SCRIPT FORMAT CHEAT SHEET

TITLE PAGE SCRIPT TITLE written by Matthew Harris

SCRIPT TITLE

written by

Matthew Harris

CONTACT & DATE 12345 Anystreet Rd. City, ST/PROV POSTAL (555) 555-5555 FIRST DRAFT September 16, 2009

12345 Anystreet Rd.

City, ST/PROV POSTAL

(555) 555-5555

SCENE HEADINGS Interior or Exterior? EXT. HOTEL – ENTRANCE – DAY INT. HOTEL – LOBBY – DAY Order from general to specific.

Interior or Exterior?

EXT. HOTEL – ENTRANCE – DAY

INT. HOTEL – LOBBY – DAY

Order from general to specific.

CHARACTERS Introducing a character MATTHEW HARRIS walks into the hotel lobby. Afterwards Matthew approaches the front desk.

Introducing a character

MATTHEW HARRIS walks into the hotel

lobby.

Afterwards

Matthew approaches the front desk.

DIALOGUE MATTHEW HARRIS A character’s name should always be capitalized when speaking. Margins Not centered. Character Name starts at 4.1” Always begins at same point.

MATTHEW HARRIS

A character’s name should

always be capitalized when

speaking.

Margins

Not centered.

Character Name starts at 4.1”

Always begins at same point.

PARENTHETICALS MATTHEW HARRIS (flips to next slide) Words of direction contained in parentheses within dialogue. When to use? How a line is spoken What the character is doing while speaking

MATTHEW HARRIS

(flips to next slide)

Words of direction contained in

parentheses within dialogue.

When to use?

How a line is spoken

What the character is doing while speaking

V.O. & O.S. MATTHEW HARRIS (V.O.) O.S. or Offscreen when a character is physically present in a scene, but outside the view of the camera V.O. or Voice Over all other instances (i.e. Phone, TV, Speaker, Radio, Narrator, etc.)

MATTHEW HARRIS (V.O.)

O.S. or Offscreen

when a character is physically present in a scene, but outside the view of the camera

V.O. or Voice Over

all other instances (i.e. Phone, TV, Speaker, Radio, Narrator, etc.)

SOUND CUES Capitalize the SOUND, and SOURCE of sound. MUSIC plays on the SOUND SYSTEM.

Capitalize the SOUND, and SOURCE

of sound.

MUSIC plays on the SOUND SYSTEM.

TRANSITIONS FADE IN: INT. BAR – NIGHT CUT TO: EXT. STREET – NIGHT FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

INT. BAR – NIGHT

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

FADE OUT.

OTHER Single Camera Format Other formats: Sitcom/Multi-Camera Stage Play Spelling and Grammar Page Numbers Copyright Registration

Single Camera Format

Other formats:

Sitcom/Multi-Camera

Stage Play

Spelling and Grammar

Page Numbers

Copyright

Registration

SOFTWARE FINAL DRAFT ($249) www.finaldraft.com MOVIE MAGIC SCREENWRITER($249) www.screenplay.com CELTX(FREE!) www.celtx.com

FINAL DRAFT ($249)

www.finaldraft.com

MOVIE MAGIC SCREENWRITER($249)

www.screenplay.com

CELTX(FREE!)

www.celtx.com