Hey all -- in my work with clients, I've noticed some consistent formatting mistakes that some folks are making in their scripts. If formatting is mishandled, especially early on in a script, many professional readers will quickly dismiss the writer as an amateur, assuming that the quality of the work itself must also be lacking. To that end, I've written a post on my Substack dedicated to providing some formatting guardrails that I use in every script I write. If you have any questions about how to format certain aspects of a screenplay, please do check it out below:
https://open.substack.com/pub/mike187/p/industry-standard?r=52wtb4&utm_c...
Thanks for sharing the article, Mike Thompson. "One rule of thumb I appy when it comes to writing visually is to never explicitly employ the use of camera, dolly or crane moves in the description — or any mention of the word “camera” at all for that matter." I follow that rule of thumb in my spec scripts, but I use camera, dolly, and crane moves in the scripts I write and ghostwrite for directors. I like the "connectoid" idea. Thanks!
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Maurice Vaughan my pleasure -- and yes, the same might apply to writer/directors who are writing a script they themselves plan to shoot.
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Great article! Thanks! It's so great to see the examples! I agree with your formatting wholeheartedly, although I've seen others (screenwriter's bible) require the phone convo to be formulaic, I prefer the flexibility you've outlined here. Leave it up to the director!
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Sarah Gabrielle Baron thank you!
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When it comes to formatting, I always tell writers the same thing. Embrace the basic standardizations, they are your friends. Readers read so many scripts, that proper formatting helps readers read FASTER. When a reader can read your script faster, bc the formatting is fluid, they will like it more. Formatting is not the place to re-invent the wheel, just fill the tires with air and let your story be the engine.
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Pat Alexander well said!
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Mike Thompson great advice and good reminders. thanks!
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Tucker Teague thanks, man
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This is a great help! I was curious if I was writing the scene heading correctly for flashbacks! Appreciate the tips!!!
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Thank you for sharing. To me it was very helpful advice!
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Len Archibald happy to help!
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Lucy Addams my pleasure -- glad it was of value to you!