Q: I have a teleplay. I've heard there are different formats
for scripts. My format consists of the heading, dialogue, and description being
1.25 spaces from the left edge of the paper. The character names above their
dialogue are the only things I indented. My page numbers are at the bottom
right
A: There are two main script formats -- sitcoms and
screenplays. With the exception of "act breaks" (the annoying
advertising part that pays for everything), the hour TV dramas are usually
written in standard screenplay format. In this format, the margins are small,
the dialogue is indented from the action description, and the character names
are centered over the dialogue. Sitcom scripts are similar but the margins are
wider and the dialogue is double-spaced.
I would recommend that you find a show that is similar in
style to your teleplay (half-hour comedy, etc.) and then set about getting a
copy of a script for that show. There are various online resources. In order to
be taken seriously, you should make your script look like this script from an
existing show -- one that was generated by a professional.
Another thing you might want to consider is purchasing some
script writing software. These contain script templates for many kinds of
television and film scripts and even things like plays, novels, and radio
scripts. I have used both "Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000" and
"Final Draft". Final Draft seems to be more popular among
professional animation writers, to the point that it’s considered the industry
standard, but both are good. These applications can be kind of pricey ($100 -
$200+) because of their narrow appeal (professional writers) but I found they
seriously increased my productivity and so are worth every penny.
One more
thing; the page numbers go in the upper right hand corner.
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