Why Do Screenwriters Argue Over Format? - Jay Fingers

[@Thenoobestgirl]

I'm on his team. Bold those slug lines! I think it helps separate the scenes and if you're reading back and want to go to a particular scene it makes it much easier to find because to the eyes it doesn't all look the same at a first glance. Also I love his necklace, but I digress. Bold those slug lines!

[@KyleCorwith]

Proper formatting is not about looks, it's about the flow in the read. Story is key, true, but it's about how you tell it. Too little description makes it look like the writer doesn't care. Too much, they need to go write a fucking novel. There is a medium here that shows good craft.

[@dextergarner1286]

My takeaways with writing screenplays is not to get too bogged down with formatting so it’s funny that there are Format Wars. I haven’t sold a script but I’ve made a rules to selling...Keep it simple, Keep it concise, but it should evoke emotions. If I were producing and directing it, I say get as detailed as necessary and then strip away during re-writes (2nd and 3rd draft) and filming . And if it’s an animated feature do use direction. Not a pro, just my style

[@sunshinesooperman5110]

Re: Robert Towne’s “Chinatown” isn’t the best example to go by. Director Roman Polanski pruned the script from being a novel-length 180 pages AND changed the ending. The published script may actually reflect that editing and did not garner Polanski a writer’s credit (or a screenwriting Oscar). Format does matter, especially if you want to write for a studio. The specs are pretty close but I know at least for a time, the big studios had very specific guidelines for formatting. Generally one page = one minute of screen time. If you try to cheat that with the margins, that alone will cause a professional reader to dismiss your script. If you want to seek better examples of professional screenwriting, don’t roll with scripts by Quentin Tarantino or anybody else who’s well-established and directs their own stuff. Read something like “Captain America: The First Avenger” or published sitcom scripts - these are works by writers-for-hire who had to fit specific studio/episodic parameters. Even if you go indie/guerilla filmmaking, you’ll probably have to show a truly professional, industry-standard script to get noticed and taken seriously. Or... if you love Tarantino that much (and I, for one, LOVE him), read “Reservoir Dogs” and see how tight that script is compared to about 60% of “Death Proof,” when yeah, QT by then could do almost anything he wanted but maybe someone should’ve said, “Yo, this needs work.”

[@cryptoscircus6880]

I write what I want. I create my own projects. I won’t sit around waiting on some Ivy League screenplay snob to throw a brilliant piece of creative art when the last ten films they sent up to their agent were remakes or films by already known script writers, cause they are too blind to see a new concept and too scared to put their balls out there and believe in something that wasn’t already co-signed by the higher ups-

[@daniel_wilkinson]

Anything that can make the written words slightly more idiot resistant should be applauded.

[@filmcourage]

Is there any writing format that you feel is a must (i.e., slug lines, font size, lines per page, etc.)?

[@YOBAMUSTDIE]

I used to hate screenplay format for the fact that it suited more for dialogs and less for descriptions, I love to give detailed description of every scene and every action to properly explain my vision of story, not just brief crap. I had several screenplays where there was almost no dialogs and was only pure visual experience based on principle "don't tell, show", yet screenplay format which is forced for century absolutely not suitable for descriptions of scenes and it was vital to describe every little detail to make whole story work, because every little detail is a clue that telling the story and changes it's perception. I'm now done with screenwriting and feel more comfortable writing books in any shape or form I want. Also you should understand that current format was developed in typewriter times and suitable for its limitations. Modern computers don't have such limitations and this old format is actually rudimentary now, and should be reformed! For example one thing you could not do on typewriter and can do now with printers or digital documents - colorization of text! When I do my drafts I use different colors for different cases, making key words to popup, making names in different colors. Also I absolutely hate too much of spacing and to fit more dialogue into lines I have them wider but to make them pop out I use chat💬 bouble backgrounds and frames, you know like I'm messages of every modern phone, it's way more comfortable to read and understand who is saying something. I even draw custom arrows of boubles to point out different direction of characters and how they aligned towards each other, this is similar to how it done in comics, except that there are no pictures in background, but sometimes if I have artists around to make a concept of character I also add avatars of characters on page. There are also few of my inventions like this I use for my modern vision of scripts, and this is how I envision modern script format. But unfortunately retrograde people will most likely force you to dumb down your modern vision to century old crappy format. Oh when I wrote this I forgot that it all should be in past time, since I don't do screenplays anymore for a couple of years, but anyway if you like my idea of Reformation and modernization of screenplay format feel free to copy it and try to push it around, maybe someone will realize that such modern format is much better than old typewriter crap.

[@cbstevp]

I put all my character names in action sections in ALL CAPS all the time. I first started doing it so I could more easily keep track of what each character was doing and where they were. And when I finally got into production no one said it was wrong and one actor said it made it easier to find where his character was on the page.

[@EasyZee69]

I've read hundreds of scripts over the course of my animation career, written several myself, and I've seen many variations on the script format. I have never met a producer who would turn down a script or not read it because something was not formatted a certain way. As long as it looks like a script and not a novel, that is all that matters, meaning, the character's name is centered and above the dialog, there are scene headings, and action lines, then it will look like a script. I even know a producer who bought the rights to a script written by an old women, written entirely by hand with a pen! She had a captivating story, so who cares what the formatting was, someone can take her hand written script and type into a computer with proper formatting once it is in pre-production. Maybe Hollywood producers are more strict than the indi, small, and medium sized production companies I have worked with, but it is my experience that format is not important to any of the producers I have ever worked with over the course of my 25 year career. As long as the script is not a boring snooze fest, you're good.

[@davidhayden4743]

I only write shorts, but I use "standard" formatting. I've worked on independent productions with multiple writers where we absolutely do not use standard formatting. Even so you have to clearly differentiate between dialogue, and action and clearly mark characters. But anything where there are "formal" submissions or reviews get a standard format (meaning the white space).

[@betterdevils8005]

The opening of The Sound of Metal script broke all the rules 😂

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

I have seen people underline Slug Lines for years. Only now they are writing them in bold, too. You know, if a script was really good, it probably wouldn't bother me, but I don't think you need to do it. You want to write a screenplay with a lot of white showing. You want to write a screenplay that people want to read, that's pleasant to read and with as few words as you can use. You don't want to assault their eyes. You want their eyes to glide down the page and anything that prohibits that, you probably shouldn't do. But, hey, that's just me.

[@simoncarter7020]

What about period films? The way people spoke in each era was completely different. Language develops over time. Both content and pace. Take 'The Lighthouse' for example. Amazing dialogue. Writing specifically for todays time scarce execs will surely be a dead end. For the writing talent. And for cinema.

[@CriticalEatsJapan]

OK, great ---my question was immediately answered when I saw the double-sided pages ;)

[@betterdevils8005]

Bold slugs have always made sense to me, bold slug lines help create structure visually

[@MariWakocha]

Great help!

[@nadia.k519]

The hardest thing for me are action lines. Just my opinion, I feel like that’s how you spot a great writer. I use wordhippo as I write

[@AltairZielite]

I have tried to make an economy of words, with short actions lines, but there are times I just can't step back from the prose... thank goodness I only write spec scripts... I have to have room to be free. I bold. I even drop the occasional note with act titles, because, hey, it's me.

[@tigerbunny6778]

Thank you!

[@matthewlavagna6080]

Great advice.

[@thomasbuhman2405]

So, Jay, he’s arguing for the industry standard AND bold underlined slugs. Is that a double standard?

[@MDJ14_2T]

Is there a website or source you could recommend that demonstrates good screenwriting examples of produced work for first time screenwriters? Thanks in advance and be well!

[@Armakk]

This interviewer doesn't know what double-sided printing is? It was standard in Hollywood 20 years ago. CAA, WM, ICM, studos, etc printed that way in the late era of physical script distribution, before PDFs became standard. Endeavor had a massive digital printer on site to print and bind the thinnest possible screenplays for submission.

[@chrisshern5084]

How can you find your voice if people are trying to tell you to cut your voice short? Im sorry, Tarantino wrote his scripts before he was Tarantino if you get what im saying. Yes this is a business, but it's still your art, unless it's work for hire. Im fine with simple format, but I'm not going to scrip down my dialogue cause people have so call short attention span which is a cope out.

[@cinemadrone1]

Every screenplay I ever wrote I never outlined beforehand..

[@Felix-z2r]

formats - crazy. been through a few and set my style 'about the same as jay, with bold slugs like, no line. words per page seems to follow the American way -action -few words- action-few words. Where as French films go for more words less action- I guess it also depends upon the character and other characters in the same plot- some speak more than others. My Cleopatra script has her being 'wordy' but Caesar( action man) less words. I think if one is pitching Hollywood , you need to follow the set way- but elsewhere -may not.

[@paulpeterson4216]

Not to appear ignorant, but WTF is a "slug?" I would think that writers would like to avoid snails creeping slowly across their pages and leaving a trail of slime.

[@thejawgz6719]

Slugline = slug = scene headers i.e. EXT. HOUSE - DAY

[@paulpeterson4216]

@@thejawgz6719 Thank you!

[@impersonalbrand2513]

The virgin screenwriter: YOU HAVE TO FORMAT YOUR SCRIPT THIS VERY ARBITRARILY SPECIFIC WAY OR ELSE!!!!!!! The Chad cinematographer: this one scene was like 90% there, you know, something wasn't quite working, so I popped into Home Depot and got a couple lights and used those as hair lights on the actress, turned out beautifully. there are no rules, man, it's all about creative problem solving

[@simplythecolororange]

I like his vibes

[@LucasPassmore]

I like how he thinks development execs go to TGIFridays after work 😅

[@thumper8684]

Can you put pictures in a screenplay?

[@osaji922]

I'm genuinely curious as to why you asked this. If you're going the traditional screenwriting route, no. However, if you want to experiment with something artistically, I'm behind it. I plan on doing the same.

[@pdizzstudios]

I believe the Quiet Place screenplay did this, but generally most don’t

[@BobbyJ529]

like a storyboard?

[@kelvinkagambo7527]

We do use picture in screenplay for my current company scripts. So I can say the answer is Yes.

[@thumper8684]

@@osaji922 There is an ancient weapon, called a Romphaia. It would just be simpler to show than describe. (For what it's worth a Romphaia is a fuck off spike on a stick with an edge that can cut through solid steel.)

[@51angrybees40]

Bold them slugs!

[@GodstoryProductions]

Fun guy!

[@Retro-ll8vb]

I am 14 years old ( a freshman) and when I grow up I want to be the best film director I can be because I am In love with the concept of the job. Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do to get a head start on being good at my dream job?

[@osaji922]

Start producing stuff with your iphone. Throw what you make up on youtube. I'll throw one more bit of advice. Start a website. Not just so you can put your stuff up on there, but because it'll serve as another way of monetization. You can sell merchandise in your store and you can monetize the traffic through mediavine or adthrive. Making money being a director can be rough in the beginning. Doing things like this can help alleviate the financial stress and it'll get you to think outside the box on how to make money while pursuing your passion.

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Keep watching these videos, it's a good start.

[@carlosdavid7174]

Read. A lot.

[@Retro-ll8vb]

@@carlosdavid7174 read in general or should I read something specific?

[@carlosdavid7174]

@@Retro-ll8vb Books and screenplays, but also other things. Get used to create pictures and sequences on your mind.

[@ericpowell4350]

I literally thought this was an episode of Keenan & Peele. 😆😂

[@SteveKalinda]

They say!! Who says?? I can't stand sayers, BREAK ALL THE RULES!!

[@tonysmith9005]

Can Tony smith be a real movie 🎥 and I am going to become a movie director I am going to become a movie writer

[@paulonius42]

He has nothing to offer about screenwriting. He's a newbie with no practical experience. His formatting preference goes against standards of font and typeface usage in general, not just scripts. ALL CAPS is emphasis. Bold is emphasis. Underline is emphasis. Combining any two of them is poor form, and using all three is insanely pointless. As for the white-space debate, there's not really a debate. Standard screenplay format has always worked out to about one minute of screen time per page, and excessive description will ruin that ratio. Too little description isn't as bad as too much, but it's still a problem. He's acting like there are huge debates about these format issues. No, there's the standard format which has several acceptable variations, and then there's "Wah, I'm going to do it my own way" nonsense that is unprofessional. Nothing useful in this video, folks.

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Wow. Pretentious much? You are very condescending. No key fits every lock. Sometimes there's more than just one answer.

[@paulonius42]

@@Thenoobestgirl Nothing pretentious in my comment at all. This video is a waste of time featuring someone who had nothing to contribute on the topic. He's so proud of himself for doing basic things that are standard screenwriting, and he thinks he's shaking things up with BOLD and UNDERLINED text. He is being pretentious, not me.

[@EndTimesProductions]

I for one found this video extremely useful. You're focused on the wrong thing, look deeper my friend.

[@paulonius42]

@@EndTimesProductions I'm focused on what the video is supposed to be about according to the video. I'm focused on the person in the video who is presented as having something to say on the topic. He doesn't. My focus is fine, my friend.

[@Jakninety]

Your long condescending comment needs bold underlined sluglines to read better.

[@paulonius42]

He seems so proud that he is able to write a screenplay in...standard screenplay form. There is nothing special about his action lines or white space. Good lord, he even thinks he's special for writing THE END on a screenplay? This video must be a joke.