A complete reference for the visual and structural rules that govern professional screenplay formatting.
Screenplay format conventions developed over decades of film production. A standardized format allows a director to estimate scene length, a producer to estimate budget implications, and an actor to find their lines instantly. Following these conventions is a sign of professionalism.
The standard screenplay page uses the following settings:
One formatted page equals approximately one minute of screen time. A feature film is typically 90–120 pages.
Scene headings identify the location and time of each new scene. They must be written in all caps with no punctuation except periods and dashes.
Format: INT./EXT. LOCATION — TIME OF DAY
Examples:
INT. COFFEE SHOP — DAYEXT. ROOFTOP — NIGHTINT. CAR — MOVING — DUSKAction lines run the full width of the text area. They are written in third-person present tense and describe only what the audience sees or hears. Internal thoughts, backstory, and exposition are generally avoided.
Character names appear before dialogue in all caps, centered at approximately 3.7 inches from the left edge of the page. First introductions of a character are typically written in all caps in the action line as well.
Dialogue blocks are indented, creating a centered column roughly 3.5 inches wide. The left edge of dialogue sits at approximately 2.5 inches from the left edge of the page.
Parentheticals are brief directions placed inside parentheses between the character name and their dialogue. They indicate emotion, direction, or who the character is addressing. They should be used sparingly.
Example: (quietly) or (to MARK)
Transitions appear at the right margin and in all caps. Common transitions include CUT TO:, DISSOLVE TO:, and SMASH CUT TO:. FADE IN: appears at the very beginning; FADE OUT. at the end. Modern screenwriting uses transitions minimally.
Page numbers appear in the upper right corner, followed by a period. The title page is not numbered. Page two is numbered 2.
The title page contains the script title centered halfway down the page, "Written by" on the line below, and the author's name below that. Contact information appears in the lower left corner.
CineFormat AI is a Google Docs add-on that reads your screenplay text and automatically applies all of the formatting rules above. Scene headings, dialogue indentation, margins, and font settings are handled without manual style configuration.
Format your screenplay automatically in Google Docs.
Install CineFormat AIAlso see: How-To Guide • FAQ