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The Ultimate Screenplay Format Reference

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Table of Contents

measurements

scenes

characters

narrative and action

dialog

miscellaneous

 

Writing a screenplay is difficult.

Formatting should be the least of all problems. Actually it’s the most easiest to master, if you follow a set of simple rules.

Trottier’s Screenwriter’s Bible is currently considered the final authority on formatting issues. I recommend you read it. It will save you a lot of pain.

Here you find a reference to those rules. Follow them and your screenplay will be well formatted.

ScreenwriterBible

The Screenwriter’s Bible
David Trottier

Paperback, 350 pages


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If you don’t believe me then take this from a pro:

“Readers in Hollywood do a great deal of inductive reasoning, which goes something like this: “I just read 99 screenplays, they were all horrible, and they were all written in improper format. Therefore, if screenplay number 100 is also in improper format, it must be horrible, too.”

Michael Hauge, Collins 2007, Writing Screenplays That Sell

‘Writing Screenplays That Sell’ is another good book to read.

WritingScreenplaysThatSell
Writing Screenplays That Sell
Michael Hauge

Paperback
325 pages

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At the bottom of this page you find a few books that are real helpful in addressing important issues beyond formatting.

... all the best for your own screenwriting.

 

Screenplay_Field

Screenplay
Syd Field

Paperback
336 pages

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buy-from-amazon

Story_McKee

Story
Robert McKee

Hardcover
480 pages

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Save The Cat_Snyder

Save the Cat
Blake Snyder

Paperback
216 pages

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buy-from-amazon

Writer's Journey_Vogler

The Writer’s Journey
Christopher Vogler

Paperback
300 pages

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buy-from-amazon

Screenwriter's Problem Solver_Field

The Screenwriter’s Problem Solver
Syd Field

Paperback
384 pages

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buy-from-amazon