Am i scripting corectly?

[benllben]

Hello everyone,

Ive done some reading on how to correctly format a script, and then used celtx to start scripting my latest movie, 'One More Day'. More on that later, for now i was wondering if i am formatting my script correctly and doing everything as it should be done.

Edit: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7IFPdDhrosINTRlOTc1NTctZGMwNC00MWJlLThiZmEtODVhNjNiNGQ4ZjQ5
Nearly forgot that link...

 

[mad_hatter]

Looks pretty good to me…


In the scene heading, you’ve added a little description of the scene. I’ve not seen this before. If it were me, I’d write this description into the first line of action. That’s not to say what you’ve done is wrong, it still works.


There’s too much info in you’re character descriptions:

“ANNIE - average teenage girl, wearing swimming costume,
messy hair but usually combed neatly, not a very girly girl
and cares greatly about her friend Brian, smarter than usual
as well as mature”

A lot of this is un-filmable. Only write what a viewer will be able to see; “ANNIE - average teenage girl, wearing swimming costume, messy hair”. That’s it. The rest, you can not film, you need to find a way to show this through the development of the character.


Having “CONTINUED” at the top and bottom of each page is pretty old school, it’s not necessary nowadays. That’s a setting within Celtx that can be turned off.


I find this strange:

“INSERT MOBILEPHONE

It reads 5:27pm.

BACK TO BEACH”

The headings are unnecessary. You can just tell us that the clock on the phone read 5:27. You don’t need to worry about telling us that you’ll be showing us the phone. By telling us that the phone read 5:27, we will just assume that we’re looking at the phone.


It’s good stuff so far though. You’ve nothing to worry about on the formatting side of things!

 

[benllben]

Thanks for taking a look.

I shall move the extra detail in the heading down into the paragraph below it which contains the other descriptions. The source i was using said to throughly introduce main characters the first time they are said, but i guess that rule about writing only what can be filmed still applies so i will go and correct that to.
I have now also turned off that "continued" feature.

I was linked to this site by another member which is were i learnt about the Insert part, basically used to Insert something small into full frame. But i guess it would be common sense to most people, though if it isn't harmful i will probally keep it as i will be directing and filming and it would serve as a good reminder if stressed.

 

[rayw]

Hi, Ben

If you're writing as the intended director then what you're doing is fine.
It's only if you're writing to sell a screenplay as a spec script or work with well experienced industry cast & crew on your own production that formatting matters much.

Now, if you want to practice spec screenplay format just for the halibut as you write for yourself then... the benefits can just be incorporated into your general skill set as almost a freebie.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/12721428/Professional-Screenplay-Formatting-Guide

MadHatter's right on top of it. Two thumbs up!

Headers (AKA slug lines) just need three elements: INT/EXT space LOCATION space DAY/NIGHT.
Rarely do they need "MORNING" or "NOON" or "EVENING"
Sometimes the location description needs a modifier to it, technically making it a four part slug line.
Ex.: INT. BEACH HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

A note about spell check:

Small open beach, considerably[COLOR="Red"] quite[/COLOR] with few people around,
with large cliff either side. Concrete platform with some
food stores located and the back of the beach.

Weenie stuff like that. No big whup.

Always a good reason to show this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_rwB5_3PQc


Also, you don't have to include the apostrophes at the beginning and end of dialog lines.

ANNIE
[COLOR="Red"]’[/COLOR]Do you want to go grab some
dinner? I’m starting to get
hungry.[COLOR="red"]’[/COLOR]

She looks at [COLOR="Purple"][his or her?][/COLOR] stomach and then leans back.

BRIAN
[COLOR="red"]’[/COLOR]I was about to ask you the same
question. Where do you want to go
to eat?[COLOR="red"]’[/COLOR]

ANNIE
[COLOR="red"]’[/COLOR]We could go and get some fish and
chips.[COLOR="red"]’[/COLOR]

BRIAN
[COLOR="red"]’[/COLOR]I thought it was closed today.[COLOR="red"]’[/COLOR]

Just read the first page or two of some produced scripts (rarely by nube spec screenwriters, frequently by experienced spec screenwriters) to get a more detailed understanding of what "industry standard formatting" can include.
http://www.imsdb.com/latest/
It's subjectively liberal within some confines.
And it's somewhat like driving: there are some rules for everyone, but there's also a fair bit of leeway, as well.