Screenplay Standards? Are there any?

[GhostPoet]

So, getting pretty close to finishing my screenplay and I want to start getting all the indentation right.
I’ve checked dozens of sites and there doesn’t seem to be a clear standard for rules on indentation. Could anyone tell me what the most acceptable “standard” is for indentation on the side margins of the page? As well as how far to indent dialog? And do most agents/studios prefer names to always be in caps?

Thanks to anyone who can help!! I’m getting close and I feel like this is “the one” It has come out so great.

 

[The Squirrel]

Download celtx. It's a free scriptwriting program. There definitely is an industry standard when it comes to script formatting.

 

[Motown Marvel]

find a way to illegally download Final Draft. Great screenwriting program.

 

[Rain Dog]

Celtx is free and just as good, I think.

 

[PWN3R]

Celtix is good and all but listen to Motown. You can easily find Final Draft 8 online for free.

It's awesome. It feels like cheating, but whatever.

 

[chaseter]

Interior

Chase - "Sorry, can't help you."

 

[MadVillainy]

Celtix is good and all but listen to Motown. You can easily find Final Draft 8 online for free.

It's awesome. It feels like cheating, but whatever.

Really? I dont know anything about that

Spoiler

 

[PWN3R]

INT. OFFICE - DAY

CHASE, a late 20's male who loves caffeine as much as he does underage girls, sits alone in his desk. The medium sized box in the corner of the room begins to move.

CHASE
Shutup or you're staying in there another day!

I'm calling it...CATCHING PREDATORS: THE RECKONING
​

 

[chaseter]

I would never hide my preciouses under a box.

Also...mid 20s you butthole. No imma go cry and eat ice cream.

 

[PWN3R]

Late 20's or he's not sympathetic enough.

 

[GhostPoet]

Download celtx. It's a free scriptwriting program. There definitely is an industry standard when it comes to script formatting.

Will it be difficult to paste in the pages I already have done? Or is it pretty easy to edit what I paste?

thanks btw

 

[Metamorpho1977]

So, getting pretty close to finishing my screenplay and I want to start getting all the indentation right.
I’ve checked dozens of sites and there doesn’t seem to be a clear standard for rules on indentation. Could anyone tell me what the most acceptable “standard” is for indentation on the side margins of the page? As well as how far to indent dialog? And do most agents/studios prefer names to always be in caps?

Thanks to anyone who can help!! I’m getting close and I feel like this is “the one” It has come out so great.

Moviemaker.com

has a great article on screenplay formatting. I can't find it right off, but if you search that site, there's a lot of great info.

 

[GhostPoet]

Moviemaker.com

has a great article on screenplay formatting. I can't find it right off, but if you search that site, there's a lot of great info.

Great site!! Thanks for that!
I have a good feeling about this screenplay. I think it's the one that will get me on the map! .....granted the map would be very large and my work would be a non-descript tiny island that requires a magnifying glass to see and it may not even show up on all maps.

Ok, i'm done with the map thing now.

 

[MadVillainy]

if youre interested in screenplays I suggest you join triggerstreet.com

It's like SHH for screenplays. You can get people to review youre scripts, short stories, comics, and short films.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Will it be difficult to paste in the pages I already have done? Or is it pretty easy to edit what I paste?

thanks btw

Just retype it in the proper formatting. I had to do that when I lost my FD7 copy and starting working on my script again on celtx. I had to retype it.

Celtx is good. Final Draft is a lot better, though.

 

[Spider-Fan]

if youre interested in screenplays I suggest you join triggerstreet.com

It's like SHH for screenplays. You can get people to review youre scripts, short stories, comics, and short films.

Be careful in doing this, though. Protect your work first.

 

[The Squirrel]

Just retype it in the proper formatting. I had to do that when I lost my FD7 copy and starting working on my script again on celtx. I had to retype it.

Celtx is good. Final Draft is a lot better, though.

Celtx is great! I don't have the money for Final Draft and I don't pirate. But I've never had any complaints with Celtx not doing what I wanted it to do.

 

[B.A. Baracus]

Just write it on toilet roll, if they don't like it sod them. It'll be there loss.

I'm currently writing a script about a boy who lives with his aunt and uncle, who finds out he's a wizard, he goes to wizarding school, meet a boy named jon and a girl named dermoine. It's gonna be huge.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Celtx is great! I don't have the money for Final Draft and I don't pirate. But I've never had any complaints with Celtx not doing what I wanted it to do.

Celtx sadly won't format text the correct way. Like, if you want to put what a note says, there is a particular way to do that which Celtx won't do. You kind of have to bootleg your own way of doing it on Celtx. While Final Draft has a feature for doing text right.

I am not a pirate either. I bought my final draft copy when I got it. Wish I could find it

 

[MadVillainy]

Just write it on toilet roll, if they don't like it sod them. It'll be there loss.

I'm currently writing a script about a boy who lives with his aunt and uncle, who finds out he's a wizard, he goes to wizarding school, meet a boy named jon and a girl named dermoine. It's gonna be huge.

sounds stupid

 

[B.A. Baracus]

sounds stupid

They said the same about star wars.

You just wait people will flock to see 'Gary Totter and the order of the pigeon'.

 

[MadVillainy]

Never heard of Star Wars. Must not be that good

 

[B.A. Baracus]

It's one of those small arthouse indie films about a farmboy in search of his dad, falls in love with his sister, his mate gets placed inside a big rock because he owes debts to a massive slug.

Theres also mini singing teddies in it and two bickering tin men.

It's actually ok, you should watch it if you can find a copy.

 

[MadVillainy]

Ya maybe I'll look into it

Hey did anyone hear about a Mac and Me ripoff called E.T?

 

[B.A. Baracus]

as a boy i quite enjoyed that, how they could only survive by chewing gum. It was one of those crap films you enjoy as a child then dislike as a adult.

Like driving miss daisy, but the other way round.