I have a million great ideas a day and am so overwhelmed I can't even write the first sentence. So, I thought if I had some basics, maybe I'd move instead of sitting here frozen with fear for another 52 years. I need very basic information, like required margin space, indents, line spacing, etc. I have several books on screenplay writing and somehow I just seem to get more confused since each offers a tidbit of this and a tad of that but nothing sequential that makes any sense. What they do tell me is that proper professional formatting is extremely important or I'll never get a script read anywhere. Can anyone suggest where I can get sample scripts for movies, sitcoms, etc? Thank you.

There are tons of places you can get advice on formatting from: this website has screenplay and stageplay formatting advice, on the 'Writer's Resources' page (link is near the top of the screen).

You could also use script-writing software which does all of the formatting for you. One program, which is free and easy to use, is Celtx (http://www.celtx.com).

There are also lots of sites where you can read scripts - one that has been mentioned elsewhere on these forums is "Drew's Script-O-Rama": http://www.script-o-rama.com/

Of course, there are plenty of other sites where you can get advice on formatting, etc. - if none of these links help, try a Google search.

Best o' luck with your script and hope this helps! =)

Here's the link to the Daily Script
http://www.dailyscript.com/movie_n-z.html

with loads of scripts you can read and/or download for free.

(There are a lot of sites that provide scripts, but as far as I can tell they all come from Drew's Script-o-Rama ;-O which is a fancier website and therefore doesn't always load very quickly) ;-)

Wherever you get your scripts, make sure you're looking at the scripts, *not* transcripts -- which are simply someone watching a movie and taking notes to describe the story and list the dialog -- fine if you just want to know what happened, but pretty useless if you want to know the proper form for a screenplay.

Note that the scripts are almost all *shooting* scripts -- that is, the script used during the actual filming. Shooting scripts will contain more camera angles and directions than are necessary or appropriate in a spec script, as well as scene numbers, which your script should *not* use.

Finally, don't get into a swivet about format! you're writing a first draft, who cares what it looks like? just pick one of your millions of good ideas and write your story!

Out of all the screenwriting how-too books out there, I recommend

(1) Blake Snyder's "Save the Cat" for quick and simple approach to story structure (here's a review -- http://www.writersrow.com/DMac/bookreviews_writenow.html)

(2) Viki King for the non-threatening paradigm she created in "How to Write a Screenplay in 21 Days" (it works!)
You might want to subscribe to WriteAMovie-21Days@yahoogroups.com -- you get an email reminder and assignment every day based on the daily instructions in Viki King's book. [this replays every month, but you may as well sign up now, b/c it's only day 5]

(3) And Michael Hauge for the best approach to weaving together plot and character in "Writing Screenplays That Sell."
Here his summary of his paradigm -- http://www.screenplaymastery.com/structure.htm

Good luck, happy writing! :-D

p.s. also of course Script Frenzy itself has a sample of how to format, as well as links to free programs such as Celtx
http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/eng/howtoformatascreenplay

Here's another site that shows clearly how it's done --
http://www.films.com.br/put.htm

Formatting is simple. Don't let fear-of-formatting stop you from writing your script.

Thanks so much for all the great advice and links :+)

I have 2 comments:
1) Just write your script now. Double space (and print on one side only if you're printing out). Don't worry about anything else now except getting your story written.

2) when you're finished, try Celtx or one of the other free scriptwriting format platforms. Celtx allows you to import, or you could rewrite (and edit at the same time) and get the hang of how it formats things. Let the program do the work.

Don't wait another 52 minutes! And definitely not another 52 years.

Happy writing.

Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com

The encouragement and hints are priceless. Writing NOW. Thanks!!! :-))

I just wrote my first 7 pages!!!
Jumpin' up and down and dancin' in my chair! :-)))

Blooming,
JustWriting