Don’t let something like your margins give someone a simple reason to chuck your screenplay. Make sure your screenplay follows the standard formatting guidelines. If anything makes your screenplay stand out from those written by veterans, it won’t even get through the first round.
Remember that each page of a screenplay generally equals one minute of a movie. Don’t let your screenplay go too long. That’s why Courier 12-point font is the standard. That font matches the one page-one minute guideline.
Use 8 1/2″ x 11″ white 3-hole punched paper. Put the page number in the upper right hand corner but not on the first page. Make your top and bottom margins between .5″ and 1″. The left margin should be between 1.2″ and 1.6″. The extra inch allows for binding. The right margin should be between .5″ and 1″.
Use the appropriate margins for each part of your text. Descriptions should be indented 1.5”-2.0” on the left and 1.0” on the right. Dialogue should be indented 3.0” on the left and 2.3” on the right. A double space follows dialogue and the next unit, whether it is a character name or an action line. Character stage directions should be indented about 3.7” on the left and 3.0” on the right.
Screenplays are bound with #6 brass brads in the top and bottom holes. Leave the middle hole empty. Don’t use any other materials to bind your script. Only print on one side of the paper.
The title page has the title and the screenwriter’s name(s) in the middle, and the screenwriter’s address and phone number in the lower right hand corner.
Each time your characters move to a different setting, you need a new scene heading. Scene headings are typed on one line with some words abbreviated and all words capitalized. Put the location and then the time of day after a small dash. Interior is always abbreviated “INT.” and exterior is abbreviated “EXT.” Leave a two-line space following the scene heading before writing your scene description.
Put character names in all capital letters the first time they are used in a description, and these names always use all capital letters in a dialogue heading.
Example:
AIRPORT WAITING AREA – NIGHT
DAVID sits at the end of the first row of plastic chairs. His head is bent over, and he stares intently at the floor.
The names of characters with no dialogue are not capitalized when mentioned in scene descriptions.
When we hear the character speaking but they are not in the scene, you put (V.O.) next to their character name to indicate Voice Over. When we hear them speaking and they are in the scene but not on camera, you put (O.C.) to indicate Off Camera. This is sometimes written (O.S.) to indicate Off Screen.
Sounds the audience will hear are capitalized, such as “WHISTLE” or “BELL.” However, sounds made by characters are not. They are not considered sound cues. Also leave out camera shots. That falls under the responsibility of the film’s director.
The screenwriting software on the market will help you produce a script that employs these formatting guidelines. However, it’s still a good idea to have a working knowledge of screenplay formatting to give you that extra, professional edge.