Comments on: The Hollywood Standard

By: Henri

Henri — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:38:59 +0000

My experience is that there is no single official standard on script format. No single person or entity has the market on script format regardless of claims. Studios, networks, production companies, and execs don’t analyze and judge a script’s mechanical or technical format. Just be neat and consistent and focus on spelling and grammar. I’ve worked in entertainment for 14 years and execs and producers are more interested in the content of the script. It’s fine to use a format book to help you but use it as a guideline not a bible.

By: Joel Davis

Joel Davis — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:22:13 +0000

I believe in using a very technichal screenplay, i.e. writing a shooting screenplay. This can be done even with Final Draft and getting around their default settings. You have to learn how to do it, but it's amazingly simple.

Example:

1 EXT. ROAD - NIGHT - WITH MARK

as CAMERA FOLLOWS HIM THRU the pasture and so on...

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:18:38 +0000

Got to say, “How to make a Good Script Great” by Linda Seger is the best book I’ve read on screenwriting. Doesn’t go into to formatting, but explains structure perfectly. If you don’t know the rules, you’re not breaking’em!

By: Kiki

Kiki — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:44:13 +0000

Don’t know if anyone’s still checking comments on this post, but when we want to see a “real sample script from the show [or film],” where are the best places to find them? I know there are several sites that sell produced screenplays but how do I know they’re not selling fanboy transcripts or retyped versions from the Warner Bros. Script Processing Department? Thanks for any pointers or links, anyone.

By: David Davis

David Davis — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:42:00 +0000

I have approached too close to a neutron star. The gravitational force is too great and now my face is pressed against the magnificence that is your blog.

This is what I have been searching for now for years. A cool guy helping the huddled masses. I stayed up extremely late last night having discovered this site around 9pm, at 5 am I was still at it and had to force myself to close the laptop (actually, could hear the wife coming).

This morning (afternoon) I couldnt wait to get back to this site to explore, knowing I'd find little nuggets of wisdom and technical advise. I've found my speakeasy!

By: Jennifer Seeley

Jennifer Seeley — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:07:42 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge John! Your site is my default page. I start everyday with one of your articles. The wealth of information is very mind expanding in a space between the notes sort of way. Keep writing your awesome words!

By: John

John — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:15:32 +0000

Hey, Adam! I don’t want to put them in my script, unless of course they are essential for the story. I just want to know them as a form of trivia or sth.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:24:17 +0000

I recommend Denny Martin Flynn’s book ‘How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make’. He actually illustrates mistakes, as well as the corrections. It’s all 100% correct info–really useful, practical stuff.

By: Michael L. Wentz

Michael L. Wentz — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:54:48 +0000

Thanks John!

I picked up "The Hollywood Standard" at The Writers Store last month, and you just answered every question I had about the book. I also like Trotter's "The Screenwriters Bible," but Chris Riley goes into more detail.

I am by no means an expert, but with both of these books on my desk I feel somewhat confident when I complete a spec and hand it off to someone. But I never know if I'll offend some reader's delicate sensibilities with a freaky time-shift in a montage with underwater music.

BTW, love the blog. I've been a subscriber to your feed for several months now. Keep the great advice coming!

By: John August

John August — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 01:27:51 +0000

To my recollection, I've never made it past Green. But on the first Charlie's Angels, there were endless revisions, some of which I wasn't a part of. So I suspect that was a Rainbow script.

Also, keep in mind that it's kosher in some cases to issue a "New White" script. If the majority of pages are going to change, that's often the best solution. In that case, only scene numbers remain, and page breaks can go back to normal.

By: Dominic

Dominic — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 22:40:18 +0000

John – just out of interest – have you ever had to go right through the revision color chart? And if not, what’s the furthest you’ve gone?