Script-writing for beginners!

The thought of writing a screenplay can be intimidating. There can be an overwhelming number of formatting and binding rules and it might seem to be an endless parade of elements keeping you at bay. That is why this guide will be your best friend to guide to write a script as an amateur.

In the most simplistic terms, a script is a 90-120 page document that is written in Courier 12pt font on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper that is bright white and three-hole-punched. And if you are wondering why only the Courier font, it is because of timing. One script page that is formatted and written in the Courier font is approximately one minute of screen time.

Writing the first page

While there are various screenplay writing softwares, it is good to have an understanding of the general spacing and formatting standards. The right, bottom, and top margins are of 1”, while the left is of 1.5”. The document needs to be single-spaced entirely. The first page is not numbered while the following pages’ numbers appear on the upper right-hand corner, 0.5” from the top of the page, flush right to the margin.

A few Elements

The items below make up the majority of a screenplay format. One must have the working knowledge of these items and their formatting to proceed to write a script.

Scene heading

 Indent: Left: 0.0″ Right: 0.0″ Width: 6.0″

Subheader

 Indent: Left: 0.0″ Right: 0.0″ Width: 6.0″

Character

 Indent: Left: 2.0″ Right: 0.0″ Width: 4.0″

Action

 Indent: Left: 0.0″ Right: 0.0″ Width: 6.0″

Dialogue

 Indent: Left: 1.0″ Right: 1.5″ Width: 3.5″

Know that what you write as a scriptwriter can be original art, previously written content like a newspaper article or novel, or based on a true story. It is like a blueprint that the people working on the set like the actors, directors, and set designers translate to make the film.