The standard screenplay format is a precise set of rules governing a script’s presentation, acting as a functional blueprint for the entire film production process. This industry standard ensures immediate readability and comprehension for professionals. Every element, including font selection and margin widths, is standardized. The goal of this universally accepted layout is to quickly communicate the visual and auditory experience of a story, while also providing a reliable metric for estimating its eventual length on screen.
Why Standard Format Matters
Adhering to the standard format is a prerequisite for professional consideration because it establishes the writer’s credibility. Industry readers, including agents and producers, review hundreds of scripts, relying on the consistent structure to quickly evaluate the narrative. A script that deviates from these conventions signals an amateur unfamiliar with the business side of filmmaking, often leading to immediate rejection. The format’s most important function is to reliably estimate screen time, based on the principle that one page of a properly formatted screenplay equates to approximately one minute of film. This 1-page-per-minute rule is a foundational tool for planning budgets and shooting schedules, and depends entirely on the precise measurements of margins, font, and spacing.
Technical Specifications and Page Layout
The physical appearance of the script page is governed by rigid technical specifications that must be followed for the 1-page-per-minute rule. All text must be rendered in 12-point Courier typeface, a monospaced font that provides the consistency required for accurate timing estimation. Margin requirements are precise: the left margin is set at 1.5 inches for binding, while the right, top, and bottom margins are typically 1.0 inch. These specific measurements restrict the amount of text on each line, contributing directly to the approximately 55 lines per page needed to maintain the industry’s reading speed. Page numbering is placed in the top right corner, beginning on the second page of the script, as the title page is never numbered.
Essential Script Elements and Their Formatting
The core of a screenplay is built from six fundamental elements, each possessing its own specific formatting rules to visually separate it from the others. These rules dictate the specific indentation and capitalization of the text blocks, which must be followed meticulously to maintain the script’s readability and professional appearance.
Scene Headings (Sluglines)
Scene headings, also known as sluglines, orient the reader to the location and time of day for the upcoming action. They must be written in all capital letters and contain three distinct parts: interior (INT.) or exterior (EXT.), the specific location, and the time of day (DAY or NIGHT). The three parts are separated by a dash, such as “INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE – NIGHT”. The combination of INT./EXT. is used when a scene begins in one area and immediately moves into the other. Scene headings are always left-aligned to the 1.5-inch left margin, ensuring they stand out as the primary markers for scene changes.
Action and Description
Action and description lines present all the non-dialogue aspects of the story, covering what the camera sees and what the audience hears. This element is written in standard prose, utilizing the present tense to convey a sense of immediate action. The text is left-aligned to the main 1.5-inch margin, running across the page to the 1.0-inch right margin. A character’s name must be written in all capital letters the first time they are introduced in the action description, often accompanied by a brief visual description, such as an age range. This capitalization alerts the reader to a new player, and the character’s name is only capitalized again when used as a dialogue cue above their lines.
Character Names
Character names serve as the cue for dialogue, indicating who is speaking the lines that follow. They are always written in all capital letters and are positioned center-aligned above the dialogue block. The character name is typically indented from the left margin to approximately 3.7 inches, a narrow column that clearly separates it from the main action text.
Dialogue
Dialogue represents the spoken words of the characters and is placed directly below the character name cue. This element uses a much narrower block of text than the action lines, visually separating the speech from the scene description. The dialogue column is typically set at approximately 2.5 inches from the left edge of the page, maintaining a narrower width than the action lines.
Parentheticals (Wrylies)
Parentheticals, sometimes referred to as wrylies, are brief, enclosed directions placed between the character name and the dialogue. They provide succinct instructions for the actor regarding a line’s delivery, tone, or a minor action, such as (whispering). Parentheticals are placed in parentheses, appear in lowercase, and are given a unique, narrow indentation, often starting at 3.1 inches from the left edge. Parentheticals should be used sparingly, primarily when the tone or intent of the dialogue is not self-evident from the words or the preceding action. Excessive use is discouraged because it is considered the director’s responsibility to guide the actor’s performance.
Transitions and Extensions
Transitions are editing instructions that appear on the right side of the page, indicating a specific cut or visual shift between scenes. The most common are “CUT TO:” and “FADE OUT,” and are always written in all caps. Extensions are abbreviated notes placed in parentheses directly next to a character’s name to clarify how their voice is heard. The two most common extensions are (V.O.) for Voice Over, indicating the character is speaking from an unseen source, and (O.S.) for Off-Screen, meaning the character is not visible to the audience. These extensions are placed on the same line as the character cue.
Formatting Auxiliary Script Components
Beyond the standard scene flow, a professional screenplay requires specific formatting for its structural and specialized components. The title page is the first physical page and must be centered, containing the script’s title, writer’s name, and contact information; this page is never numbered. Specialized sequences require distinct formatting to alert the reader to a change in visual presentation. A MONTAGE or SEQUENCE heading is used to indicate a rapid succession of short shots or scenes tied together by a common theme. The INTERCUT designation is used when action rapidly cuts back and forth between simultaneous locations, and INSERTS indicate an extreme close-up of an object or text.
Software Tools for Professional Formatting
Manually formatting a screenplay according to precise technical specifications is difficult and prone to error, especially when managing complex margin and indentation rules. The most reliable method for ensuring compliance is to use industry-standard screenwriting software, which automates rules like the 12-point Courier font and shifting indentations. This frees the writer to focus solely on the narrative. Final Draft is widely recognized as the industry standard, used by a majority of film and television professionals, and automatically formats the script to production-ready specifications. Other popular options include Celtx, which offers a cloud-based platform, and Fade In.