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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Screenwriting

Advice Sought.

Dear Group, I am both new to this group and to screenwriting. I have several ideas for movies but as yet have not attempted to lay them down on paper. The advice I seek is as follows - Could someone suggest a book or website which explains fully the correct, recognised standard for presentation and formating of a movie/TV drama script? Do formats differ between UK, Europe and the US? I would be extremely grateful for any help on this one?

Mazdaz.
  

Top answer

[nq:1]Dear Group, I am both new to this group and to screenwriting. I have several ideas for movies but ... formats differ between UK, Europe and the US?

  • [nq:1]Dear Group, I am both new to this group and to screenwriting.
  • I have several ideas for movies but ...
  • formats differ between UK, Europe and the US?
  • I would be extremely grateful for any help on this one?
  • [/nq] Hi Mazdaz -- One of the best (and there are more than a few out there) is David Trottier's THE SCREENWRITER'S BIBLE.
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8 Answers
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[nq:1]Dear Group, I am both new to this group and to screenwriting. I have several ideas for movies but ... formats differ between UK, Europe and the US? I would be extremely grateful for any help on this one? Mazdaz.[/nq]
Hi Mazdaz -- One of the best (and there are more than a few out there) is David Trottier's THE SCREENWRITER'S BIBLE. It covers format and craft, and other related screen

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[nq:1]Dear Group, I am both new to this group and to screenwriting. I have several ideas for movies but ... formats differ between UK, Europe and the US? I would be extremely grateful for any help on this one? Mazdaz.[/nq]
I'd second Paul's advice, especially about David Trottier's book.

Another source of info regarding screenplay format is
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[nq:2]Dear Group, I am both new to this group ... be extremely grateful for any help on this one? Mazdaz.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'd second Paul's advice, especially about David Trottier's book. Another source of info regarding screenplay format is http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/format.html - yes, ... macros (which y

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[nq:1]As for software (which you didn't mention, but Paul did), a dedicated program such as Final Draft is good but far from essential, certainly when you're just starting.[/nq]
I guess the reason I mentioned it was from my experiences when first starting to learn about craft particularly when I was itching to write something in format I didn't have the books, screenwriting schooling, or soft
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[nq:1]I guess the reason I mentioned it was from my experiences when first starting to learn about craft particularly when ... do the right things. Liitle did I know then that there's more than a little tolerance in "the acceptable standard."[/nq]
The problem is that a lot of people think that whatever they do, so long as they use FD, MMS, or something equivalent, is fine.

But you ca
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[nq:1]The problem is that a lot of people think that whatever they do, so long as they use FD, MMS, ... incredibly useful. But they're no substitute for reading enough scripts to know what a script should feel and read like.[/nq]
Exactly. It's a tool like any other.

Having a camera doesn't make you a photographer.

Having a brush doesn't make you a painter.

et cetera
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[nq:1]The problem is that a lot of people think that whatever they do, so long as they use FD, MMS, ... useful. But they're no substitute for reading enough scripts to know what a script should feel and read like. -Ron[/nq]
I totally agree. That's what I meant by substance. So much goes into completing (if it is ever completed) a screenplay, from the idea through to writing your acceptance sp
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[nq:1]Exactly. It's a tool like any other. Having a camera doesn't make you a photographer. Having a brush doesn't make you a painter.[/nq]
Ah, but you can't photograph without a camera. And you can't paint without a brush, but you can format screenplays without a dedicated screenplay formatter.

A camera is a necessary tool for a photographer.

A brush is a necessary t

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