11.2 Proper Use of Screenplay Elements

Proper screenplay formatting is crucial for conveying your story effectively. This section covers essential elements like scene headings, action lines, and character introductions. Mastering these conventions ensures your script looks professional and reads smoothly.

Understanding how to format dialogue, use parentheticals, and indicate transitions helps bring your characters to life on the page. These techniques allow you to control pacing and provide clear direction for actors and production teams.

Scene Elements

Essential Scene Heading Components

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• Scene headings indicate location and time of day
• INT. or EXT. designates interior or exterior setting
• Location name follows INT./EXT. (BEDROOM, CITY STREET)
• Time of day concludes heading (DAY, NIGHT, MORNING)
• Specific times can be included when necessary (3:00 PM)
• Secondary headings used for quick location changes within a scene

Action Lines and Visual Descriptions

• Action lines describe what the audience sees on screen
• Written in present tense, active voice
• Convey visual information, character actions, and setting details
• Avoid camera directions or technical instructions
• Keep paragraphs short, typically 3-4 lines maximum
• Use white space effectively to improve readability

Transitions and Shot Descriptions

• Transitions indicate how one scene moves to the next
• Common transitions include CUT TO:, FADE TO:, DISSOLVE TO:
• Use transitions sparingly, often only at act breaks or for emphasis
• Shot descriptions specify particular camera views (CLOSE UP, WIDE SHOT)
• Camera angles provide specific visual perspectives (LOW ANGLE, OVERHEAD)
• Limit use of shot descriptions and camera angles unless crucial to story

Character Elements

Character Names and Dialogue Formatting

• Character names appear in all caps when first introduced in action lines
• Dialogue speaker names centered above their lines, in all caps
• Dialogue itself aligned left, extends about 33 spaces across the page
• New speakers always start on a new line
• Character names in dialogue headings remain consistent throughout script

Parentheticals and Dialogue Directions

• Parentheticals provide brief acting directions or clarify delivery
• Appear in parentheses below character name, before dialogue
• Keep parentheticals concise, typically one or two words
• Can indicate who character is addressing (to John)
• Extensions modify how dialogue is heard (V.O. for voice-over, O.S. for off-screen)
• Place extensions in parentheses next to character name

Dialogue Continuations and Interruptions

• (CONT'D) indicates same character speaking after action line
• Use (CONT'D) when character's dialogue continues onto next page
• (beat) or (pause) shows a brief pause in dialogue
• Use ellipsis (...) at end of line to show trailing off
• Two hyphens (--) at end of line indicate interrupted speech
• Overlapping dialogue formatted with (overlapping) parenthetical