FADE IN:
INT. HOUSE- PRE-DAWN
In the dimly lit basement of a family home a middle-aged writer sits yawning and staring at her computer screen, wearing mismatched pyjamas and a sloppy ponytail. She types slowly at first and then progressively more fervently until her coffee, on the desk beside her left hand, turns cold.
GERALDINE (Whispers)
What’s a blog anyway? Who cares? Is anyone ever going to read this load of garbage?
HANNAH (Quietly)
Mom? What are you doing?
GERALDINE (Mutters)
Shhh, I’m in a scene. Hang on. Gimme two seconds…
(Hannah turns around and slowly walks back up the stairs)
HANNAH (O.S.)
I’m hungry. What’s for breakfast?
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM- DAWN
(SAME DAY)
As the flaming sun rises over the wintry backyard, a teenage girl with bed-head, enveloped in a fuzzy white blanket draped over her shoulders, sits on the couch staring out the window and munching on a piece of dry toast. One hand gently caresses the German Shepherd dog that sits protectively by her side.
GERALDINE (O.S.)
(Speaking loudly, relieved, voice gets louder as she rises up the stairs)
OKAY. I’m done. Hi. How’d you sleep? What do you want for breakfast? (Cont’d)
Elements of a Speculative Screenplay- A Learning Tool (In Courier 12 point font- one typed page is one minute of film)
Slug line: A scene heading is a one-line description of the location and time of day of a scene. It should always be in CAPS.
Sub-header: Use sparingly when a new scene heading is not necessary but some distinction is required.
Action: The narrative description of the events happening in the scene written in the present tense. Only the things that can be seen and heard are included.
Character: CAPS. Introduce the character’s name and list it directly above their dialogue.
Dialogue: Lines of speech in the voice of the character who is speaking.
Parenthetical: (Descriptions placed in brackets so they’re not confused with dialogue). A parenthetical is direction for the character that is either attitude or action-oriented. But, it’s the director’s job to instruct an actor on how to deliver a line and everyone knows not to encroach on the director’s turf!
Extension: Placed after the character’s name in brackets. Used for things like Off Screen (O.S.) or Voice Over (V.O.).
Transition: Film editing instructions that generally only appear in a shooting script. Transition verbiage includes: Cut to, Dissolve to, Smash cut, Quick cut, Fade to…
Shot: A shot tells the reader the focal point within a scene has changed, which is mainly the director’s job and not typically used by script writers: ANGLE ON, EXTREME CLOSE UP, PAN TO, CHARACTER’S POV…
(Cont’d)
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