screenplay-formatting

# Screenplay Formatting Skill ## Purpose Format screenplays to industry standard specifications. Proper formatting demonstrates professionalism and ensures your script is taken seriously. One page equals approximately one minute of screen time. ## Fountain Format Fountain is a plain text markup syntax for screenplays that exports to industry-standard PDF. ### Basic Elements ```fountain Title: THE EXAMPLE SCREENPLAY Credit: Written by Author: Your Name Draft date: January 2026 Contact: your@email.com 123-456-7890 ==== FADE IN: INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY Description of the scene and setting goes here. CHARACTER NAME Dialogue goes here. FADE OUT. THE END ``` ## Element Formatting ### Scene Headings (Sluglines) ```fountain INT. LOCATION - TIME EXT. LOCATION - TIME INT./EXT. LOCATION - TIME ``` **Components:** - `INT.` (interior) or `EXT.` (exterior) - Location name in CAPS - Time: DAY, NIGHT, CONTINUOUS, LATER, SAME, DAWN, DUSK **Examples:** ```fountain INT. JOHN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT EXT. CENTRAL PARK - CONTINUOUS INT./EXT. MOVING CAR - DAY ``` ### Action/Description ```fountain Present tense. Active voice. Only what we see and hear. Keep paragraphs short. Three to four lines maximum. White space creates pace and readability. ``` **Rules:** - Present tense always - First appearance: CHARACTER NAME in CAPS - Sounds in CAPS: BANG, CRASH - No camera directions (usually) - No internal thoughts - 55-60 characters per line ### Character Name...