A page on which screenplay is typed must have 1 inch margin at the top and bottom and to the right. As the left has to factor in the binding, the margin is wider — it is 1.5 inch. the document is typed in single space. To begin with, the words FADE IN appear. The first is not number marked. The numbers appear second page onward. The number figures are written in the upper right hand corner.

Elements

The following elements constitute the format of the screenplay.

Screen Heading

It is one line description of the location of the scene.Even time too is indicated. It is also called slugline and is capitalised.

It is indented left 0.0, right 0.0 and has width of 6.0 inches.

Though location may not change, there can be a phone conversation in the same scene and therefore some distinction is necessary.Here a sub-heading can be used. As it distracts, it is not encouraged. If there are quick cuts between two locations, say a restaurant table and someone rushing to the reception counter to attend a phone call, the term INTERCUT can be used.

Action

The scene is described in the present tense.It is the visual exposition of the scene. It narrates what is visible and heard. It is indented left 0.0″, o.o” right and with width 6.0″.

Character

As soon as the character is introduced, the name is put in capitals within the action. When the dialogue starts, the name of the character appears in capitals above the lines of the dialogue.It is indented left 2.0″, right 0.0″ and with width 4.0″.

Dialogue

These record what is spoken by each character. Dialogues are used even for VO or voice over and off-screen talk.It is indented 1.0″ left, 1.5″ right and with width 3.5″.

Parenthetical

It shows either the attitude or action orientation of the character. These days parenthetical is not much in use. A director instructs the character about the delivery nuances and a writer has to pass such instructions rarely. It is indented 1.5″ left, 2.0″ right and width being 2.5″.

Extension

It is bracketed after a character’s name. It has some technical abbreviation, e. g.a character using VO.

Transition

Transitions represent film editing instructions, and are a part of the shooting script. The usual terminology is :

• CUT TO
• DISSOLVE TO
• QUICK CUT
• FADE TO

It is indented 4.0″ left, 0.0″ right and with width 2.0″.

Shot

It informs the reader that the point of focus within a scene has changed. It is a part of shot directions. A spec script rarely carries such instructions. Some illustrations of shots are :

• PAN TO
• ANGLE ON
• ECU or EXTREME CLOSE UP

It is indented 0.0″ left. 0.0″ right, width 6.0″.