1. Script Writing
Created by The University of North Texas in
partnership with the Texas Education Agency

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Writing a Movie Script
I. All text is in Courier 12 pt.
II. Name, address and phone
A. Goes in the upper right hand
corner
B. Looks like a mailing address
C.Include phone number below the
address

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Writing a Movie Script
III. Effect
A. Left justified
B. Effect is entered first
1. ALL CAPS
2. Describes how the
scene opens – fade in, black
and white to color, still to
motion, etc.

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Writing a Movie Script
IV. Location
A. Directly below the effect
B. Brief
C.(INT) interior
D.(EXT exterior
E. Add blank line between location
and description

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Writing a Movie Script
V. Descriptions
A. Character names are in ALL
CAPS
B. Regular sentence format
C.Left justified
D.Describe where the characters
are, what they are doing, and any
other important information.

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Writing a Movie Script
VI. Character direction
A. Relates only to the speaking
character
B. Centered under the character’s
name and in parenthesis
C. If four lines or longer, treat as a
description

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Writing a Movie Script
VII. Dialog
A. Character name is entered first
1. Centered
2. ALL CAPS
B. Dialog is tabbed three times (½”
tabs)

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Summary Questions
1. Where is the writer’s name and address
located on the script?

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Summary Questions
1. Where is the writer’s name and address
located on the script?
Answer: In the upper right hand corner

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Summary Questions
2. What are two characteristics of the
Effect?

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Summary Questions
2. What are two characteristics of the
Effect?
Answer: Left justified and written in ALL
CAPS

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Summary Questions
3. INT is an abbreviation for what word in a
location?

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Summary Questions
3. INT is an abbreviation for what word in a
location?
Answer: Interior

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Summary Questions
4. What type of letters are used to write the
character’s names?

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Summary Questions
4. What type of letters are used to write the
character’s names?
Answer: ALL CAPS

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Summary Questions
5. What font and size is used to write all
text in a script?

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Summary Questions
5. What font and size is used to write all
text in a script?
Answer: Courier 12 point

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Summary Questions
6. Where is character direction found?

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Summary Questions
6. Where is character direction found?
Answer: Next to or centered under the
character’s name in parenthesis

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Summary Questions
7. The dialog is tabbed how many times
from the left margin?

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Summary Questions
7. The dialog is tabbed how many times
from the left margin?
Answer: Three

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Summary Questions
8. What does the Effect describe?

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Summary Questions
8. What does the Effect describe?
Answer: How the scene opens or closes -
also video or audio changes