Film Script Format
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ScribdTranslationsFilm Script Format
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ScribdTranslationsSCREENPLAY FORMAT.
Screenplays are written following a specific format that allows for the
director, the actors, and any other person involved in the production of the
movie can interpret the text without difficulty.
There are two types of script: the literary script, which is the one that has not yet been given.
technical guidelines for the making of the film, and the technical script, in which yes
The first one is written by the screenwriter; the second, by the director. Here we are going to talk about the
first.
Basically, a literary script consists of the description of a series of scenes.
Each scene is detailed using the following three elements:
SCENE HEADING
The heading provides information about where and when the action takes place. It consists of
three parts:
The abbreviation "INT." or "EXT.", which indicates whether the action takes place indoors
(closed spaces) or outdoors (open spaces).
2. The specific place where the scene takes place (for example, "POLICE STATION")
POLICE / OFFICE
3. The word 'DAY' or 'NIGHT' or any other that you want to use to indicate the
moment of the day.
Example (the header appears highlighted in blue):
INT. SHARED APARTMENT / DINING ROOM - DAY
We are in an apartment. The front door opens and RUBÉN (22) enters with a
student folder under the arm.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION
It shows the action, expressed in images and sounds. It must be written in
concise form and with the verbs in present. The first time the name appears
a character in the script will be written in uppercase, and we will take the opportunity to put
your age right below, in parentheses. In uppercase we will also put the
descriptions of those sounds and/or objects that are relevant to the story.
Example (the description of the action appears highlighted in blue):
INT. SHARED APARTMENT / DINING ROOM - DAY
We are in an apartment. The front door opens and RUBÉN (22) enters, with a
student folder under his arm. In the dining room is GUILLERMO (23), sitting
in front of a table, engrossed in what seems to be chemistry experiments. On the table
there are test tubes, graduated cylinders, etc.
RUBÉN
Hey!
DIALOGUE
Show the words spoken by the characters. Each paragraph of dialogue must
LEAD BY THE NAME OF THE CHARACTER SPEAKING (IN CAPITAL LETTERS). TO INFORM
of any action that the character performs while speaking, or of the tone with which
talk, a notation will be used, which we will write in parentheses below the
header.
Example (the dialogue appears highlighted in blue):
INT. SHARED APARTMENT / DINING ROOM - DAY
We are in an apartment. The front door opens and RUBÉN (22) enters with a
student folder under his arm. In the dining room is GUILLERMO (23), sitting
in front of a table, engrossed in what seems to be chemistry experiments. On the table
there are test tubes, measuring cylinders, etc.
RUBÉN
Hey!
GUILLERMO
(without turning)
Look, don't miss this.
Rubén comes closer to take a look. Guillermo puts a few drops into a test tube. A
a little smoke.
In addition:
The script must be written with single spacing and Courier (or New)
Courier) of 12 points.
The pages will be numbered.
To the left and right of the scene headers and action descriptions
A margin of 2.5 cm will be left.
A margin of 5 cm will be left on the left and right sides of the dialogue blocks; of this
In this way, the text of the dialogue will have an approximate maximum width of 40.
characters (these are all indicative measurements, since there is no universal standard).
A margin of 7.5 will be left on the left and right sides of the dialogue annotations.
cm.
A margin of 10 will be left to the left and right of the dialogue headers.
cm.
All texts will be aligned to the left.
A margin of 2.5 cm will be left at the top and bottom of each page.
Between elements (scene header, action description, and dialogue) a space will be left
a blank line; two will be left between scenes.
Here you have a Word template, to make it clear.
It is estimated that in a properly formatted and written script, each page
corresponds approximately to a minute of image on screen.
Here is the full text of the script from the example.
This material belongs to the film script course taught by Julia Morando.
it also analyzes movie scripts.