Script Writing Created by The University of North Texas in partnership with the Texas Education Agency

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 2 Writing a Movie Script I.All text is in Courier 12 pt. II.Name, address and phone A.Goes in the upper right hand corner B.Looks like a mailing address C.Include phone number below the address

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 3 Writing a Movie Script III.Effect A.Left justified B.Effect is entered first 1.ALL CAPS 2.Describes how the scene opens – fade in, black and white to color, still to motion, etc.

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 4 Writing a Movie Script IV.Location A.Directly below the effect B.Brief C.(INT) interior D.(EXT exterior E.Add blank line between location and description

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 5 Writing a Movie Script V.Descriptions A.Character names are in ALL CAPS B.Regular sentence format C.Left justified D.Describe where the characters are, what they are doing, and any other important information.

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 6 Writing a Movie Script VI.Character direction A.Relates only to the speaking character B.Centered under the character’s name and in parenthesis C.If four lines or longer, treat as a description

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 7 Writing a Movie Script VII.Dialog A.Character name is entered first 1.Centered 2.ALL CAPS B.Dialog is tabbed three times (½” tabs)

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 8 Summary Questions 1.Where is the writer’s name and address located on the script?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 9 Summary Questions 1.Where is the writer’s name and address located on the script? Answer: In the upper right hand corner

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 10 Summary Questions 2.What are two characteristics of the Effect?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 11 Summary Questions 2.What are two characteristics of the Effect? Answer: Left justified and written in ALL CAPS

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 12 Summary Questions 3.INT is an abbreviation for what word in a location?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 13 Summary Questions 3.INT is an abbreviation for what word in a location? Answer: Interior

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 14 Summary Questions 4.What type of letters are used to write the character’s names?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 15 Summary Questions 4.What type of letters are used to write the character’s names? Answer: ALL CAPS

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 16 Summary Questions 5.What font and size is used to write all text in a script?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 17 Summary Questions 5.What font and size is used to write all text in a script? Answer: Courier 12 point

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 18 Summary Questions 6.Where is character direction found?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 19 Summary Questions 6.Where is character direction found? Answer: Next to or centered under the character’s name in parenthesis

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 20 Summary Questions 7.The dialog is tabbed how many times from the left margin?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 21 Summary Questions 7.The dialog is tabbed how many times from the left margin? Answer: Three

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 22 Summary Questions 8.What does the Effect describe?

UNT in partnership with TEA, Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 23 Summary Questions 8.What does the Effect describe? Answer: How the scene opens or closes - also video or audio changes