How to write a script for a movie

Does the idea of writing a script intimidate you? Have you always assumed that the world of writing screenplays is limited to a few rich bigwigs in Hollywood? Or, have you ever felt that you were too much of an “amateur” to try your hand at writing a film?

No worries – it’s totally understandable if you’ve been hesitant to dive into the world of script writing. Staring at that blank page is scary, and the formatting rules can be confusing in the beginning. We’re here to tell you that script writing doesn’t have to feel like a scary, daunting task. Let’s break down the basics of script writing and examine how you can develop your skills and easily start writing scripts of your own.

The first thing that’s important to point out here is that script writing is more than just writing feature films. As video content becomes increasingly easy to produce, script writers are becoming more and more essential. YouTube videos, corporate videos, and commercials all require scripts to start – that makes script writing an incredibly versatile skill to have under your belt. Even if you’re not terribly interested in writing a full length feature yourself, learning the basics of script writing can still help you out a lot in your career. And, of course, if you are interested in writing a feature film but aren’t sure where to start, keep in mind that you can always develop your skills by experimenting with writing a short film or content for YouTube.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the nitty gritty!

What is a script?

This is the most important question, isn’t it? What is the definition of script writing, and how does script writing differ from “regular” prose writing? Well, when you write a story that isn’t destined for the screen, generally your narrative is formed by a narrator who “tells” the story. The character’s thoughts and feelings don’t need to be shown, necessarily – the writing can be a bit more straightforward.

For example:

Paul stepped into the front doors of the building and immediately felt a rush of relief. He had finally made it to the job interview. His mood changed from miserable to hopeful. He greets the receptionist and takes a seat in the adjacent chair.

Here, we can read how Paul is feeling and get an idea of the action. However, when you’re writing a script, you can’t just say “he feels hopeful,” you have to show the audience how he feels. In a script, we also can’t just write that he talks to the receptionist, the dialogue has to actually be written out.

A script version might look more like this:

INT. OFFICE - DAY

PAUL (20s, male) bursts through the front doors of the building. He wipes the sweat off his brow and immediately breaks into a big smile.

PAUL:

I made it!

 He shoots the RECEPTIONIST (50s, female) a thumbs up.

RECEPTIONIST:

You sure seem happy. Take a seat over there and we’ll be right with you.

Paul takes his seat, still smiling.

See the difference? Another difference between writing a book and writing a film is that a film is typically shorter than a novel. For example, Stephen King’s It spans 1,138 pages, while the first 2017 film script was a mere 120 pages. This is because more of a story can be shown via action on-screen.

What are the basics of script writing?

Before we overwhelm you with the rules of formatting, there are a few other things that need to be established. As mentioned in the last section, dialogue is a key part of the script. Characters need to speak like real people and feel like genuine characters in order for a script to work. If a script’s dialogue is lifeless or unrealistic, that script is going to feel clunky.

So how do you sell your dialogue? Well, first, you need to know exactly where these characters are. Where do they live? What time period is it? Are they even on this planet? If you’re writing dialogue for a character that lives in conservative 1700’s England, you probably don’t want them saying things like, “AYO, IT’S HOT AS HELL OUT HERE!” On the other hand, a cast of working-class characters living in the city wouldn’t say something like, “Good heavens, it is quite humid outside.” Establish a solid tone of voice and keep the dialogue expressions consistent, and once you’ve figured out how your characters should talk, you will have figured out the core of your script!

Of course, you can’t just have characters talking statically to one another for 100 pages. A key part of script writing is figuring out how the action will look on screen. Make sure your writing can be clearly translated from page to screen. For example, try to imagine exactly how actors should be moving while they speak, and write that in to create a stronger visual element. Are they pacing back and forth? Are they waving their hands wildly?

What is a script format, and why is it used?

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the international standards for formatting. Here is a quick rundown of the basics of script writing formats.

·       12 point Courier font

·       A slugline that introduces each scene heading. This establishes whether something is taking place inside or outside. (INT. BAR – NIGHT; EXT. YARD – DAY)

·       An element of action written after the slugline to set the scene and tone.

·       New characters should be introduced in ALL CAPS, followed by a brief description of their appearance – like their age, gender, or some other important quality.

·       The dialogue speaker’s name should be in all caps (PAUL; RECEPTIONIST), followed by the dialogue

·       Parenthetical’s (also called wry-lies) appear in brackets under the character’s name to indicate emotion. For example, if someone is upset while speaking, you would mark this with a parenthetical.

This is a very quick run-down of the basics for you. Now, you’re probably wondering, “why should I be writing according to these international standards?” Well, this system has been developed so that all the elements of your script fits together in a clear and comprehensive way. All of these formatting rules also make it easier for producers to skim through and know what locations need to be secured for filming, for the casting director to know who needs to be cast as which character, for the actors to know exactly what emotions they need to portray, etc.

Of course, writing in this standard format will also help you look more professional. Once you start working with the pros and start presenting scripts to producers, you need to make sure your writing fits this standard. This will help elevate your script writing from amateur to professional.

With all this in mind, you should have a rough idea of what script writing is and how to approach it. You can start writing your script with FilmQi for free and we’ll help you follow the international standard. If you want to see how easy you convert a story to a script, check out this video: