Screenplay formatting basics
Every line in a screenplay is one of seven elements, each with its own position on the page. Here is what they are and how they work.
Scene heading
Tells the reader where and when a scene happens. Always starts with INT. (interior) or EXT. (exterior), then the location, then the time of day.
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Action
Describes what we see and hear, written in present tense. Runs the full width of the page. Keep it lean — only what the camera can capture.
MAYA slides into the corner booth, eyes on the door.
Character
The name of whoever speaks next, in uppercase, positioned toward the center of the page. A character's name is capitalized in action the first time they appear.
MAYA
Dialogue
What the character says, in a narrower column beneath the character cue.
You're late. Again.
Parenthetical
A short performance note between the character cue and the dialogue. Use sparingly — actors and directors notice when you over-direct.
(checking her watch)
Transition
An editing instruction, right-aligned, ending in TO:. Most modern scripts use them rarely — a new scene heading implies the cut.
CUT TO:
Shot
Directs attention to a specific image, in uppercase. Like transitions, use only when it matters.
CLOSE ON - THE ENVELOPE
Page numbers, margins, and Courier
Screenplays are set in 12-point Courier with roughly a 1.5-inch left margin and one-inch right margin. Page numbers sit in the top right corner, starting on page two — the first page goes unnumbered by convention. Because Courier is monospaced, one page equals about one minute of screen time, which is how producers estimate a script's length.
Why screenplay editors use elements
Positioning each of these by hand in a word processor is tedious and fragile. A screenplay editor treats every line as a typed element and positions it automatically — in Scripty, pressing Enter after a scene heading gives you action, Enter after a character gives you dialogue, and Tab switches to the alternative element. You think in scenes; the editor thinks in margins. Try it free — no account required — and if you are a student, see Scripty for students.
Frequently asked questions
- Why do screenplays use Courier?
- Courier is monospaced, so one formatted page reliably equals about one minute of screen time. That page-per-minute rule is why the industry never moved away from it.
- Do I need to memorize the margins?
- No. A screenplay editor positions every element for you. In Scripty, Enter and Tab move between elements automatically.
- What are screenplay elements?
- The seven building blocks of a script: scene heading, action, character, dialogue, parenthetical, transition, and shot. Every line in a screenplay is one of these.
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