Screenplay Software To Format Your Screenplay & Structure Your Story
How Do I Write A Screenplay & Format A Script?
Well, some writers like to use a pad and pen. Others like to use index cards and a corkboard. While most use a combination of the above in conjunction with some kind of word processing software.
But as a screenwriter you must learn to juggle all manner of skills in order to produce a professional screenplay, which include: script formatting, story structure, scene organization, character development and emotionally engaging narrative pacing, It's no good just coming up with a fantastic character, or an equally entertaining story, because when you're writing for the big screen it's a long process. And along the way, unfortunately, others have to get involved. This means that the people reading your script have to understand what you are trying to say.
To help script readers, development executives, producers, directors, actors and so on, get to grips with your movie idea, certain rules have been established over the years. Now I know all creative people absolutely detest the idea of conforming to any kind of rigid formula or rule set but it's not called "show business" for nothing. At the end of the day, studios are going to have to invest millions of dollars into making a movie so you, as a writer, need to make the selection process as easy as possible for them right from the get-go.
That's why "Script Formatters" were introduced, to make the "technical" process of professionally formatting a screenplay to industry-standard guidelines simple, so you can focus on writing your story and not the rules. Screenplay software is now an essential tool for writers learning the craft and those making a career out of screenwriting.
What Are The Rules To Format A Screenplay?
The basic script formatting rules which all screenplay software adhere to are down to using a standard sized font (Courier 12pt) and a script with between 90 and 120 pages, where each page translates to approximately one minute of screen time. You divide your story up into "scenes" and format them and the dialogue and action that takes place within them in a specific way (line spacing, margins, indents etc) so that it is easier to read than if your story was just typed out as a huge bunch of text.. such as in a novel. But don't worry, Movie Outline's automatic Script Formatting takes care of this for you as you type.
The other major factor you have to understand is that films are all about visuals and sound, unlike novels. With novels you give the reader a huge amount of information in the prose and let them dream up the rest.. why?
Because you have the time to and that's how this medium works. But with screenplays time is money and everything has to be spelled out, so you usually have to keep your prose (descriptions of characters, locations and action) to a minimum and be succinct.
And when it comes to dialogue, you can't just waffle on preaching your own opinions, you have to write from the perspective of the character speaking (even if their opinions directly oppose your own) and only make them speak when necessary in order to progress the story or develop their character or relationship with other characters.
The final rule of thumb is "get in late and get out early". That means, start each scene at the most interesting point and end it in the same manner, sometimes on a hook. There's no point writing about a guy who pulls into a bar car lot, gets out, locks his car, walks up to the door, enters, orders a beer, sits down in a booth, reads a book for thirty minutes, goes for a pee, returns to his booth.. AND THEN his friend enters and they talk. Unless it's crucial to your story or character you can cut the waste of time story-telling at the beginning or instead use a visual clue to the fact that he'd been waiting a long time such as a cross-fade on a close-up of a clock, or just show his table full of empty beer bottles and make him angry at his friend for being late. Get it? Good.
Can Screenplay Software Help Structure My Story & Film Script?
Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. In the beginning you setup your hero and his story,
then you throw something at him that is a great source of conflict and takes him into a whole heap of
trouble. After facing many foes and overcoming various obstacles the hero saves the day and wins
the girl.
If only writing a movie was that easy...
The thing is, there are many forms of structure. Some subscribe to one formula, others subscribe to another. Some try not to subscribe to any and see the whole idea of structure as "
evil", feeling that a story should evolve organically without rules confining ideas or obstructing the
creative flow.
In the end, a story should dictate the kind of structure it follows or whether it shouldn't follow a structure
at all. There's no point trying to write a comedy and forcing the structure of a thriller upon it - it won't
work. Well, theoretically it won't but I'm sure someone will find a way! Let your characters define the
story and your story define your structure and then use a formula if necessary to tighten your script.
The trick is to initially let the ideas flow without paying too much attention to structure and in your
second pass begin to focus your story and separate the wheat from the chaff.
Below is a diagram defining the typical three-act structure of most stories. If a screenplay is 120 pages
long then the first act is thirty pages, the second act is sixty pages and the final act is thirty. But again,
this all depends on the genre of film you are writing and the needs of your story. Don't be too pinned
down to these rules at the outset. But if you find your story is not working or your script is 150 pages
long then you know you have made some errors along the way and need to pay closer attention to
your blueprint.
Another popular form of structure derived from Joseph Campbell's Monomyth and adapted by Christopher Vogler is the twelve stage Hero's Journey. This is essentially a more detailed Character Arc for your story's hero which is overlaid onto the more traditional three-act structure that many successful Hollywood movies such as Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz when analyzed appear to follow. But once again, don't worry about structure too much when writing your first draft, just get your story out using our screenplay software and then start honing it with rewrites.
Movie Outline's Act Structure features allow you to color-coded your story and create structure templates.
The five default templates included are:
Hero's Journey
3 Act Screenplay
5 Act Stage Play
One Hour TV Drama
Half-Hour TV Sitcom
These templates can be modified to suit your project's needs and you can even create your own
templates from scratch or save templates from one project for use in another.
Each sample template is designed to help you structure your story and they include
comprehensive information about each section, helping you understand how a particular type of story
narrative works. They are, however, merely a guide and should not be rigidly adhered to. Creativity is
far more important than sticking to a "formula" but they can help you pace your story and troubleshoot
rewrites.
How Do I Organize Scenes & Plan Script Rewrites?
When you first start writing you will probably just want to blurt it all out onto paper or onto your favorite word processor but then comes the problem of organizing all of these notes and pages and rearranging them so they make sense. That's where Movie Outline's powerful Story Outlining tools come into play.
Any professional screenwriter will tell you about the importance of proper planning when it comes to writing a screenplay. Of course you will always have to do rewrites but if you take the time to outline your story, before you start writing the action and dialogue, you will save yourself a whole heap of grief in the long run.
So instead of writing your story from beginning to end on your regular word processor, use Movie Outline screenplay software instead and take advantage of its Step Outlining tools to break your story up into individual steps.. or "Key Events". Then when you have completed your outline you can move over to the Script Panel and start adding your script! It's as simple as that.
You can also use Story Tasks (a story to-do list) to note down important ideas about your movie and check them off as you complete them - that way you'll never forgot to include important plot points and snippets of dialogue that came to you in the middle of the night.
How Do I Write Believable Characters & Develop Their Character Arc?
This is a great question which believe it or not is sometimes overlooked by the novice writer. It doesn't matter how good your story concept is, how many special effects your movie will have and who will be in the starring role.. because without good characters your film will surely be a flop. You have to make characters your priority and make them dictate your story. Sure you can guide them towards a certain path in order to match your original story idea, but if the characters don't seem real or three-dimensional and say things that don't make sense for someone of their age, religion or political persuasion, then you can bet that your entire script will suffer.
The key to writing good characters is knowing them. That's it. Research them, work out how they think then put them in the situation you have created for them and let them react. Make their dialogue unique, make it sparkle, create complicated yet "realistic" relationships with the other characters in your screenplay that have backstory and substance and I can assure you that your script will be a page-turner.
Unlike other screenplay software that just focuses on formatting, Movie Outline also realizes the importance of building great characters and developing their arcs and has three powerful tools to help you.
Character Profile Wizard
Character Development Panel
Dialogue Spotlight
Each of these tools allow you to develop three-dimensional characters that you can track through each stage of your project from your story outline to your finished script.
Character Profile Wizard allows you to define the basic profile of each of your characters then lets you ask them a probing series of questions in order to get under their skins. It also enables you to create relationships with other characters in your story.
Character Development Panel lets you develop each character arc for each character in your film story, step by step and scene by scene, answering four key questions. It also allows you to track your characters throughout your project.
Dialogue Spotlight analyzes your entire screenplay and displays the isolated dialogue of either individual characters or the dialogue between two characters of your choice. You can even isolate voice-over. Using this feature will help you create consistent and unique voices for all of your characters.
Can I Get A Free Trial Copy Of Movie Outline 3?
Yes, you can download a FREE Demo of Movie Outline 3 Screenplay Software to see how its powerful screenplay formatting, character development and story structuring tools can help you make a better script. There is no time limitation on the demo but there are some feature restrictions such as printing and exporting.
