Screenplays 101: Basic Formatting Unit
Created by Nicholas Pappas
Screenplays 101 is divided into two separate units: Basic Structure and Basic Formatting.
It is highly recommended that you complete the Basic Structure unit before moving on to the Basic Formatting unit.
Screenplays are used in every aspect of a film’s production. Depending on the size of the film, anywhere from a few dozen to a few thousand people use the screenplay to do their jobs. Because so many people need the screenplay to perform a job to the best of their abilities, a screenplay must be formatted immaculately.
Once completing this unit, students will have a basic understanding of how a screenplay is formatted and why it is formatted that way, all with an eye toward students developing their own screenplay.
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1Lesson 1Introduction of Basic Screenplay ElementsIn this lesson, students will be introduced to the importance of screenplay formatting and learn some basic screenplay formatting elements: fonts, margins, and title pages.
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2Lesson 2Basic Screenplay Elements 2In this lesson, students will continue to learn some basic screenplay formatting elements: scene headers/sluglines, action lines, character tags, dialogue, and parentheticals.
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3Lesson 3Basic Screenplay Elements 3In this lesson, students will continue to learn some basic screenplay formatting elements: transitions and shots.
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4Lesson 4Advanced Screenplay Formatting 1In this lesson, students will be introduced to how they can use the basic screenplay elements in an advanced way to help tell their stories with extensions, detailed sluglines, and subheaders.
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5Lesson 5Advanced Screenplay Formatting 2In this lesson, students will continue to learn how they can use the basic screenplay elements in an advanced way to help tell their stories with character introductions, flashbacks, montages, and detailed action lines.
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6Lesson 6Advanced Screenplay Formatting 3In this lesson, students will continue to learn how they can use the basic screenplay elements in an advanced way to help tell their stories with dialogue other than English in an English-language screenplay and white space.
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7Lesson 7Read and WatchIn this lesson, students will apply their knowledge by reading and watching a screenplay.
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8Lesson 8Culminating Project: Write a ScreenplayStudents will demonstrate their knowledge of screenplay formatting by writing the first 10 pages of a screenplay.
Standards Addressed
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
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