5/26/2023 0 Comments Slugline title page![]() ![]() Choose Bigger or Smaller, or use the keyboard shortcuts of ⌘ and ⌘. You can set the on-screen size of your screenplay using the View menu. There should be no empty lines between Character, Parenthetical, and Dialogue. There should be one, and only one, empty line between Scene Headings, Action, and Transitions. Slugline automatically helps you add the correct number of carriage returns at the end of each line you type. Slugline also notices if you’re typing a conversation, and prioritizes the suggestion of the second-to-most-recent speaker when you press Tab after some Dialogue. Typing E, for example, will suggest EXT, but also any complete Scene Headings you’ve used that begin with EXT - as well as any Characters whose names begin with E. Slugline will also show the Autocomplete pop-up when you start typing something that looks familiar. The Autocomplete pop-up becomes an easy way to begin any kind of repetitive screenplay element. It may surprise you to see Scene Headings mixed in with Transitions and Character names in this pop-up - but remember, Slugline doesn't know what you’re typing yet. You can type them yourself, or choose Format → Center ( ⌘\). In Fountain, centered text is bracketed by a greater-than > and a less-than < character. The option to center a line of text is also found in the Format menu. This will cycle through lowercase, UPPERCASE, and Sentence case. Just select it and choose Format → Uppercase, or press ⌘K. You can also easily change the capitalization of text. Select any text and press ⌘B to make it bold, ⌘I to italicize, or ⌘U to underline. Of course, all your usual keyboard shortcuts work too. To underline something, wrap it in _ underscores_.To create bold text, wrap in **double asterisks.**.To italicize, wrap the text in * asterisks.*. ![]() This is how Slugline’s plain text files can support any kind of text emphasis that a screenwriter is likely to use. If you’ve been using email for a while, chances are you've seen someone wrap a word with asterisks for *emphasis.* Slugline uses this convention as well. The Fountain site has more helpful resources, including a handy PDF cheat sheet you can print out. To create a Scene Heading that doesn't begin that way, simply add a single period to the start of a line. Slugline recognizes Scene Headings that start with INT, EXT, and other common prefixes. This is when you’ll help Slugline understand what you want with a few simple text-based cues. But sometimes you want to break from the norms. Slugline can infer the correct formatting from your typing in the majority of cases. There’s a growing list of apps and services that support Fountain. When you write in Fountain, you’re in good company. You'll see that there’s nothing more to the file than what you’ve typed. Try opening any Slugline document in a simple text editor, such as TextEdit. Since it’s just text, you never need to worry about whether you’ll still be able to open your screenplay ten - or a hundred - years from now. If you type a line in UPPERCASE and end it in TO:, that’s a Transition.įountain is great for both writing and archiving.Parentheticals are wrapped in (parentheses).Dialogue is easy, because it comes right after a Character.Character names are recognized automatically when you type in UPPERCASE.Scene Headings are recognized automatically when you start a line with INT, EXT, and the like.It was designed to allow screenwriters to work simply and easily, creating professional screenplays without requiring any special software.įountain defines the rules that Slugline uses to turn your typing into a properly formatted screenplay: The plain text screenplay format that Slugline uses is called Fountain. Spec scripts also have specific elements, most of which we've outlined below.ĪLL screenplays should be written in 12-point Courier font because with this format, a page of properly formatted text should be equal to about one minute of screen time.New to screenwriting? Review the basics here. You'll also find camera angles, special effects, stunt and action sequences, details on sets and lighting, and sometimes even notes on acting.īut in most cases, you will be writing the spec screenplay, which means you're writing a screenplay with the hope of selling it, though no one has asked you to do so. A shooting script is a finalized version of a screenplay that's used in production, so you'll often see things like scene numbers and various colors of pages that indicate revisions and revision numbers. The shooting script it meant for the director and cinematographer. Spec ScriptsĪ shooting script will have different elements than those listed below for a traditional spec script. Traditional and Industry Standard Screenplay Elements (and Sample Scripts) First, a Note on Shooting Scripts vs. ![]()
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