Transition question???????

avid-dreamer said:

OKKKK...I'm just here doodlying around with my screenwriting program..and I have a question:

All of the sample screenplays have the transition "CUT TO:" on the left margin, but the program I am using has it centered...can it be fine either way?

Click to expand...

I know this is not your question but I feel compelled to tell you that you probably don't want to even use CUT TO. As I understand the spec script format, those are typically a no-no. I don't have that software but I suspect that it has a lot of funtionality that you won't need to use in a spec script but it's there for use by those writing shooting scripts etc.

Here's a link to a good article that contains a bit about CUT TOs.
http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2710

If you do a Google search for Spec Script Formatting there are a number of good sources to guide you.

But just my 2-cents.

I've only seen transitions to the far right margin and I've only used the transitions "FADE IN: AND FADE OUT."

Since seriously studying the craft. As a spec script you don't need camera directions.

CUT TO...

You do not need to include CUT TO in your script. In fact, I recommend you not use it.

If you do use CUT TO, don't center it. It should be to the far right of the page.

Transitions are right-justified. Your screenwriting program, whatever it is, shouldn't be centering these.

Take a peek at a clean example screenplay, e.g.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scriptsmart/screenplay.pdf
which gives examples of how various elements should appear in your script.

The problem with screenplays you find online is that formatting may have been lost or adjusted after the script was transcribed or scanned from the original, then saved as plain text or html.

It's my understanding that CUT TO: is going out of fashion, tho' some screenwriters still use it. When you think about it, a new scene heading performs the same function as CUT TO: anyway.

-Derek