How to format a script if you want to break into the spec market.
If you’re confused by how to format a script, you’re in the right place. The following post contains excerpts from our book, “Master Screenplay Format: a Clear Guide on How to Format a Screenplay for the Spec Market.”
The overall message of the book when it comes to your movie script format is to stay as clear and consistent as possible in order to immerse the reader into the world of the story.
Rather than focus on how to format a script using dogmatic rules, the book focuses on “best practices” and script format choices.
Here are just two of the many anomalies contained in the book and our suggestions for better choices on how to format a script.
How to format a script example #1: misusing EXT./INT.
(This script format example is taken from section 2 on Sluglines)
The format EXT./INT. should be used when quickly cutting between interior and exterior locations. If you want to know how to format a script, we don’t recommend using EXT./INT. as it’s used in the following scene:
If we see Charlotte chatting on her cellphone before entering the gym, this needs an exterior slugline. Then, when she enters the gym, we’d need an interior one, like this:
Similarly, this use of EXT./INT. is also technically incorrect when it comes to script format:
This screenwriting format “mistake” sometimes happens when the writer feels a location is simultaneously inside and outside. But, using our earlier rule of thumb, can these characters look up and see the sky? Yes. And so—as with most football stadiums, tennis courts, concert venues, etc.—we’re technically still outside.
So this scene should be labeled as an exterior, like this:
In general, only use EXT./INT. when the action repeatedly switches from inside to outside a location or we’re seeing it unfold in both places simultaneously. High octane car chases and fight scenes are good places to use this technique. Here’s an example of how to format a script in this way:
How to format a script example #2: misusing caps in sound.
(This script format example is taken from section 3 on Description)
It’s easy to get carried away with describing too many sounds in a script. This tends to lead to putting too many sounds in caps, which then leads to an overall misuse of the technique.
Here’s an example of all three errors:
Putting sounds in caps is something of a personal preference. But from a purist’s point of view, there are a whole host of “irregularities” in this scene.
Should you put all sounds in caps? Is there a difference between sound effects and natural sounds? What about animal noises? Or on-screen and off-screen sounds?
If you want to format sounds by-the-book, it can all get pretty confusing… A good way to make it less so, though, is to divide sounds in a screenplay into just two categories:
♦ Those made by actors (natural sounds)
♦ Those not made by actors (sound effects)
How to format a script and natural sounds.
These include all sounds made by the actors themselves. Such as laughing, singing, screaming, clapping, banging, knocking, playing musical instruments, etc.
If they’re on-screen, i.e. present in the scene and visible to the camera these sounds don’t get put in caps. If they’re off-screen, i.e. behind a door, under the floorboards or out of view outside, then they do get put in caps.
Sounds effects.
These include all sounds not made by the actors themselves. Such as glass shattering, guns firing, cell phones ringing, music playing on stereos, cats meowing, babies crying, etc. It doesn’t matter if the sound originates on-screen or off-screen, they all get put in caps.
Perhaps the easiest way to remember all this is: all sounds get put in caps, except natural sounds made by actors on-screen.
Let’s take another look at the scene. This time it’s formatted using all the “technically correct” uses of caps for natural sounds and sound effects:
Here’s a recap of why this second version is technically correct:
It’s best to avoid caps for natural sounds made on-screen.
In the second version of the scene above, people chatting, fingers typing, Ned collapsing on the couch and sighing, etc. are all natural sounds made by the actors themselves and therefore not put in caps.
Note, however, how the writer has overused the number of sounds throughout this scene. There are unnecessary descriptions of keyboards clattering and the sound the couch makes when Ned collapses in it, etc.
Use caps for all other sounds.
The music playing, baby crying, and pistol firing are all on-screen sound effects and therefore go in caps.
Note that babies aren’t actors as such, and so are treated the same way as dogs barking and cats meowing. The plates smash off-screen and so they go in caps too. As does the man’s scream, even though it’s made by an actor.
Try to avoid writing “we hear” and “sound.”
It’s not a great idea to pepper your script with lines like: “From the kitchen, comes the SOUND of plates smashing.” Or “Nearby, we hear a baby burst out crying.” In both cases, it’s clear what the actual sound is, and so this should be put in caps instead.
It’s a best practice to only use “we hear” or “sound” when it’s not obvious what the sound actually is. For example: “Tommy freezes. He’s just heard a LOW SOUND coming from the basement.”
Use caps on both the sound and the thing making the sound.
In the above scene, the sound system, plates, man in the kitchen, baby and pistol all get put in caps as they’re the thing making the sound. Note that if you do use “we hear” it doesn’t go in caps, while “sound” does.
While the above rules may be “right way” of formatting sounds, it’s perfectly fine to eschew many or all of them. Save caps only for those sounds you really want to draw the reader’s attention to—like a bomb going off.
How to format a script for the spec market: conclusion.
When it comes to script format, your aim as a writer should be to make sure that the dialogue and action lines come to life.
They should paint a picture in as few words as possible. And force the eye down the page at a clip, making the overall story and pace feel even cleaner and faster.
The best spec script format is simply the one that helps the reader see and feel what’s happening on the page as best as it can. And this is what we show you how to do in our book “Master Screenplay Format: A Clear Guide On How To Format a Screenplay For The Spec Market.”
And don’t forget to make your life as easier by using one of these 5 best screenwriting software, or these 10 best free screenwriting software options.
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If you have any questions at all on how to format a script, please leave them below in the comments section. And if you’d like us to review your script for formatting and grammar errors, please check out our Proofread/Formatting service.
Enjoyed this post? Read more on how to format a script for the spec market…
Movie Script Format and the Myth of Industry Rules
50 of the Best Screenplays to Read in Every Genre
How to Write a Screenplay That’s Unlike Any Other in 6 Steps
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