# Screenplay Format #

Use a 12-point monospace typeface, like Courier.
Pages should be numbered, with the number in the top-right corner of the page.

Overall, the page has 1.5-inch left margins and 1-inch right margins, and 1-inch top and bottom margins.
Descriptions and heading extend from margin to margin.
Dialog has left and right margins of 2.5 inches (1 inch from left margin, 1.5 inches from right margin).
Character names over dialog (i.e., cues) have a 3.7 or 4-inch left margin (2.5-inches from the left margin).
Indent parentheticals (i.e., dialog directions) 1.5 inches from the left margin (3.0 from the left page edge) (and maybe also 2 inches from the right margin, 3 inches from the right page edge?).
Indent transitions six inches, so they're nearly right-aligned (or, actually right-align them).
(Different sources vary somewhat in the above measurements.)

Write camera instruction (use sparingly!), sound effects, all words in scene headers, and character names (see below) in ALL CAPS.

Organize a screenplay according to **scenes**.
A scene generally shares a common who, where, what, how, why, and when.
Each scene begins with a **scene heading** or **slug line**.
Proceed the scene heading with two empty lines.
Format a scene heading on a single line in ALL CAPS, like:

	INT. OBSERVATORY GANGWAY - NIGHT

...or:

	EXT. CLIFF TOP - DAWN

After the head, add the **scene description**, if any
The scene description follows normal sentence case, except write the name of characters with dialog in the scene in ALL CAPS when first used.
Don't the names of characters without dialog in the scene.
Capitalize sound effects.

	Below SARAH, the waves CRASH. FRANK calls to her, but Sarah can't hear him.

Descriptions of action follow the same rules as scene descriptions.

Always write action and scene descriptions in present tense.

Dialog:

						SARAH
			Where are you, Frank? I know what you told
			John in the boathouse. Coward!

If dialog breaks across a page:

						HORACE
	        That's the story of my life. One thing after another.
						(MORE)
													(CONTINUED)
	
	------------------------ [page break] -----------------------------
	
	CONTINUED:
						HORACE (CONT'D)
			One lucky break followed by a hundred misfortunes!

The "(CONT'D)" designation may also be used after an action description breaks a characters block of dialog.

When necessary, describe the manner of delivery, or an action implicit to the line, parenthetically below the character name:

						JOHN
					(whispering)
			Frank? Is that you? Where are you?
					(shouting over his shoulder)
			He's not here.

Very short parentheticals, such of "V.O" (voice over) or "O.S." (off screen) or "O.C." (off camera) should appear on the same line as the character name:

						SAM (O.S.)
			Oh, God! They're breaking through!

Use transitions sparingly.
Proceed transitions with a blank line, and follow them with two blank lines.
They should never appear at the top of page.

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## Links ##

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenplay
- https://screenwriting.io/what-is-standard-screenplay-format/

Sat Oct  7 18:00:32 EDT 2017