Movie Scripts
From LoveToKnow Movies
What is a Script?
A movie script is a written version of a movie in a very specific format. Different from a movie's novelization, a script consists of only what the viewer can see and hear.
A reading script is the document that the screenwriter sells to the producer. It is designed simply to be an easily readable and, hopefully, a compelling and enjoyable document. Once a script has been purchased and put into production, the shooting script is created. The shooting script is a working document that includes scene numbers and technical details which make it less entertaining to read.
Movie Script Format
A movie script is a document printed on one side of the paper only, with dialog set off from description by being placed within deep margins. Film scripts are usually between 90 to 120 pages, with one page of script roughly equating to one minute of film.
The script is broken into scenes. Each time the action moves to a new location, that is a new scene.
Unlike stage plays, there are no act breaks in a movie script. When filmerati talk about first, second and third acts in movies, they are referring to the internal logic of the plot, which generally follows a three act structure.
A modern film script looks just like scripts looked before WWII, a typed document with cardstock covers bound with brass brads. If you are a hopeful screenwriter submitting scripts to agents or producers, do not get creative with the packaging and binding; unusual packaging is considered the mark of an amateur and will ensure that your script will not even be opened, much less read. And if your script is too long or too short, don't even think about tinkering with margins to bring it into conformity with the usual length; any industry professional will spot that in an instant.
A copy that has actually been used in the filming of a movie will be a rainbow of different colored pages. The different colors represent different revisions of the script, with the order of colors following an industry standard protocol.
Where to Find Movie Scripts
If you would like to read scripts, there are several venues to choose from.
For free downloads of movie scripts, you can go to Simply Scripts. There are hundreds of scripts to choose from.
If you would like hard copies of scripts, you can buy them at Script City. Most film scripts are $14.99 and television scripts are $9.99. This is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the look and feel of scripts.
Screenwriting Software
If you want to write your own scripts, you really need some screenwriting software. Yes, it's possible to write a script using a standard word processing program. But it's not easy. Screenwriting software handles the formating for you, and so much of screenwriting is format that you really don't want to be fooling with margins and headers when you don't have to.
The top selling screenwriting software used in the film industry is Final Draft. Other popular packages are ScriptThing, Movie Magic Screenwriter, and Scriptware. All these packages retail from $200 to $300, but you can find discounts online. Start with Amazon.
Want to write a script, but not ready to invest several hundred dollars in software? Screenplay Styler is a shareware Word template that you can download for free and will do just about anything you need in the way of screenplay formatting. Find it at Screenwriting Software Downloads.
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Comments
hi i write movie and i need someone to help me out.
-- Contributed by: emmanueli want learn how write a script for a movie
-- Contributed by: atta kakrainformation to general - if you are in the business - give people information they need
-- Contributed by: skipburrowsThis page has been accessed 1,375 times. This page was last modified 23:39, 25 May 2006.
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