FORMATTING YOUR SPEC SCRIPT WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING: A PRIMER, PART 11

We’re back with a few more formatting pointers for anybody out there who might be working on a spec script. As always, if you have further or more specific questions about any of the shows covered in these posts, feel free to e-mail us at library@wgfoundation.org. Remember, as always, the scripts in the WGF Library are often generously donated by the writers/production companies/studios. We are not the copyright holders of the materials and cannot e-mail you scripts, but during this time while the library is still closed, we can always advise about how to format your spec or pilot. Happy September and happy writing! - Hilary, Javier and Lauren

AWKWAFINA IS NORA FROM QUEENS (Comedy Central)

 Average page count: 25

Average scene count: 24-28

Broken into acts? Yes 3 (and one very short fourth act)

Other things to consider:

  • Scripts are broken into four acts. Each act averages about 7-11 pages except for act four, which functions more like a tag than an act, coming in at 1-3 pages.

  • MAIN TITLE. is specified on the left-hand side, underlined and italicized usually on page 2.

Image of main titles from Nora from Queens.png
  • Act breaks are formatted: ACT THREE, centered and underlined. END OF ACT THREE, centered and underlined. At the end of act four: END OF EPISODE.

Image of End of Episode from Nora from Queens.png
  • Acts often end on dialogue.

  • Scene headings are underlined.

  • Scripts are fun and driven by propulsive dialogue. Description treats even the smallest characters warmly and specifically. 

DICKINSON (Apple TV+) 

Average page count: 30-36

Average scene count: This varies wildly, but it’s typically around 22

Broken into acts? No

Other things to consider:

  • Many Dickinson scripts mention music, calling for a specific feeling but not an exact song.

Image of a song cue from Dickinson.png
  • Significant action, text seen on screen, notes, motifs, etc. are written in bold in the script. An example of this is in episode 1-3 “Wild Nights” where the idea of waves crashing is presented over and over again. The writer makes the text bold any time waves are mentioned in the description.

  • Informally, significant actions in the description are CAPITALIZED. 

  • Also, specific poetry lines are called out in the script. These lines are preceded by we SEE/HEAR in bold. Also, anything directly quoted from a real poem is in “quotation marks” and sometimes italicized

Image of poetry from Dickinson.png
  • Not always, but sometimes scripts end with “End of Episode.” on the left-hand side of the page.

THE GREAT (Hulu)

 Average page count: 55-57

Average scene count: 50-55

Broken into acts? Yes, 5 (and a teaser)

Other things to consider:

  • All scene headings are in bold and underlined.

  • Act breaks go something like this: ACT TWO centered and underlined at top of page; END OF ACT TWO centered and underlined. Scripts end with END OF EPISODE, centered, bolded and underlined. Act lengths vary from 6 to 12 pages.

  • The teaser averages about 2-5 pages. At the end of each teaser on the left-hand side, CAPITALIZED and in bold: TITLE CARD. THE GREAT. NAME OF EPISODE., then END OF TEASER centered and underlined

Image of title card and teaser from The Great.png
  • Unlike many period pieces, the emphasis here is less often on the visuals and more on the witty banter/dialogue. Description is warm, fun and simple. Remember Tony McNamara based it on his play. The dialogue feels like a quippy game of table tennis.

Image of scene headings and description from The Great.png
  • A great The Great spec will find humor in antiquated beliefs, social customs and even health/hygiene practices of the time period.


ON MY BLOCK (Netflix)

 Average page count: 29-32

Average scene count: 22-36

Broken into acts? No

Other things to consider:

  •  The scripts aren’t broken into acts. The description is very straightforward.

  • When Spanish is spoken in the dialogue, it’s written out in Spanish and italics

Image of Spanish dialogue from On My Block.png
  • When scripts use flashbacks, they’re mentioned in the scene headings, a la INT. ROSE’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - FLASHBACK to INT. JAMAL’S ROOM - PRESENT

  • The scripts are mostly fun, fast and dialogue-driven. Visuals are punchy and description is short with paragraphs rarely going over a line or two.

Image of series of shots from On My Block.png
  • At the end of the scripts, FADE OUT is typically used on the right-hand side in caps. 



STUMPTOWN (ABC)

 Average page count: 51-52

Average scene count: 40-ish

Broken into acts? Yes, 6

Other things to consider:

  • Keep in mind, if spec-ing, that (as of the writing of this primer) the show was recently canceled by ABC due to COVID-19, but is hoping to find a new home for season 2. 

  • Act and scene headings are CAPITALIZED, bolded and underlined. Characters names are also in bold the first time they are introduced. Act breaks: ACT ONE; END OF ACT ONE — centered, bolded and underlined

  • The first act is typically a bit longer, clocking in around 13 pages. The rest of the acts are typically 7 to 9 pages. 

  • The first act contains smashing to the main title ‘STUMPTOWN’ in bold, italics and CAPITALIZED. This typically occurs on page 2 or 3. 

Image of main title from Stumptown.png
  • Flashbacks are noted in the scene headings with description and dialogue in italics.

Image of flashback from Stumptown.png
  • Note how the description sounds like an internal monologue, or what characters might be thinking. Sometimes this is done in italics.

Spec on! Write on!

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