For many writers who start writing movie scripts formatting is a problem.
My main problem was that I could not understand why someone wanted to read Courier by their own choice. I considered it the ugliest font that existed and it was definitely not easy to read.
I wrote in Times New Roman instead.
Hey, the tradition to write in Courier comes from the time typewriters were used. It was time for some change I thought.
Like I had any chance to accomplish that.
Soon I switched to Courier, but could not keep myself from making the scene headings in bold.
Then I learned why formatting is so important.
Sure, you make a good first impression when your script does not scream amateur already on the first page, but formatting is actually not about that at all.
Margins, fonts and all that result in a page which will become one minute of film. It makes it easy to estimate length of the actual movie. Since there is room for different amount of letters on a page with a proportional font, it is important that it is a fixed-width font.
By writing dialog on the center of the page, it is easy to target while browsing through the script. There is no doubt about who is talking. And it is dialog and not an action line.
By writing the name of the character in CAPS first time he/she appears it is easy to know that we are not supposed to know this character yet (or maybe wonder where we missed it, if it is in lower case)
This does make a script easier to read in the end.
5 comments:
I agree with this post but for years I wrote movies not to sell but for myself to direct.
My scripts followed most rules of formatting but not all the rules because I was writing for myself.
Many of the first silent movies weren't written until after shooting was done. Script writing has changed with time and will be going through changes again.
I suppose it is much easier when you direct for yourself. You still need to express your ideas to others, but could do so with other methods than writing.
Colin Nutley - a Swedish director - never write the dialog in his scripts. The actors improvise these while shooting the film.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0638324/
Dear Désirée,
I don't know much about scripts but with this article and your opinion you gave me useful information and a short look into the (technical) making of scripts.
I agree with you that the format is very important. This also counts for the documents I write in my profession. Without a good format the message can be lost for many people although it's written.
Have a great weekend my friend.
ps.
I like your entry a lot that was inspired by the Greek legend about King Midas of Phrygia. Although you didn't result as a winner, you are! Keep going with your good scripts and entries. Recognition will come before you know it. It's like cutting a big tree. You need to hit it 40 times and only after the 41th hit the tree falls and you have accomplished your goal/dream.
Just sayin' hi. Have been absent since I switched PCs and didn't have my list of "faves" with me.
And you're right: i'd forgotten that Times New Roman and constant classic formatting lets everyone gage what's what.
I just accepted a magazine assignment and asked the editor for the article's length. He replied, "oh, I don't know, a page or two." Egads, I thought. Then calmed down, realizing again that "formatting" was the key to the answer. I'll write 500 words!
@This Makes My Day: Thank you. I liked your example with the tree, although I hope I won't go down with a crash :-)
I hope you had a great weekend, my friend.
@Oh: Seems like all writings has its restrictions. How do you know how much 500 words is?
I hope your new PC is to satisfaction.
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