Master Scene Screenwriting Guide
by Ken Briscoe

TV Drama / Single-camera Sitcom

First page

Start the first page with TEASER, followed by FADE IN: then start your first scene.

This assumes the show starts with a Cold open.

TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY
Customers mill around the bookstore...

Separating ACTS

For a TV drama, start each ACT on a new page.

Write ACT ONE (ACT TWO...) at the top of the new page and format it as Action, then center and underline.

ACT ONE
In Final Draft, if you are using a TV drama template, you can use the style New Act.

At the end of the act, write END OF ACT ONE.

END OF ACT ONE

Repeat for each of the acts.

ACT BREAKS: Include them for broadcast shows but streaming and premium cable may not require them.

End

At the end of the episode...

FADE OUT.
END OF SHOW
 

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