FLY PAGE: Page one of your screenplay. It includes: TITLE (centered on the page). It contains : Screenplay by:, Address of the author (s), the DRAFT NUMBER, i.e., FIRST DRAFT, and the date of such draft.

PAGE ONE: This is where your script actually begins. The TITLE is re-typed at the top center of this page, in quotations, and underlined.

FADE IN: The transition used at the beginning of a film. The scene gradually brightens to establish the setting, characters, and mood of the film. It is always CAPITALIZED with colons (:) following it. It appears at the top of the page, left margin, below the TITLE.

SCENE HEADING: It is a "slug" that gives direction as to the location of the shot. i.e.,
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT. It is always CAPITALIZED, 2-spaces below the FADE IN: cue, at the left margin.

SCENE ACTION: Follows the SCENE HEADING. It appears 1-space below, at the left margin. It describes the scene, actors, and anything of significance. i.e.,
The bedroom is darkened by black drapes that keep the sunlight from shining through. A bed sits in the center of the room. On it, the body of JACK WINSTON,his hands and feet bound at all four corners, face down, in a pool of dried blood. WE SEE a knife protruding from his back.

CHARACTER NAME: This is always CAPITALIZED, at the 4 " margin, from the left. It may include parenthetical descriptives, below it, or, in the instance of voice overs, and off screen sound cues, appear alongside the Character name. i.e.,

DETECTIVE BAKER

DETECTIVE BAKER (O.S.)

DETECTIVE BAKER (V.O.)


DIALOGUE: The word ( s )that the Actor speaks. The Dialogue can also give away the Character's personality. Preceeded by a Parenthetical direction under the Character name, the dialogue can be- (sad); (disgusted); (anxious); etc. It is placed underneath the CHARACTER NAME, centered in the page-- We'll discuss the margin settings at a later time.

To Be Continued

Let's go to the next page and view a few examples of what the Fly Page, First Page, and some other examples of Script style headings look like.

Last Updated : SEPT. 05, 2000

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