In this complete guide you will learn how to correctly write a screenplay, like formatting it correctly. This book has everything you need to know on writing your first screenplay in 20 weeks or less, depending how fast you write and type.
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Read the draft aloud. This will help you check that the dialogue sounds natural and engaging. It can also help you check that the scenes flow well.
You can also do a live read through of the script to help polish it. Ask friends to play certain characters and voice the dialogue. Have actors come in and voice the dialogue to see how it sounds.
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Show the draft to others for feedback. Get friends, family, and peers to read the screenplay. Ask them if they found the screenplay engaging and interesting. Find out if the ending was surprising or shocking to them.
If you know anyone who has written screenplays before or worked in film, ask them to read the screenplay as well.
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Add in screenwriting formatting. Screenplays use specific formatting so they are easier to read. You can do the formatting manually or get screenwriting software like Final Cut or Movie Magic. Common screenplay formatting includes:
The slugline: This appears in ALL CAPS at the beginning of each scene and explains the location and time of day. INT is used in the slugline if the scene is interior, or indoors, and EXT is used if the scene is exterior, or outdoors. For example: "INT. HOUSE - NIGHT" or "EXT. ROAD - DAY."Transitions: These show how the camera is moving from scene to scene. They appear in ALL CAPS. Common transitions include FADE IN, FADE OUT, CUT TO, and DISSOLVE TO.Character names: Your character names always appear in ALL CAPS in the screenplay. For example, "MONICA walks down the street" or "PAUL shuts the bedroom door."You can find more detailed formatting information at .
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Title the screenplay. Pick a title that is memorable and short. Often, short films have one word titles that sum up the film as a whole. You may use the concept or theme of the film as the title. You could also use the main character's first name as the title.For example, the short film Stutterer focuses on a man who has a bad stutter. The short film Prego focuses on a woman who deals with an unplanned pregnancy.
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Find a producer for the film. The producer is the person responsible for finding funding for the film and for organizing the cast and crew. You may decide to or hire a producer to do this for you.
If you are acting as the producer, you can through your local government or arts council to help get the money to make the movie. You can also ask friends and family members to donate money to the production so you can get it made.
