The Basics

• Example of an Act I page
  
  There are three acts in a screenplay; divide your script into these acts. At the beginning of each act, write a header in bold at the top of the page. Envision the first and last acts as lasting about 35 minutes, and the second act should last about 25.
  
  Now, divide each act into individual scenes. Longer scenes (two to three pages with lots of dialogue) will last about five minutes. Shorter ones (half a page or less) will last about one to two minutes. Most of your scenes should be one to two pages long and should take two to three minutes to read aloud. When you outline your plot, Acts 1 and 3 should have about 13 to 15 scenes each, and Act 2 should have eight to 10.
  
  See the photo for an idea of what your first page should look like.
  
  

The Scenes

• Example of dialogue in a scene
  
  A scene begins with an introduction line and a short description. Remember, in a screenplay you have to convey as much information as you can in as few words as possible.
  
  Start by asking yourself a few questions. Does the scene occur outside or inside? If it is outside, write EXT. at the beginning of your description. If it is inside, write INT. Then, in capital letters, write the location of this scene in one or two words. Are you in the main character's home? His backyard?
  
  Next, state the time of day, also in capital letters. Now you are ready for a more detailed explanation. Try not to get carried away with your description. There should only be one or two sentences to describe the scene, and then you should move on to the action. What is happening on the screen as we look at it? Describe this concisely, in two or three sentences.
  
  See the photo for an idea of what properly formatted dialogue should look like.
  
  

Font and Page Numbers

• Traditionally, screenplays are written on 8½-by-11-inch paper in Courier New font, with the page numbers in the upper-right hand corner of the page. Your name and the title should appear on the first page in the same size font.
  
  Formatting by hand can become tricky and even distracting to your writing. Look for a software program to help you format more precisely, so that you can concentrate on the content of your piece and not its appearance.
  
  

Using Software to Format

• Some of the most popular software platforms include Final Draft, Movie Magic Screenwriter and Movie Outline. However, these can range in price from $75 up to $150. Free options might appeal more to a beginning screenwriter. Platforms like Scripped and Celtx can help you get started with the basics of formatting---they are available to download for free online.