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    Suggested Script Layout: by Dora Smith

    Uploaded by

    cwalkeroakgrove
    How to set out a script

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Suggested Script Layout: by Dora Smith

    Uploaded by

    cwalkeroakgrove
    940 views4 pages
    How to set out a script

    Original Title

    Sugg Script Layout

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    How to set out a script

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    940 views4 pages

    Suggested Script Layout: by Dora Smith

    Uploaded by

    cwalkeroakgrove
    How to set out a script

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 4

    THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE PRIVATE AND

    CONFIDENTIAL

    SUGGESTED SCRIPT LAYOUT


    (Previously Other Title)

    by
    DORA SMITH

    Based on a book by
    JEAN BROWN
    (If you have developed the project with the assistance of
    a government funding body you should indicate this here)

    FIFTH DRAFT
    FEBRUARY 2003
    DORA SMITH, JUNE 2000
    150 William Street, Epping
    NSW 2131, Australia
    Ph: (61 2) 9553 3344

    1
    1.

    INT. OFFICE. DAY

    The cover page should include the script title, the


    number of the draft, the copyright symbol, a date and
    your name and contact details.
    All pages should be numbered in the top right hand
    corner. Use standard margins (2.5cm) at the top, bottom
    and right. A larger left margin is desirable,
    particularly for bigger scripts which may be bound on the
    side. Use a 3.9cm margin on the left hand side.
    FONT - Courier 12 point.
    2.

    INT. OFFICE. NIGHT

    SCENE HEADINGS: should be numbered, in bold and


    uppercase. The scene number should be on the left, the
    location should be indented about 1.5cm and the time of
    day 0.5cm after that a tab between each will do.
    BODY TEXT (script description and action): should be left
    aligned. When a CHARACTER first appears in a script, the
    character name should be in uppercase. Thereafter (except
    when heading dialogue) it should always be in lowercase.
    DIALOGUE: should be indented 3.4cm from the left and the
    right. The characters name above the dialogue should be
    in uppercase and indented 5.4cm from the left.
    DORA
    The dialogue is indented 3.4cm
    from the left hand side of the
    page as well as the right hand
    side.
    DICK
    What happens when you need to
    put directions in dialogue?
    DORA
    Read on to find out.
    3.

    INT. DINING ROOM. MORNING

    MORE ON DIALOGUE: If the dialogue is voice over (V/O) or


    the character speaking is off screen (O/S), this
    information is put next to the characters name.
    DORA (O/S)

    2
    But theres more....

    If you wish to use parenthetical directions to indicate


    how dialogue is to be spoken, you can do so in a separate
    paragraph, in lowercase and in brackets, indented 4.4cm
    from the left, between the character name and the
    dialogue.
    DORA
    (sweetly)
    You are such a pain, Dick.
    If a direction is minimal, it may be included in the
    dialogue, in uppercase and in brackets.
    DICK
    Whered you go?... (CALLING)
    Dora, come back. Im not
    finished.
    If a longer direction is needed within a speech, it must
    go in an action paragraph and the dialogue which follows
    must have the character name and CONTD before the
    line.
    DICK
    Dora?
    He walks towards the toilet door.
    DICK (CONTD)
    Are you in here? Ive got more
    questions.
    4.

    INT/EXT DINING ROOM. DUSK

    Dora enters through another door, and coming up behind


    Dick drags him back outside.
    When a scene starts at an interior location but moves to
    an exterior location, put INT/EXT in the scene heading as
    above (or EXT/INT if the scene starts outside and moves
    inside).
    If the audience doesnt need to see the movement through
    the door, the interior action would be one scene, and the
    exterior location would be a new scene.

    Alternatively you could invest in a script program for your


    computer. There are many of these available and some have
    become industry standard. Details are available via the
    website for the Australian Writers Guild at www.awg.com.au

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