2. A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Film Writing a Script Created by Mr. Whitfield Service High School English

3. Step One: Title Page Courier Font Size 12 Title centered horizontally and vertically in bold font Two lines down, write “Written by” centered Two lines down, write your name centered Lower right hand corner: contact info (name, address, telephone number, email address) Lower left hand corner: Copyright info

4. Typical Title Page I Hate My Life Written by Daniel Whitfield Service Productions 5577 Abbott Road Copyright ©2006Anchorage, AK 99507 (907)555-5432 2cool4you@hotmail.com

5. Scene Headings or “Sluglines” Every change of location needs a new scene heading Always in capitals Part 1: INT. or EXT. Part 2: Location Part 3: Time of Day Example: INT. SERVICE HIGH CLASSROM - DAY

6. ACTION Description of actions that do not include dialogue Mixed letter cases Start flush left New characters are capitalized Example with Slugline: INT. SERVICE HIGH CLASSROOM – DAY The bell rings continuously as students walk in. MR. WHITFIELD enters the room and slams a book on the desk.

7. CHARACTER NAMES When speaking, character names always precede dialogue Characters are always in capital letters Name is centered Example: INT. SERVICE HIGH CLASSROOM – DAY The bell rings continuously as students walk in. MR. WHITFIELD enters the room and slams a book on the desk. MR. WHITFIELD

8. Dialogue No quotes needed Indent 2.5’’ (3-4 tabs) Only write 30-35 characters per line Example: INT. SERVICE HIGH CLASSROOM- DAY The bell rings continuously as students walk in. MR. WHITFIELD enters the room and slams a book on the desk. MR. WHITFIELD Sit down and shut up! I’m not in a good mood.

9. Transition All caps Indent 6.5’’ (10-11 indents) Describes Scene change –CUT TO: –DISSOLVE TO: Example: INT. SERVICE HIGH CLASSROOM- DAY The bell rings continuously as students walk in. MR. WHITFIELD enters the room and slams a book on the desk. MR. WHITFIELD Sit down and shut up! I’m not in a good mood. CUT TO:

10. Remember: Follow the rules No graphics whatsoever Always Courier Font Size 12 Always write in present tense Don’t forget your cover page

11. Now it’s your turn! Parameters: 15 minutes Must write a title page and one scene Don’t worry about font for today –we will be in the computer lab for the next 2 days and you will type it correctly then.