Screenplay Formatting Pt. 1

Explain what each of the following parts of a script is and why they are important:

    The slug line appears for every new scene and any time the location or time changes. They state whether the scene is interior or exterior, the location, and the time of day. Slug lines are always all caps and located on the left side of the page, above the scene that they describe. An example of the format could be EXT. PARK - DAY. Slug lines are important because it informs you where you should be shooting and the time of day, which are important for understanding what equipment may be needed such as an ND filter, a diffusor, or lights.

    Action lines are the lines under the header which describe, in more detail, what happens in the scene. These only include visual information, i.e., exactly what is occurring on screen and what they character is doing. When it's the first time a character is named, their name is put into all caps so that it is clear that this is their first appearance. This is important because it explains what happens in the scene, which dictates blocking, acting, and camera placement.

    Dialogue is placed below the character's name and is written regularly, i.e., not all caps. This is important because it is what the characters in the film are saying. Different factors about dialogue, such as whether it is a voice over or the tone of voice, is dictated by parentheticals. 

    Parentheticals are used next to character IDs and before dialogue in order to convey info about the delivery of the dialogue. When the character is speaking through a voice over or off screen, it is marked with a (V.O.) or (O.S.) next to the character's name. When providing context to how the character is speaking, it is placed before the dialogue but below the character ID. These are important as they differentiate the way that characters are speaking, thus affecting how the dialogue is said or filmed.