The Standard Screenplay format: some guidelines

I. Slugline or Master Scene Heading.- sets the general conditions of the scene and is composed of three parts: setting, location and time

A. Setting: INT. or EXT. (interior or exterior)
B. Location: house, hospital, school, street, forest, etc
C. Time: morning, afternoon, night, 5:00 pm, etc

examples:
INT. HOSPITAL - MORNING
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

D. Always in ALL CAPS
E.Two spaces between INT. or EXT., and Location
F. Space-hyphen-space between location and time
G. May be indicated a sublocation
H. Each change in Location or Time leads to a change of scene and consequently a new slugline.
I. If same location, same time but different Sublocation are indicated: avoid repeat Location and Time.

example:
INT. HOSPITAL - OPERATING ROOM - MORNING
then:
INT. HOSPITAL - INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - MORNING
can be written only as:
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

J. If different Location but same Time: add CONTINOUS.

example:
INT. HOSPITAL - MORNING
then:
EXT. STREET - MORNING
should be written as:
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS

K. If same location but different time: add LATER

example:
INT. HOSPITAL - MORNING
then:
INT. HOSPITAL - AFTERNOON
should be written as:
INT. HOSPITAL - LATER

L. CUTS:
1. CUT TO: For combination or contrast between two scenes.
M. Margin of Slugline: left 1.5 inches

II. Action.- Describe what is happening on the screen and which characters are involved.

A. Should be always some line of action after every slugline
B. Always in present tense
C. Follow the standard rules of capitalization
D. Single-spaced
E. The sequence of action must be sufficiently described, noting the speed of the scene
F. Margin of action lines: left 1.5 inches

III. Character names.- It tells us which character is talking

A. Always appears on top of its dialogue
B. Always written in ALL CAPS

example:
DR. SMITH
It is urgent to operate the aneurysm

C. Margin of character name: left 3.7 inches

IV. Dialogue.- These are the words that character says

A. Follow the standard rules of capitalization
B. Single-spaced
C. Margins
1. Left: 2.5 inches
2. Right: 2.5 inches (or 6 inches from left edge of page)
D. Parenthetical.- to describe what the character is doing apart from it's dialogue. Is always within parentheses.
1. Margins
a. Left: 3.1 inches
b. Right: 2.9 inches

example:
Dr. SMITH
(fighting with intense bleeding of an artery)
Give me the electrocautery

I. Paper.-

A. US, Letter sized (8.5 x 11 inches), Europe A4
B. 20 lb
C. Plain white
D. Print on one side
E. Do not use graphics in any place

II. Font.-

A. Always Courier
B. 12 point
C. 10 pitch
D. No bold, no italics

III. General margins

A. Left: 1.5 inches
B. Right: 1 inch
C. Top: 1 inch
D. Bottom: 1 inch

IV. General spacing

A. Single-spaced between:
1. Character name and Dialogue
2. Character name and Parentheticals
3. Parentheticals and Dialogue
B. Double-spaced between:
1. Action and more action
2. Action and character name
3. Dialogue and next character name
4. Dialogue and action
5. Action and slugline
6. Dialogue and slugline

V. Page numbers

A. Don't write number on the first page
B. Write on upper right-hand corner

VI. Title page
A. Centered title in ALL CAPS
B. Double space and write "by" or "Written by"
C. Double space and write "author's name"
D. Then on the lower right-hand corner
1. Name
2. Mailing address
3. Telephone number
4. E-Mail
5. Writer´s Guild registration number (optional)

VII. Covers and binding

A. Card stock 80 lb in weight
B. 1 ¼ " brass brads

In the art of writing screenplays is important first master these and some other basic rules not included in these guidelines, after which may be used an automated process using the appropriate software. Different programs are available and could include Celtx, DreamaScript, Final Draft, FiveSprockets, Hollywood Screenplay Pro, HollyWord, Montage, Movie Outline 3.0, SceneWriter Pro, etc, depending on your own budget, preferences and skills.