Film Script Page Layout Example
This is an example of LAYOUT. It can differ slightly, plus it is difficult to set the layout precisely in HTML. You can also go to the Nicholl Fellowship formatting page and download their pdf guide.

 

1.
FADE IN:
INT./EXT. PLACE, DAY/NIGHT
Describe the scene, introducing CHARACTERS et cetera. Do not use too many camera directions, only very occasionally when absolutely necessary, as camera directions are a part of a Shooting Script not a First Draft script. All scripts are a First Draft until they are sold and developed.

Scenes should not be too long. Huge blocks of descriptive text is not a good idea for a newbie. Better to make sure it is broken into smaller paragraphs and have a good mix of description and dialogue. Less is often more.
CHARACTER NAME
Dialogue here (left TAB set up) next line is lined up to the line above. The character name is centred.
TITLE OVER:
Monday 17th November 1997
INT. OFFICE, NIGHT
The office is quite big, though it's difficult to tell as there are scripts piled high wall to wall. Crammed in, JENNIFER, a young brunette twenty-something is hunched over her desk, wearily tapping away on her computer. She pauses, transfixed in thought when GERDA, a stunning, Austrian blonde strides in.
GERDA
Oh no, not another one. Tarantino Wannabe?
JENNIFER
No. This is a little... different. Trying to work out what to say to this guy.
GERDA
Your script stinks, don't give up your day job.
Jennifer laughs out loud and is visibly lifted. Gerda casually picks the script up and raises an eyebrow.
GERDA
(continuing)
Lesbian killer nuns abducted by aliens? Oh my God, what a freak!
JENNIFER
Yeah, I've not had that one before. It has zombies too and he drew me a picture
GERDA
(sarcastically)
Nice.
JENNIFER
I wish people would write from experience, rather than some random crap that just fell out of their brain and on to the page.
Suddenly bright lights stream through the windows. Gerda and Jennifer shield their eyes.

EXT. OFFICE, NIGHT
Their small office in PINEWOOD STUDIOS is over shadowed by a huge Close Encounters style alien spaceship, lights flashing like a cheesy 70's disco.

INT. ALIEN SPACESHIP, NIGHT
Three very butch, transvestite NUNS sit at the control panel. KILLER NUN 1 is fiddling at the controls and an image of Jennifer and Gerda jumps up on the screen.
KILLER NUN 2
I'll teach them to laugh at my screen masterpiece.
FADE OUT:
THE END
Film Script Page Layout
The layout here is designed for UK 'A4' size paper, so if you are American with American size paper (shorter and wider), please be aware of the difference.

FORMATTING USING WORD, WORKS, CLARIS
All text should be in the font: Courier or Courier New, in size 12 points. I set my page set-up / document size MARGINS as: TOP = 0.5 inches, BOTTOM = 0.25 inches, LEFT = 1.25 inches (this is to accommodate binding and this margin size can vary dependent on your binding type from 1inch to 1.25 inches), RIGHT = 1 inch. I then set up my page numbers by inserting a page count (from the edit - insert page count menu) in the top right hand HEADER. Make sure this is also in Courier New 12 using right justify. Next I set up my TAB setting in the body. One at 2.5 inches (LEFT TAB) and one at the centre of the page which is usually about 4 inches (CENTRE TAB). When you are typing dialogue, it should not go right to the edge of the page but stop at about 6 inches. So the dialogue text should be 2.5 to 3 inches wide. Yes, it is much more complicated than a script writing programme, but it is do-able as I myself have completed nearly two screenplays using this basic method.

Script Layout Example
This is an example of LAYOUT. It can differ slightly, plus it is difficult to set the layout precisely in HTML. You can also go to the Nicholl Fellowship formatting page and download the pdf !
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