Format A Screenplay

"INDUSTRY STANDARD" FORMAT – GUIDELINES
(from screenwritersworkshop.com)

TOP MARGIN: 1"

BOTTOM MARGIN: May vary from 1/2" to 1-1/2", depending on what is most convenient.

LEFT-HAND MARGIN: 1-1/2"

RIGHT-HAND MARGIN: 1"

PAGE NUMBERS: 1/2" from the top of the page.

Margins and tabs for the screenplay page are as follows:

FADE IN: These are the first words of your screenplay.

SLUG LINE: 1-1/2" from the left edge of the page, and tells whether the scene takes place inside or outside, the scene's location, and whether it's day or night. It is written in ALL CAPS.

Example:
EXT. OPEN FIELD -- DAY, INT. JACK'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

EXT. DENSE FOREST -- EVENING.

DIRECTION and DESCRIPTION: Begins at the same place as the slug line--1-1/2" from the left edge of the page.
DIALOGUE: begins at 2-1/2" and ends at 5 1/2"

PARANTHETICALS: Begin at 3", single-spaced under the character's name, and extend no further than 5-1/2". Parantheticals are actor directions. Examples: (sneers), (laughing)

CHARACTER NAMES: Are written in ALL CAPS and begin at 3-1/2".

TRANSITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS: Begin at 6-1/2" and are left-aligned. These are also written in ALL CAPS.

Examples: CUT TO:, DISSOLVE TO:

Screenplays are ALWAYS written in Courier, 12 pt. font.