Unit 3 - Lesson 1: How To Format Scripts

An Introduction

Craft:

​

This lesson is meant to show you how to format your scripts and screenplays so you can write them like a professional. We'll be looking at a video and an article. For the article, stop once you reach page 9, and feel free to skip over the introductory things. The article is put out by londonplaywrights.org, while the video is put out by the YouTube channel StudioBinder.

​

The video and article are linked to the right of this text.

Connect:

​

Now we'll be talking about what you just read and adding on some new knowledge!

​

While formatting can be challenging and hard to understand at first, it's important to realize how impactful it can be. Formatting is what the movie and playwriting industries use to create a wide understanding of what the plays and movies are about and how they're organized.  

​

There are several writing softwares that make these various kinds of formatting easier, but sticking with Google Docs or Word and using computer shortcuts can help. Never be afraid to look up how to do things! After some practice, you'll be able to write in format easier, or alternatively - you can always write your script first and then format it later if you need to!

More lessons here

Create:

​

This is the final step in this lesson. Now you get to put what you learned into practice!

​

Look up the script of a movie you know or a play that you're interested in. If you can't find one or if you're struggling for some other reason, search until you do find a script you think is interesting. Read through and try to utilize formatting while grabbing inspiration from the script you're studying. Will you write in the same genre? Will you write the same topic? Or has it inspired you to write the opposite end to the argument. Try your hand at scriptwriting while also trying formatting. You'll get better with time!