Thread by @S_Massey

Ok friends, ready for a screenwriting 101 thread? I see *a lot* of the same mistakes made & I figured maybe I can help folx out.

I’ve been working as a pro script doctor/ghostwriter for 15+ years. I’ve doctored hundreds of scripts. 1/?

#pipelinewriters #ScreenwritingCommunity

We’ll be focusing on spec scripts but there are: spec, shooting, and directors scripts. A spec script is something you write in hopes of selling it. A shooting script is used on set. The directors script is a detailed script used to help make the directors vision clearer. 2/?

You want to make sure you’re formatting things properly. This is what a 1st page should look like:
FADE IN:

INT. AYO’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

AYO(20s) grabs a protein shake from the fridge and rushes towards the door.

EXT. AYO’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Ayo runs out of the house.3/?

In the above tweet you’ll see I started w/ FADE IN:
The scene heading is clearly labeled. It’s an INTerior shot. It’s Ayo’s house, we’re in the kitchen, & it’s daytime.
We NAME(age) format the character & since the action is continuous we mention that in our 2nd scene header.4/?

You only need to NAME(age) format the character the 1st time you intro them. After that all you need is regular caps i.e.: Ayo.
All you really need in a spec script is name and age. If there are important details about the character you can list them. Make sure you aren’t 5/?

Using racist/sexist/ any ist or phobic language to identify your character. If you list race for one you need to do it for all.

Wrong:
AYO(20s) has blue eyes. Totally hot in an approachable way. Flawless mocha skin. FTM transgendered “man”

Right:
AYO(20s) a black trans man. 6/?

There is a lot wrong w/ the ex in 6. 1) You *always* want to avoid using food to describe characters, esp if they’re POC. 2) You want to avoid objectifying your characters. 3) Transgendered is not a word. 4) Trans men are men. Trans women are women, the quotes are offensive. 7/?

I cannot express the importance of inclusive language enough. If you are writing characters that are not your race/gender identity/etc. you’ll want to get a sensitivity read to ensure you are representing the community in a way that is empowering vs. Stereotyping or harmful. 8/?

Now 8 doesn’t mean you have to stay in your lane and only write characters/experiences that look like you or you’ve experienced. What it does mean is that you want to ask yourself, “Am I the best person to be telling this story?” If you aren’t, team up with someone who is! 9/?

Never write something like:

INT. HOUSE - MORNING

Stella teases her naked watermelon sized boobs and bounces down the stairs.

EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

June runs from the killer, braless giant breasts jiggle sexily.

Yes, these are actual examples. 1) I’m a GG cup. I promise 10/?

people with large breasts (like myself) are not running anywhere braless. We do not bounce and jiggle because it hurts. The pain would be equivalent to tying a bowling ball to your balls and running down the stairs.

Also this is sexist AF and objectifying the actresses. 11/?

Which leads to another important point. Actors are human beings. They have families and loved ones. Please keep that in mind when writing your scripts. Equality, fair treatment, and fixing our broken industry starts with us, the writers. Be respectful. Uplift instead of 12/?

further perpetuating harmful stereotypes. A really great ex is transwomen being written as men in dresses that are psychotic serial killers or sex workers. This perpetuates a very harmful take that denies trans women their womanhood & makes them targets for hate & violence. 13/?

If you’re unsure whether your character is harmful or helpful to a marginalized community seek advice from community members. Pay a sensitivity reader for feedback. They are a wonderful tool & I cannot sing their/our praises enough.

Now let’s get back to formatting
14/?

Avoid using the word minute in your action i.e. “She takes a few minutes to get ready.” “They stare at each other for a minute.”etc.
To understand why we don’t do this here’s a fun exercise! Sit down, set the timer on your phone for 2min. Stare at the wall, don’t do anything 15/?

That felt way longer than 2 min huh? Can you imagine sitting in a theatre, or on your couch, watching people stare at each other on screen? Or eat an entire sandwich? Or get dressed? You’d flip the channel, or walk out of the film probably. Instead you want to say 16/?

Something like, “They stared at each other for a tense beat.” By replacing “moment” w/ “beat" everyone on the production side of things reading the script will know that means to take some time w/ that bit of the action & by using a descriptor it will also give more context. 17/?

Always spell out numbers when they're in dialogue. This is for timing & clarity.

wrong : I need 2 doughnuts.
right: I need two doughnuts.

wrong: Yeah, my number is 123-456-7890
right: Yeah, my number is one two three, four five six, seven eight nine zero.
18/?

When formatting your scene: list characters in the scene each time you see them even if you’re going from 1 place to another continuously.

INT. AYO’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

Ayo grabs a beer.

EXT. AYO’S HOUSE - BACKYARD - CONTINUOUS

He walks out(wrong) Ayo walks out(right)
19/?

The reason we do this when formatting scenes is because it assists those breaking the script down for production and they’ll know what characters are needed and when/where they’re needed.

It also helps the reader(and you as the writer) keep track of who is in what scene :) 20/?

Formatting scripts properly is vital for the production process. Whether you are writing a spec, shooting, or directors script.

When formatting TV scripts make sure you’re breaking your script properly. 3 acts (typically 30min) are 3 7-8pg acts
5 act (typically 60min) 21/?

You’re aiming for 5 9-10pg acts.
6 act (60 min) you’re looking for 6 7-8pg acts.

With each act you want to end on a minor cliffhanger/beat that will bring the audience back after commercial. When you’re writing for streaming/Premium you have some wiggle room on pg count. 22/?

When writing for TV: centered at the top of the page you’ll have ACT number. Then format your scenes regularly, at the end of each act centered is END ACT number.

This helps with how it’s broken down/edited/read/etc.

When writing TV you’ll typically write a shooting script.23/?

However you want to format your pilots like spec scripts. I’ll be honest I typically only work on pilots. This is because most the time my job is to get people into a room or get their show made. Also timing. An example you’re writing episode 3, filming ep. 2, editing ep. 1. 24/?

So what does that mean? It means you’ll have a little more detail in the scripts you’re writing in the room. This helps aide production and post production. When you’re moving as fast as television moves you want everything streamlined to help keep the train on the tracks. 25/?

If you have a montage here’s how to format it:

BEGIN MONTAGE:

SCENE HEADING
Action

END MONTAGE.

Dream sequences like so:

BEGIN DREAM SEQUENCE:

SCENE HEADING
Action

END DREAM SEQUENCE.
If there are multiple locations in either make sure they get their own scene heading 26/?

I’m sure I’ve missed things so feel free to ask questions or for examples I’m happy to go into more details or give examples :)

27/27