In this short tutorial, you will learn how to write and format the four critical elements of a screenplay (Scene Heading, Action, Character, and Dialogue.) You’ll also learn how to save and send your script in Final Draft.
GET STARTED
So you’ve got this great idea for a movie. And you want to write a screenplay. Whether you’re writing a short two-page script for this contest or a full-length feature film, you must get your idea into the particular screenplay format that the entertainment industry requires.
A screenplay serves two purposes. It’s a story with a hero or heroine who must conquer adversity to achieve a goal. But a screenplay is also a blueprint. Your script contains directions and details that the cast and crew need to actually produce the movie.
No matter the length or genre, all screenplays look remarkably the same. They are written in the Courier 12-pt. font and usually equal one page for every minute of screen time. Scenes and action and dialogue are all written a standard way. If you don’t adhere to proper screenplay font and format, your writing looks amateurish and will probably be ignored.
You can certainly use a word-processing program to write a screenplay. But you run the risk that you will make formatting errors. And you may spend more time formatting your script than writing.
With Final Draft software, you can easily write a properly formatted screenplay with just the Tab and Enter/Return key. And with the free Final Draft demo, you can write a script up to 15 pages that can be saved, emailed, or printed for review. (The free demo is available at www.finaldraft.com.)
SCENE HEADINGS
Everything in a screenplay is organized into scenes, and every scene starts with a scene heading. A scene heading looks like this:
EXT. SID'S HOUSE - DAY
A scene heading starts 1.5 inches from the left margin of the page and is always in ALL CAPS.
There are three parts to a scene heading: INT/EXT, location, and time of day.
The first part tells you whether the camera is placed outside, or exterior, which is abbreviated EXT; or inside, which is INT, for interior scene.
Next is the location of the scene. This can be as specific as Billy’s Bedroom, or as broad as Wyoming. In the example above, it’s Sid’s House.
Last is time of day. It’s best to write only day or night. Specific times are generally not used, although you might use a general time of day, like sunrise or evening if that’s critical to making the scene work.
Anytime you start a new scene by changing location or time of day, you need to write a new scene heading.
ACTION LINES
Action is what keeps your story moving forward and your audience stuck to their seats. In most cases, an Action line is written immediately after the Scene Heading to describe what is happening. Here’s an example from the screenplay L.A. Confidential:
EXT. POLICE HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Reporters scribble as the Chief Speaks. Uniforms everywhere with EXLEY and LOEW. Bus sits in the back.
Action lines start 1.5 inches from the left margin and extend to 7.5 inches from the left. An action line is single spaced and a present-tense description of what the audience sees. If you are introducing a character for the first time, you may capitalize the character’s name in the action line. An action line never includes what a character is thinking. If the audience can’t see it, don’t write it. Keep your script lean and clean.
CHARACTER AND DIALOGUE
The dialogue your characters speak moves your screenplay forward while also revealing important information about your characters and story. Each character’s dialogue should be unique to that character. If one character sounds like another, rewrite the dialogue so each has a distinct voice. Rocky didn’t sound like Adrian. Your characters shouldn’t either.
The Character line is written directly above Dialogue. Here’s an example from the screenplay for You’ve Got Mail:
KATHLEEN
Hey, you forgot to pick up the
garbage last week and I got a
ticket. And you're late today... I
could have gotten another.
After you finish writing Dialogue, you can continue the conversation by writing more Dialogue from a different Character. You may write a line of Action to keep the story moving forward. Or you may finish the scene and write a Scene Heading to start a brand-new scene.
While there are other elements to a screenplay you should learn, these four (Scene Heading, Action, Character, and Dialogue) are the primary elements in any script. You can start writing your script right now with just these four elements. To see all four in action, we’ve attached a one-page example at the end of this tutorial.
USING THE FINAL DRAFT DEMO
You can download a demo for Final Draft for Mac or Windows at www.finaldraft.com/demo. This demo is a fully-functioning version that allows you to save up to 15 pages of your script as a Final Draft file. You can easily email this file to another Final Draft user who can open it, read it, edit it, and even print it with no limitations.
After you download and install the demo, you will be asked to enter a customer number or continue as a guest. Click the continue button. You’ll see a blank page ready for writing.
Before you start though, read the tutorial file and browse the User’s Guide which is found in the Help area of the program. There is also a complete set of video tutorials on YouTube – search for FinalDraftInc.
EMAILING OR UPLOADING YOUR SCRIPT
At any time you can save your script as a Final Draft file in the accepted .fdx format. You can then email your script or upload it. As long as the recipient also has Final Draft, he or she can read it exactly as you’ve written it. Your script retains its formatting that the industry requires.
*Final draft is the number one-selling scriptwriting software in the world. http://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft/
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