Screenwriting : CHARACTER NAME (cont'd) by Gen Vardo

Hi Gen, I always put the character's name again after the action description. Final Draft adds the cont'd by itself (I'm not sure what screenwriting app you use). Professionally, you have to put the character's name again after the action scene.

I use MS Word. Just set up 'styles and formatting' and got started.

ppl, please buy/or use free screenwriting software. You want to compete against peers in a pro occupation? You're failing on the first page using MS word.

Gen Vardo, is best you get Final Draft. I used Word when I started because I didn't know about Final Draft at the time or any other software when I started writing. And its okay if you don't know, we are learning and adapting as we go along. That's the beauty of life. If you need advice on anything else please reach out. I love to help.

Thanks. Would you take a quick look at any one of the screenplays I've uploaded here. I hope they look correct, I think they do.

Not asking you to read them, just a quick browse of the formatting.

Would appreciate it tons, thanks.

So Gen, this is not up to personal preference.

Screenformat is fixed, for all the other production and talent that follows you in the process. One always marks every DIALOG with character name(s). Cont'd indicates that the dialog is part of a series.

However I can think of exceptions. When a monologue is broken by pauses, changes in tone, or ellipses, you can present those as PARENTHITICALS as such:

CHARACTER

(Desperately)

How dare you, Heathcliffe!

(beat)

I said, How dare you!

(explaining)

That is the salad fork.... Not the entree fork.

(Searching for more words)

What would Emily Post say?

One must however insert the CHARACTER NAME and Cont'd at the page break. So that is a page is used alone, the key info for who and how they are speaking is not on a separate page.

Noting that (V.O., O.S., and O.C.) are indicated with Cont'd on the character line (not as Parentheticals).

The reason. Format represents TIME and SHOT. Each page being one minute of a film. Each CHARACTER being the subject of that minute of film (unless noted by V.O. etc.).

Good Luck.

Thank you William Drew Weinbrenner. Really appreciate the detail in your response. I will make the changes first thing tomorrow.

Formatting is important. Yes Gen, I will have a look.

You need a character cue (IN CAPS) above every line of dialog. There are a few exceptions when a parenthetical is included or a brief action line breaks up the dialog. At page breaks, use MORE/CONT bur it not necessary to use another character cue.

NO. No that is not OK at all. dont do it.

Do I really need the (cont'd) here?

Nerd, you up here?

Brad calls down to the others as Jennifer CURLS up on the floor.

BRAD (CONT’D) (O.S)

Yeah the nerd left.

It looks so ugly. Surely attractive writing takes some precedence. I mean white space is a big thing with regards to getting your screenplay read.

Thanks Dan, appreciate it. I upper case CURLS as she's just breathed in some chloroform, it's a significant moment in that portion of the story.

Also if I don't say Brad calls down to the others, it may be taken as him talking to himself.

Yeah I totally get the Final Draft thing. I'm just used to doing everything myself. Was really easy looking up the format, spacing etc. and then setting it up in MS Word.

Just don't get buying software that does something that I can set my software up to do.

My screenplays don't look different from what's out there, format wise.

I'm just trying to learn the finer points and industry standards when it comes to the smaller things, which for a spec script writer, are the big things.

It's a new year and I'll be entering competitions for the first time. Very new to this part of the process.

Man, what would we do without this website?

Yes you do include the character name again in continued dialogue with (cont'd) or (cont.). This is for a number of practical reasons as well as to avoid any confusion.

Gen, MS Word doesn't export easily to other programs (the XML is savage). I don't know if you've ever taken a look at it, but I've had the misfortune of working with it in software development lol. The advantage established software gives you (some are free actually) is that it'll export in a format that will work with production management software, which makes everyone's life easier down the line. Budget. Scheduling. Etc. I'd definitely look around for the free options if you don't want to put $ into it. I think Studio Binder is free and exports well to at least a couple of those (or may have some built in), but I haven't used it myself.

Indeed, a screenwriting software will help you a lot. I use Fade In, it's pretty good and doesn't cost too much. It's really an investment.

So does everyone on here use Final Draft?

I figured my screenplays look the same format wise in PDF, so I was just gonna stick with MS Word. I have it setup real nice: ALT C - Character name, on return Dialogue style, or ALT D, and so on.

I use the software Fade In. Much less expensive than Final Draft. Using a screenwriter software will make things much easier for you. Formatting is more complex than character names and dialogues. :) By the way, I suggest reading Dave Trottier (Dr Format). His advice on the subject are quite good.

"As the Hollywood standard, Final Draft provides the film and television industry with the specific structure needed for producers to properly break down, schedule, and budget a film." Find anything free or low-priced that can export/report for the break down, scheduling, and budgeting of a film. Evelyne, I see FadeIn has breakdown, do you know if it does well with schedule and budget tools? Curious...I'm using Final Draft, but I'm always up for trying alternatives if they're similar/better in the long-run.

Writerduet (My weapon of choice) puts character name (cont). For clarity.

Didn't know about the scheduling, budget features. Looks like I'll have to invest at some point. At least I can send out PDF's for now.

@Audrey, hum... I didn't try schedule and budget tools yet, so I can't say.

I use Final Draft and WriterDuet, Gen Vardo.

Not okay. You need the character name in CAPS each and every time they speak.

Gen, there are no doubt tools that are free. I wouldn't worry too much about investing.