Film Script Format

When creating a film script, your format is important. Film scripts are formatted in a weird way. You will need to learn how to format the script. As you read your full length film script (see post below) for Monday, pay close attention to the film script format being used.

To help you, here's some info about how to set it all up.

Headings are CAPITALIZED in UPPERCASE and left justified:

1. Master scene headings include:
a) Camera location - EXT. (exterior or outside) or INT. (interior or inside)
b) Scene location (LOCAL RACE TRACK)
c) Time (DAY or NIGHT)
2. Secondary scene heading
3. “Special headings” for things such as montages, dream sequences, flashbacks, flash forwards, etc. are indicated in the heading.
4. Camera shots (camera shots MAY be noted in the heading, but are not required. In shooting scripts this becomes more important. The # of the shot and scene are also indicated in the heading line in shooting scripts.

Narrative Description is left justified but not uppercase. It includes description of:

1. Action
2. Character and settings (what we see visually)
3. Sounds (including specific music or sound effects cues--diagetic and nondiagetic)
4. PROPS and CHARACTER names are CAPITALIZED within the narrative description.

Dialogue:

1. The name of the person speaking appears at 2.5", in CAPS.
2. The actors direction is separated by parenthesis and indented on its own line at 2". Try to avoid these as much as possible.Both the director and actor appreciate it. Keep them short and succinct, if you must use them.
3. The speech. Is generally 1" in (2 tabs) and blocked together (all aligned)

Camera Shot Abbreviations:
CU (close up)
LS (long shot)
XCU (extreme close up), XLS (extreme long shot)
FS (Full shot)
Medium shots are default, so don't bother specifying them.
MCU (medium close up; shot shoulder-to-head)
WS (Wide shot)
Establishing shot (sets up setting)
Master shot (a shot indicating that the scene is shot over again from different camera positions so that there are various shots for editors to use)
2-S, 3-S (2 shot or 3 shot)
OS (over-the-shoulder shot)

Film Editing Terms:
Cut to (used as a clean transition from one scene to another)
Dissolve (one scene image dissolves into another to indicate juxtaposition or comparison)
Fade In/Fade Out (a slower transition than cut to:)
Fade to (fade to black is default, often used to indicate the end of the film or a major act/scene; fade to white indicates transcendence or death)

Special Terms:
POV (point of view)
EXT (exterior)
INT (interior)
VO (voice over)
SFX (special effects)

HOMEWORK: Choose and read a film script for Monday.