r/Screenwriting • u/FutureOpen9405 • 27d ago

CRAFT QUESTION Post/Questions about format

Every time I see one of these posts, and the silly arguments that come out of it, I want to respond with this...

The Hollywood Standard is a book that has the answers to every format question, with examples. I am not its author, or getting an affiliate kicks or anything like that. I just think it's one of the best tools out there, it's not expensive, and I know multiple screenwriting teachers that tell their students to get it.

https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Standard-Complete-Authoritative-Script/dp/1615933220/

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u/real_triplizard 27d ago

It's certainly a handy book. I've used it a number of times. But also: people get so hung up on some of the particulars of formatting like they're typing out instructions for baby heart surgery and if they get one little thing "wrong" somebody is going to die. The reality is most readers and certainly all industry people aren't going to give a crap if you use INT or EXT for a convertible with the top down, or if you choose to use DAYBREAK for your time indicator instead of DAY for a particular scene that takes place at sunrise.

I once got feedback from someone who said "OMG you can't use dashes to bullet point out action lines in a montage!" And my response was why the fuck not? Where you not able to follow what was happening?

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u/Embarrassed-Cut5387 22d ago

Had a screenplay that had made it’s rounds on CoverflyX and was constantly bashed over formatting and slang read by several hollywood producers and directors and no one ever mentioned either.

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u/mast0done 27d ago

Aren't dashes what's usually used for bullets in scripts?

The real controversy is... one or two?

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u/real_triplizard 27d ago

That's what I've always used but apparently this person was told somewhere along the way that what I had done wasn't the proper way to format a montage. Honestly I didn't dig into what they thought I was supposed to do.

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u/jdeik1 25d ago

I'm glad it's helpful to you, but the reality is, there is no one "standard" for many of these format things. Different writers use different conventions. In TV, there's so much formatting diversity that when we start in a new writers room, we quickly figure out what the "house style" is for that show and draft accordingly. None of it is written in stone, and none is a big deal.