Why are scripts in the format they're in?

[Aspiring Mogul]

I'm looking at several scripts as examples for my work, and, yes, I have several scenes being fleshed out. But I'm curious as to the format. The description of the scene is done in paragraph form, like a novel, but the dialogue places the speaker and his lines at the center of the page.

So we would have something like this:

Hero and bad guy are alone in the desert. Hero takes out his pistol.

Hero (pointing pistol at bad guy)
Drop your weapon!​

Bad guy drops his sword and raises his hand.

Bad guy
I surrender.​

Why are scripts in this format? Thanks for the education.

 

[rayw]

rayw, so it's better to win a lottery and invest all the money to shoot and produce your own idea, isn't it?

Well, shit!

There ya go, Rayw. ...Another noob just grabbed himself a seat on your "Doomsday Train".

First, I'm pretty sure Inarius is playfully mocking me - and I'm cool with both he and you giving me a hard time.
We're all okay.
There's no fight from me here.

Second, I have provided supporting evidence that strongly suggests being a writer/director is infinitely more productive than being a spec writer.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/...31207WriterDirectorProducers1_zpscb5427bc.png

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/...31207WriterDirectorProducers2_zps229f3265.png

I would appreciate and this entire conversation would greatly benefit from you providing likewise evidence of spec writers filling up distributor's tickets.


This looks fine, but... not really impressive considering there's probably half a million spec screenplays on the market waiting for that special someone to produce them.
https://specscout.com/2013specsales
https://specscout.com/scogginsreport
Renders this: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-aHVZvK1aoR9qYUuGauGbPHMvP9P19bHXctuWwn01GM/edit?usp=sharing

This ain't good - for your side of the argument : http://www.screenwriterunknown.com/screenwriting-observations/odds-of-selling-a-spec-screenplay

Not good here, either: http://nofilmschool.com/2013/06/spec-script-sales-women-lowest-in-decades/

12 out of 127 spec sales in 2012 were from female writers.
12 out of 127.
Not impressing me.​

I'll read all of this later: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/will-spec-script-screenwriters-rise-again
But I bet I know how it ends and what it encapsulates.

 

[Inarius]

rayw, no offense please

BTW, according to the numbers from the links, the industry starts producing spec scripts more frequently this year. This is encouraging. But yes, the problem remains, because they would rather shoot Iron Man 999 or Spider Man 1000 than something new.

 

[Birdman]

@Birdman: Again, I think we're in agreement that while most authorities say DON'T, in actual screenplays you will find that screenwriters DO. However, as I tried to emphasize, they occur very infrequently and only in the context of the dialogue. Your example is a good one that emphasizes my point. ... Selling/optioning a script to smaller independent studios, though, is quite possible. They often have smaller budgets and you don't get huge bucks, but you do get paid and get credit which are the stepping stones to landing a contract with a major studio. Like most endeavors, building up credentials takes time and effort. True prodigies are few and far between. And FWIW when you do read their works, it is usually immaculate and follows the "rules".

FSF,

Your post was well-appreciated and I agree with most everything you said. Yes, it's tough ...and there are many rules. Following the rules guarantees you aren't hurting your chances along the way. Developing your own personal style means you may have to break a few rules along the way. Sometimes it's good to take a chance.

First, I'm pretty sure Inarius is playfully mocking me - and I'm cool with both he and you giving me a hard time.
We're all okay.
There's no fight from me here.

...I'm perfectly fine, also. At least neither of us is wishy-washy on how we feel.

Second, I have provided supporting evidence that strongly suggests being a writer/director is infinitely more productive than being a spec writer.

...One could argue that getting a job in a hardware store is being more "productive". but productivity means nothing to someone who has a vision ...a movie ...a dream. For someone desiring to make a profession out of writing screenplays where "making money" is the focal point, ya, sure, ...it's gonna be tough. For someone who has a burning desire to create a movie from scratch and maybe have it one day showing in a theater in their home town, ...It's not at all about "productivity". It's "Passion!".

I would appreciate and this entire conversation would greatly benefit from you providing likewise evidence of spec writers filling up distributor's tickets. ... This looks fine, but... not really impressive considering there's probably half a million spec screenplays on the market waiting for that special someone to produce them.
https://specscout.com/2013specsales

Ray, I don't have links showing Producers rushing out to buy Spec Scripts. Nobody does. IndiePaul posts links from time to time regarding Spec Script success stories. I've read columns from Spec Script writers who have sold their stories. And all of the ones who were successful never let the "odds" stand in their way. They didn't listen to the nay-sayers and went on with pursuing their dream.

The TRUTH is that you could have the last ten years with NOBODY buying a Spec Script. You could post that stat in every forum around the world. ...But if someone comes along and writes a killer Spec Script that rings all the bells in Hollywood, then those nasty ol' stats could change in a heartbeat. You would have to post that "Only one Spec Script has sold in the last ten years from that point on.

...And somewhere out there in forum land will be that one Script Writer who didn't listen to any of these stupid statistics!


-Birdman

 

[rayw]

Okay.

 

[stef]

In the painting world, you don't find art critics saying "Nothing screams amateur like someone who uses a red sable brush!" Or "I hate it when artists use a lot of alizarin crimson".

In the photography world, selective color is a big indicator of crappy image. It's not always true, and I've seen one or two selective color images that were good. The rest of them are crap.

 

[joejohn123]

I don't know much about filming and screen writting, this info below is all on what I,VE HEARD.

Story will have its own flow.
After turning into script , it has it's own flow,
After script is turned in SCREEN WRITING , it will have it's own flow.

Director Enters along with Dialogue writer
When dialogues gets included , again script and SCREEN WRITING gets new patch up work to do,

Actor enters ,no problem .If STAR enters !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dISCUSSION WITH DIRECTOR , FOR HIS PREFERENCE ON SCREEN .
Director convinced by Star ,

Whole script , Screen writing and Dialogues Goes through patch up work.

once deal is done with script writer , they make him agree to any kind of changes they want in it.

Director will be having his own assistant crew to look after the changes made to screen writing .

Blue print of script writing gets written when the final product gets finished !!!
The script will be written by hired ones for document purpose!!!
It is these script copies you get when you download !!!

So the BLUE COPY happens to be written when filming is COMPLETED!!!

dailogue:
(guy In front of mirror)
guy
'Talking to me?
Are you Talking to me'
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These words got written after the whole film was finished.
They ask pro screen writers to write both Script and SCREEN WRITE

 

[Birdman]

Jpejohn123,

That is completely incorrect. ...pretty much all of it.

-Birdman

 

[Aspiring Mogul]

But no one has answered my question - why is the dialogue in the middle of the page?

 

[photon]

But no one has answered my question - why is the dialogue in the middle of the page?

Because it looks good? To differentiate it from action, which is not centered? Aliens?

 

[rayw]

But no one has answered my question - why is the dialogue in the middle of the page?

It's a simple way of differentiating between the needs of cast and crew.
Actors need to focus on delivering their lines, so don't muddle mix up dialog with the descriptions.
The crew that needs to move stuff about are better able to focus on what's to be moved where and when.

http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?p=358329#post358329

 

[stef]

But no one has answered my question - why is the dialogue in the middle of the page?

It's easy to read, especially at a glance. Imagine glancing at a page in a novel to try to remember a line. You simply can't skim over a full page to find your line nearly as quickly.

 

[Aspiring Mogul]

Ah, now I finally understand. Thanks, everyone.