Entries Tagged 'screenwriting' ↓

Over at Cinematical they posted the first of a two part story on Breaking into Television Writing. It is basically a how to for someone that is interested in how the system works. It helps the potential wannabe TV writer know what steps to take to be a writer for TV.

So, if you are interested in breaking into writing for your favorite television shows be sure to check out the article. And remember to watch for the second part on breaking into television writing.

Reading what a script should look like is one thing. Seeing it is another. When it comes to getting a visual of what a script should look like, one online reference beats all others. The screenplay formatting sample at http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/script.pdf is direct from the pros. Meant to be a reference for those applying for Nicholl Fellowships, it is written in an engaging style and is chock-full of useful information.

Another decent script format sample is available online at http://www.scriptologist.com/Magazine/Formatting/formatting.html.

Just comparing these two sites, you will see some small differences between their examples of proper formatting. While there are some tried and true rules to screenplay formatting, 12-point courier font for instance, there are also slight variations that are usually accepted.

If you are working on writing a screenplay then it is important that you are adhering to the Hollywood standard when it comes to scripts.

All screenwriters in Hollywood follow the same format for their scripts. You can purchase some screenwriting software like Final Draft or try a freebie software like Celtx. Or you can do it in Microsoft Word using the following specs…

1. Make sure your script is on 8 1/2″ x 11″ white 3-hole punched paper. (You can 3-hole punch it after you print it)
2. You should have a page number in the upper right hand corner (in the header).
3. No page number is printed on the first page.
4. The type style used is the Courier 12 font.
5. The top and bottom margins are between .5″ and 1″.
6. The left margin is between 1.2″ and 1.6″. The right margin is between .5″ and 1″.
7. The average feature length screenplay is between 95 and 125 pages long.

You must do binding with brads, and there is a standard for that too.