Intersting article about spec script formatting style

Jon-Luke · Jun 16, 2008

I found this article at www.developmenthell.net and thought some of you might be interested, it outlines the acceptable formatting style for spec scripts. I was quite surprised for example that writing CONTINUED on the top of the page is "Forbidden"

Here's the link: http://www.developmenthell.net/Default.aspx?tabid=72&ctl=Details&mid=486&ItemID=172

LIVIN · Jun 16, 2008

I'm surpised you were suprised. In the decade I've been writing scripts I've never written "CONTINUED" on the top of the page... and I've made some silly mistakes in my day.

zeprosnepsid · Jun 16, 2008

I've never written Continued, but I recently read a friend's script that had it and I was going to tell him not to, but looked at all my professional scripts and they all have it, so I didn't tell him not to do it. But really, it seems so unnecessary.

dageezer · Jun 17, 2008

As soon as I seen who the article was written by, I came back here without even reading it. Forbidden is a pretty strong word.

I've been a reader for three agents and 2 prodcos for just about 22 years and I can tell in the first five pages what books by which "screenwriter guru" the writer is following.

There are a ton of readers that will look for the slightest little reason to reject a script. Mainly because a lot of readers are screenwriter wannabes and they've gotten into the crap some of these gurus spill out.

It's never bothered me or my bosses if it's there or not. I'm usually more into the dialog to worry about it. There's just some people out there that are just pickey pickey pickey.

There are some things that do bother me, but using CONTINUED or CONTD isn't one of them.

dpaterso · Jun 17, 2008

That's not a new article, I've read it elsewhere... in fact it's linked in the screenwriting tips sticky thread where it's titled, The New Spec Style by David Trottier.

It wouldn't have hurt the author to write "I advise aspiring screenwriters to avoid the following" instead of "Let's start with what's forbidden" -- but I guess the message is clear enough.

-Derek

icerose · Jun 17, 2008

Sometimes my writing program inserts it if the dialog spills over, I have no control over that and it rarely happens so I don't see how it would bother a reader that much.

dpaterso · Jun 17, 2008

icerose said:
Sometimes my writing program inserts it if the dialog spills over, I have no control over that and it rarely happens so I don't see how it would bother a reader that much.

You're an FD user? Select Documents > Mores and Continues > untick the Scene breaks boxes, these control the insertion of (CONTINUED) and CONTINUED labels.

Not that I'm saying it would bother the reader either.

-Derek

icerose · Jun 17, 2008

dpaterso said:
You're an FD user? Select Documents > Mores and Continues > untick the Scene breaks boxes, these control the insertion of (CONTINUED) and CONTINUED labels.

Not that I'm saying it would bother the reader either.

-Derek

Well I've never had a reader go *GASP!* "You used a continue on this dialog spill over! I'm rejecting your script. Now go sit in the corner and think about what you've done."

I mean it's rediculous. Now if you were inserting CONTINUED at the top of every page to merely tell them your script wasn't over yet, yeah I could see how that could get you painted as a newb, but that would take an enormous waste of time and effort to get it at the top of every page, who would bother?

Jon-Luke · Jun 17, 2008

Well the only way I can explain it is that I'm exposed to far more shooting scripts than spec "for sale" scripts. And a shooting script needs to have more's and continued's - to this day when I get a script ready for scheduling I have to reformat scripts to include this. If a scene goes for more than two pages then the bottom of the page will need to read (CONTINUED) and the top of the next page will read CONTINUED: (2) or a number corresponding to the amount of pages the scene is.

I guess the reason we need this is that when script changes are made and new pages are issued to the crew we need to be able to replace the rewritten pages quickly and efficiently so information like this helps keep everything in order. But I can totally understand why a script that is primarily written for Readers, Executives and Producers to read should not have all this technical stuff inhibiting the read.

icerose · Jun 17, 2008

Jon-Luke said:
Well the only way I can explain it is that I'm exposed to far more shooting scripts than spec "for sale" scripts. And a shooting script needs to have more's and continued's - to this day when I get a script ready for scheduling I have to reformat scripts to include this. If a scene goes for more than two pages then the bottom of the page will need to read (CONTINUED) and the top of the next page will read CONTINUED: (2) or a number corresponding to the amount of pages the scene is.

I guess the reason we need this is that when script changes are made and new pages are issued to the crew we need to be able to replace the rewritten pages quickly and efficiently so information like this helps keep everything in order. But I can totally understand why a script that is primarily written for Readers, Executives and Producers to read should not have all this technical stuff inhibiting the read.

Yeah the spec and the shooting are two totally different animals. I've only worked on the spec side, I wouldn't know how to even change it to a shooting script.

dageezer · Jun 17, 2008

Two years ago I was sent a script that was a wild one. It had FADE IN: then 98 pages of dialog. No scene breaks, no directions, nothing. But, he did have CONTINUED on every page. I had to giggle at that one. I'm guessing that his software put it in for him.

Granted, as a reader, I like to see white. This one took it to the extream.

(BTW, after years of lurking around here, I thought I'd finally jump in and say howdy...... Howdy-doo!)

icerose · Jun 17, 2008

dageezer said:
Two years ago I was sent a script that was a wild one. It had FADE IN: then 98 pages of dialog. No scene breaks, no directions, nothing. But, he did have CONTINUED on every page. I had to giggle at that one. I'm guessing that his software put it in for him.

Granted, as a reader, I like to see white. This one took it to the extream.

(BTW, after years of lurking around here, I thought I'd finally jump in and say howdy...... Howdy-doo!)

Well howdy back!

That sounds like wild one. When I see crazy ones I pull my husband in and giggle with him, he's not a reader and does not appreciate most of it, so when I get a giggle out of him it's pretty good.

Jon-Luke · Jun 17, 2008

Hey dageezer and icerose, any idea if the mountains of Utah and the middle of nowhere in Utah are close to each other? And both readers... hmmm so that's where you guys are all hiding.

LIVIN · Jun 17, 2008

A reader may not gasp, but the way I see it is that's wasted space that I could better use for something else.

ILove2Write · Jun 17, 2008

I've never done the CONTINUED on top of every page, but I know I've read before that you should place (Cont'd) after dialogue. Since when did this become forbidden?

Example (And it won't let me indent on here properly):

BOY
Hi

Description of what the person he's talking to does. i.e. That person looks at him funny.

BOY (Cont'd)
Hello?

dageezer · Jun 17, 2008

Jon-Luke said:
Hey dageezer and icerose, any idea if the mountains of Utah and the middle of nowhere in Utah are close to each other? And both readers... hmmm so that's where you guys are all hiding.

I can see the middle of nowhere from the mountains, I've never been brave enough to venture out there 'cause I've heard some people never make it back.

icerose · Jun 17, 2008

Jon-Luke said:
Hey dageezer and icerose, any idea if the mountains of Utah and the middle of nowhere in Utah are close to each other? And both readers... hmmm so that's where you guys are all hiding.

This is a good representation of the area I live in.

http://picasaweb.google.com/brandister/UtahVisit/photo#5121429068283140306

See for yourself.

ETA: That is not me or anyone I know, they have some really great photos of the area, the first few anyway, then they go to the grand canyon.

mario_c · Jun 17, 2008

dageezer said:
Two years ago I was sent a script that was a wild one. It had FADE IN: then 98 pages of dialog. No scene breaks, no directions, nothing. But, he did have CONTINUED on every page. I had to giggle at that one. I'm guessing that his software put it in for him.

Granted, as a reader, I like to see white. This one took it to the extream.

That's a stage play, not a screenplay. I would write him back and tell him to try off-Broadway.

(BTW, after years of lurking around here, I thought I'd finally jump in and say howdy...... Howdy-doo!)

Welcome!

dpaterso · Jun 17, 2008

ILove2Write said:
I've never done the CONTINUED on top of every page, but I know I've read before that you should place (Cont'd) after dialogue. Since when did this become forbidden?

Dialogue (CONT'D) used to be traditional, now some folks are saying don't bother, not important, just turn it off (Final Draft and Movie Magic have on/off options... I'm not sure about other software).

dageezer, welcome!

-Derek

odocoileus · Jun 18, 2008

icerose said:
Yeah the spec and the shooting are two totally different animals. I've only worked on the spec side, I wouldn't know how to even change it to a shooting script.

\

You've probably seen a shooting script or two. A lot of TV scripts available on the web are actually shooting scripts. They aren't that different.

They have all the scenes numbered, for scheduling purposes, and the continueds are put in everywhere something carries over from one page to the next. Shooting scripts can also include colored revision pages -blue, pink, yellow, green etc, as well as A and B pages. Once a script has been locked for production, if the revision extends past the original page, the following page has the same page number with an A afterwards. Page 80, then page 80A, 80B etc.

dageezer · Jun 18, 2008

ILove2Write said:
I've never done the CONTINUED on top of every page, but I know I've read before that you should place (Cont'd) after dialogue. Since when did this become forbidden?

It's all subjective, for every expert that tells you about the don't do's...there's an agent or producer telling you the should do's. The only way you're going to find out what each one wants is to work with them.

For a spec, I say stay with the basics. Even if you've pounded out a couple of thousand scripts, if it's the first time a prodco or agent had seen your name or your work, to them, you're still a newbe.

Bottom line, if you have a great query, a killer log line and a drop dead synopsis, you're script will get read.

Then, when they ask for the rewrite (which 99.99999999999999999% of the time they will) they'll tell you want they want to see and what they don't.

Lillyth · Jun 20, 2008

Jon-Luke said:
I found this article at www.developmenthell.net and thought some of you might be interested, it outlines the acceptable formatting style for spec scripts. I was quite surprised for example that writing CONTINUED on the top of the page is "Forbidden"

Here's the link: http://www.developmenthell.net/Default.aspx?tabid=72&ctl=Details&mid=486&ItemID=172

If it is "FORBIDDEN" then how come screen writing software like Celtx does it for you automatically?

Intersting article about spec script formatting style

Jon-Luke

Anomalous crusader

LIVIN

zeprosnepsid

dageezer

I've done nothing wrong....

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

icerose

Lost in School Work

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

icerose

Lost in School Work

Jon-Luke

Anomalous crusader

icerose

Lost in School Work

dageezer

I've done nothing wrong....

icerose

Lost in School Work

Jon-Luke

Anomalous crusader

LIVIN

ILove2Write

Jaws has nightmares too

dageezer

I've done nothing wrong....

icerose

Lost in School Work

mario_c

Your thoughts are not real...

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

odocoileus

dageezer

I've done nothing wrong....

Lillyth