This is what I understand is TECHNICALLY supposed to be the situation on capitals...
1. SLUGLINES AND CAMERA SHOTS (if there are any) correct. Only use camera shots in a shooting script, not a spec.
2. Characters when they first appear with speaking lines correct
OR are critical (eg the guy in the gun store in DAWN OF THE DEAD is a critical character yet never speaks a line as he is too far away. Not always true. Safer to not capitalize non-speaking characters in a spec script.
3. SOUNDS and SOUND EFFECTS No longer true unless it is truly unusual, we expect knocks. You should generally not capitalize common sounds. FOOTSTEPS, HOOF POUNDS, etc.
4. CAMERA and CAMERA associated (eg DOLLY would be so) in those rare instances, so, for instance where the CAMERA goes through the window of the dining room in that Mel Brooks film, the mention of the DOLLY moves too fast would have the DOLLY in caps. Likewise, the boy throws the ball at CAMERA has CAMERA in capitals.Don't use unless you're preparing the shooting script.
5. Text or signs within INSERTS so, for instance is someone has written GO TO HELL! like that on a letter that goes in an insert then that is in capitals as it is supposed to look on the screen.
6. Medals or distinctions following names, so "The Queen gives James Bond an OBE", the OBE medal (award) is in its normal capitals. Acronyms should ALWAYS include periods, O.B.E. unless it is now considered a word such as "laser". DNA is one of those odd words that I've seen written both ways. Newer writers without, older writer with the periods.
7. All changes to characters on set, ie. entrances and exits. No longer true most Hollywood scripts. Only on first appearance unless the character reappears later and speaks for the first time.
8. Transitions - on the rare use of transitions, they need to be in capitals. correct
NOT IN CAPS
1. Shouting. Emphasis and words being shouted as NOT in caps but should be UNDERLINED. Only put into caps shouting if they are balling so loudly that they can be heard all the way to Baffin Island in Canada. In effect, caps in speech is as a last resort booster to an existing stress underline.
correct
2. Props should not be in caps - However, the scene description MUST contain, in effect, an inventory of all props used in the scene or any scene that follows in that location, so if a cigarette box is used in the kitchen on page 93, any scene in the kitchen on page 4 should ALSO have the cigarette box in the opening description to avoid a continuity breakdown.Don't repeat props unless integral to a scene. It's not necessary. The AD, not the screenwriter, is responsible for continuity.