Proper Screenplay Format

Writing a screenplay is hard. There it is out in the open. Arthur C. Clarke famously wrote the famazing novel 2001: A space odyssey before writing the screenplay for the movie. The problem is that the format is rather difficult to get a handle on. It will often feel like you are trying write with boxing gloves on..

The first thing to remember when writing a screenplay is that you must start with an outline. The outline is important because otherwise you will be mucked down in the screenplay format un able to find your way out. Have the story properly laid out before you with the most important changes in the story. From there add on little bits of detail to each shift in story. Keep going with this cycle until you have the entire screenplay mapped out before you. After you have properly mapped out the story you can then try to fit it into screenplay format.

1. 1. Scene Headings: Every time you character moves to a new environment you need to mention it in the screen heading. Here is an example of a screen heading.

EXT. DAY - DUSK - OUTSIDE A CONVENIENCE STORE IN TOWN

Here is the breakdown of the example to further your comprehension.

EXT- Exterior Shot

Day- as opposed to night

Dusk- Shows what the lighting should be like

Outside a convenience store in town- gives the setting

2. Scene Description

Remember to introduce a character in all caps when mentioning them for the first time. For Example " TOMMY drove up the road".

3. 2.Sounds

Sounds also fit into the scene description. For instance, "BRAKES SCREECHING TO A HALT".

4. 3. Dialogue

Dialogue is written underneath the characters name. The characters name should be capitalized and the dialogue should be centered underneath the respective characters name.

In order to develop a well written screenplay it is helpful to write the story in a more traditional format. There is a reason Arthur C. Clarke wrote an entire novel before touching the screenplay. The screenplay format is so rigorous that it is hard to let the creative juices ooze while writing in screenplay format. Never mind properly orientating yourself to the characters.

Most screenplay writers will have some time of writing with their character. You need to get the feel for your characters outside of the boundaries of the rigorous screenplay format.

Doing enough prep work to have the story concretely engraved in your mind will make writing in the screenplay format far easier.

Source:
http://www.scriptologist.com/Magazine/Formatting/formatting.html , Scriptologist