Introduction
The Master Scene Screenwriting Guide is a reference document for proper formatting of master scene scripts for feature films, short films, and single-camera TV scripts.
Because a screenplay is a blueprint for production -- not the final product, good writing and formatting need to keep the reader's focus on the story.
The writer's challenge is to achieve a balance between the readability of the script (the reader experience) and the realities of a visual medium (the viewer experience).
The priority for the writer of a master scene script is to convey the story not how it will be shot.
Elements of a script
A screenplay is made up of a sequence of scenes that reveal your story.
Each scene is made up of elements that describe the location, action and dialogue.
Scene elements
- Scene heading: Every scene starts with a scene heading element. It tells us the location and time of the scene.
- Action: The Scene Heading is always followed by a description of the action that occurs in the scene (characters, setting, actions).
- Character: If there's dialogue, character cues will tell us who is speaking.
- Parenthetical: If necessary, parentheticals within the dialogue provide directions to the actor.
- Dialogue: Tells us what they are saying.
- Transition: If the transition from scene-to-scene is not a CUT, the transition element is used to indicate the type of transition. If there is no transition element, a CUT is assumed.
Formatting
Formatting a script, consists of specifying the correct style for each of the elements in the scene. The elements are formatted by the screenwriting software, the writer just has to select the right style for the element.
1. Scene Heading
Each scene begins with a scene heading.
INT. THRIFT STORE - DAY
A typical thrift store: clothes, electronics, books, etc.
ALEX, a man in his early twenties, wearing a sports jacket with no shirt, stumbles towards the checkout counter. Clearly intoxicated, Alex holds an old leather-bound edition of a book firmly in both hands.
ALEX
I've looked everywhere for this.
2. Action
Every scene should start with some description, aka action, and indicate who is in the scene.
INT. THRIFT STORE - DAY
ALEX, a man in his early twenties, wearing a sports jacket with no shirt, stumbles towards the checkout counter. Clearly intoxicated, Alex holds an old leather-bound edition of a book with both hands.
ALEX
I've looked everywhere for this.
3. Character
The character cue is indented and capitalized. If the scene includes dialogue, introduce the character in the scene action before their dialogue begins.
INT. THRIFT STORE - DAY
ALEX, a man in his early twenties, wearing a sports jacket with no shirt, stumbles towards the checkout counter. Clearly intoxicated, Alex holds an old leather-bound edition of a book with both hands.
ALEX
I've looked everywhere for this.
The MANAGER runs over.
MANAGER
Is everything OK here?
NOTE: Character names should be capitalized when the character first appears in the script.
4. Parenthetical
If necessary, parentheticals are used primarily to direct the actor but may also be used for certain production directions. They are indented, all lowercase, and placed in parentheses.
ALEX
(whispering)
It's been out of print for sixty years!
NOTE: Use parentheticals sparingly and when possible put this information in the action instead.
5. Dialogue
Dialogue follows the character cue.
INT. THRIFT STORE - DAY
ALEX, a man in his early twenties, wearing a sports jacket with no shirt, stumbles towards the checkout counter. Clearly intoxicated, Alex holds an old leather-bound edition of a book with both hands.
ALEX
I've looked everywhere for this.
The MANAGER runs over.
MANAGER
Is everything OK here?
6. Transition
The transition describes how one scene will transition to the next.
Alex, Emily and Dimitri walk quickly in the direction of the apartment.
FADE TO:
EXT. EMILY'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
NOTE: If there is no transition element, a CUT is assumed so don't use CUT or CUT TO at the end of scenes.
7. Shot
The shot provides additional camera information within a scene.
Shot instructions should be avoided or used very sparingly in master scene scripts.
Sample script
Begin the screenplay with the instruction 'FADE IN:'
NOTE: Because the FADE IN transition should be left-justified, format it as a Shot rather than as a Transition.
FADE IN:
INT. THRIFT STORE - DAY
ALEX, a man in his early twenties, wearing a sports jacket with no shirt, stumbles towards the checkout counter. Clearly intoxicated, Alex holds an old leather-bound edition of a book with both hands.
The YOUNG CASHIER in-training, sees him coming and nervously grabs the phone to call for help.
Customers turn to see what’s going on.
Alex lunges forward.
The young cashier drops the phone.
The MANAGER runs over.
Alex waves an old leather-bound edition of a book over his head.
ALEX
I've looked everywhere for this.
Customers gather as Alex waits for a reaction.
No reaction. He lowers his arm very slowly.
Customers start to disperse.
MANAGER
Is everything OK here?
ALEX
(whispering)
It's been out of print for sixty years!
EXT. EMILY'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
A more sober Alex, EMILY, a woman in her twenties, and DIMITRI, a man in his twenties, are on the sidewalk.
DIMITRI
So I told her...
Dimitri shrugs.
ALEX
(to himself)
They have no idea how much this book is worth.
DIMITRI
(to Emily)
I didn't have any of those things she was looking for.
EMILY
And?
ALEX
(to Emily)
You will never guess what I could get for this.
EMILY
You’re right, I will never guess.
Alex looks defeated.
EMILY
Let’s have lunch.
Alex and Emily go into the apartment building, leaving Dimitri on the sidewalk staring at them.
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Revised: October 4, 2025
© 2007-2025 Ken Briscoe
