually format one and maybe give you a

few tips on how to actually write one

yourself so here's a quick bit of trivia

for you

if you've ever wondered why screenplays

always look the same in terms of their

formatting is because of the development

of the Hollywood system in the 30s and

the 40s big studios of the time like

paramount and MGM we're streamlining and

standardizing many of the filmmaking

processes including screenplays so that

it became standardized as talent was

shared between various studios so now we

have the screenplay that we will

recognize and that we need to follow the

format of if we want our work to look

professional now the first thing you

need to do is pick a piece of software

to write with and there's a whole ton of

pieces of software or even websites out

there to help you with this in the past

I've used studio binder which offers a

free account but limits you to one

project on a go at a time and write a

duet which I'm going to be using today

which also offers a premium version but

provides you with more than enough

functionality to start writing with the

free version then again you could just

use good old Microsoft Word or Google

Docs which is obviously free but it

require a bit more formatting on your

part so the way we're going to do this

is exactly the same as what we did in my

storyboarding video which is to do the

whole process in Reverse we're going to

take a clip and try and turn it into a

screenplay here's the clip that I've

selected

[Laughter]

what's so funny

[Music]

[Music]

[Laughter]

[Music]

you want to tell it to me okay so we've

got a clip or our vision if we were

writing an original screenplay and the

very very first thing you've got to do

if you want to format this properly is

set the font to the correct size and

style now what you need to do if you're

using Word or Google Docs is to set it

to courier size 12 if you're using

something like writer duet then that'll

be taken care of for you

but the reason this is important is one

like I say it's an established

convention it's how it should look but

to the rule of thumb with the screenplay

is that every page will equate to one

minute of actual on screen time so you

know give or take a 120 page script will

be something like a two hour movie okay

so let's get started the very first

thing you're gonna put on your

screenplay is a slug line a slug line

tells you that a new scene has started

and it basically establishes in a

nutshell what the scene is where it's

taking place so I'm going to go ahead

and put in my stud line now this is all

written in capital letters and it starts

off always by saying whether its

exterior or interior now mine is

actually interior so we know that this

takes place inside now we can actually

say where it is and in our case this is

an interview room and the last thing we

have to put in is the time of day

whether it's day night afternoon morning

and from what I can see from the windows

this one appears to be day so there we

go that is our slug line it tells us

there's a new scene and where it takes

place now when we think of screenplay is

probably the thing that we think of most

frequently is dialogue but actually the

majority of the screenplay is more

likely going to be action this is where

you describe what literally happens in

the scene so let's take a look back at

our clip and see what happens

[Laughter]

now action is always written in the

present tense and in it we're going to

describe what happens who does specific

actions and there's a certain way that

we're going to write it now I'm going to

introduce the scene slightly first we

are in a cold soulless interview room of

a hospital barred windows and a two-way

mirror are the only decoration

so obviously the slugline didn't really

provide us with a broad description of

what the actual room looks like this is

our chance to do that now I'm about to

introduce some character actions now and

the first time you mentioned a character

in a scene you write their names in

capitals just so really draws your

attention to them so I'm going to write

Joker is laughing uncontrollably he is

smoking a cigarette but his hysteria is

so uncontrollable that he ignores it

he sounds in pain sat opposite is

hospital worker she patiently waits for

him to stop laughing and clearly doesn't

share the joke okay so the two things to

take from this action is when we first

introduce characters we write them in

capitals and we write everything in the

present tense let's go on and see what

happens next in the clip what's so funny

okay we're gonna write our first piece

of dialogue now and again there's a

certain convention how we do this it's

always centralized on the page and again

whoever's speaking the line their names

written capitals so our first line comes

from hospital worker and the word that

they say is slightly indented towards

the margin and she says what's so funny

I could go back to action now if it was

a case of there's another action between

lines but actually we go straight into

the Joker's next line so gonna go into

another character line this time it's

Joker who replies and what I'm going to

do this time which is slightly different

is I'm going to be specific about how he

says the line and I'm gonna put these in

brackets so I've got Joker in terms of

who actually says it and I'm gonna say

very quietly under breath and then we

can just carry on with the normal line

and he says I was just thinking I was

just thinking of a joke that's one

option in terms of your screenplay

writing is to actually give direction to

the actors now they're obviously going

to interpret their lines in their own

way but there might be certain cues that

you want to give them in terms of how a

line is delivered so the next thing that

happens in the clip is this

[Music]

[Laughter]

now this should give us an opportunity

to look at several new features of the

screenplay

first off we're cutting to a new scene

but also the sound from the previous

scene carries on so how do we actually

show that we're going to show a

transition now and this is always

aligned on the right hand side of the

page 99% of the time it's going to be

cut to you cut between scenes sometimes

it might be a dissolve it might be a dip

to black broadly speaking you only

really put this down between scenes the

edits within a scene that's the job of

the editor but in our case we are going

to write cut too and since this is

technically a new scene we're gonna go

back to a slug line so unlike last time

this time we are gonna go exterior

alleyway night so we've got another slug

line we've clearly changed to new into a

new scene and there's no dialogue in

this particular scene it's just action

now that's absolutely fine sometimes

there are scenes without any dialogue

famously it was done brilliantly for the

first 15 minutes of there will be blood

in which case you just need to rely more

on your description of the scene now to

describe this scene I'm going to

actually refer to a camera movement so

I'm gonna say we track back which I've

written in capital letters the show it's

a very specific action you very very

rarely refer to specific shot choices in

the screenplay

again that's the the job of the

storyboard artist the director the

cinematographer it's not really in the

remit unless absolutely necessary in the

screenplay

so I'm going to say we track back from a

grim scene in a dirty cluttered alleyway

where a young Bruce Wayne stands over

the recently murdered

bodies of his parents now the joke is

laughter actually does carry on

throughout this clip so we are going to

refer to it and again there's another

way of showing this so we're gonna write

down Joker as he's the person who's

speaking and then on brackets in the

next line we are going to say voiceover

laughter continues now I've obviously

put that in square brackets just to

separate it from actually saying the

words laughter continues his laughter is

continuing and we can hear it from the

previous scene now that's actually all

there is to this clip we cut away and we

see that shot while he carries on

laughing and very often in film you do

have scenes where there's quite a lot of

cross-cutting between scenes and can you

imagine it would get absolutely tiresome

to continually having to write that slug

line again and again and again once

you've done it once it's a lot used to

cut back so what we gonna do now is

gonna write another transition which

again goes on the right-hand side of the

page and this time rather write and cut

to we're going to write back to so this

establishes we are going back to the

previous scene before the one we just

had so we've got a slug line we are

going to say interior interview room and

it's still day and the next thing to

happen in the clip is you want to tell

it to me

[Music]

so we've got more action and we're gonna

write down Joker's laughter reaches new

heights in stark contrast to the grim

scene we just saw the hospital worker

patiently waits for him to calm down

then we cut to another one of her lines

where she says do you want to share it

now again we are immediately going to

answer with the Joker's line I'm

actually gonna go back to some action

now this question seems to sober him and

his expression becomes more vacant like

she has just killed the whole joke so

there we are we've kind of finished the

whole scene there and we've actually

covered all of the different things that

you need to format in a certain way now

that's pretty much the hardest thing

there is to it once you get your head

around the formatting it's simply a case

of writing down your ideas so let's just

recap quickly what we've done a scene

starts with a slug line where you

identify whether it's interior or

exterior where it is and the time of day

and it's always written in capital

letters next up you might have some

action which is written in present tense

and certain actions and characters are

written in capital letters next up if

you have any dialogue that's written in

the center of the page the character's

name is written in bold and if you want

to add any direction on how they say

their lines that can be added in

brackets you might want to transition to

different scenes in which case that's

written on the right-hand margin and

it's your usual kind of media

terminology cut to fade to dip to black

that sort of thing now something you

might have noticed that we've not really

done is we haven't put in any mention of

the music and this is intentional you

very very rarely find this on a

screenplay and that's just because that

is the job of the

composure if it's a soundtrack or a

score that's something the director will

have in mind and work on with the

composer so again it's not really in the

remit of of the screenplay except in

certain circumstances where it's it's

luck mode like where we have that line

that's life at the end so that's pretty

much everything guys I hope you found

that useful where we are in lockdown the

best thing I can advise you doing is to

just have a go start writing a

screenplay it's really fun check out

write to G wet it's a free service and

it will really really help you in your

filmmaking career as always thanks very

much for watching if you haven't already

make sure you like and subscribe and if

you're looking for where to go next

I'd recommend maybe check out my video

on how to storyboard if you've got a

completed screenplay it's a logical next

step in the filmmaking process see you

next time

[Music]