Screenplay Formating

One thing that I learned from the video was that, when writing action in the screenplay, you always write it in the present tense. If a line is written in future tense, the action might seem confusing. In the line "He will pick up the gun," it implies that the character doesn't pickup the gun until later in the scene. Another thing that I learned from the video is use of parentheticals when writing the script. A parenthetical is a small line right below the characters name that describes a simple action. The example in the video is that a character is adjusting a rearview mirror in their car in order to see the passenger easier. The last thing that I learned was the slugline of the scene. At the beginning of every scene, its important to use a slugline. A slugline is a short description of the physical characteristics of the setting, things like interior and exterior and if the scene takes place during the day time. Without following some of these important rules, your screenplay could fall apart and be unreadable.