Features of a script

The layout is the layout of the page/ how the page is set.

Normally it will start with the transition for example FADE IN/OUT, CUT TO, WIPE TO and DISSOVLE TO.

The next line would be the Scene heading, this tells us where the scene takes place and what time of day, for example

EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA -DAY

EXT- exterior -the scene will be taken outside

INT- interior -the scene will be taken inside

INT/EXT- interior/ exterior -this would be used the scene is happening inside but being shot from outside

CARIBBEAN SEA- This is where the scene will be taken

DAY- What time of the day they will be shooting; you could also have NIGHT, DUSK and DAWN

ACTION/BUSINESS- This basically will describe what we see on the screen. This does not include any dialogue it’s just a brief description.

PARENTHETICAL- is a direction to the actor about how to read the dialogue. For example before there lines in brackets would be (sotto) this means quietly so the script writers would want the actor to say the line quietly.

EXTENSION- This is a technical indication about the character’s dialogue, placed to the right of the character name, for example;

(O.S.) - Off screen

(V.O.) - Voice over

(M.O.S)- Without sound

(P.O.V)- Point of view

(F.G.) - Foreground

(M.G.) - Mid-ground

(B.G.) – Background

DUAL DIALOGUE- This is where two or more characters talk at the same time, normally this is shown when the dialogue is side by side.

An example:

Script that I annotated in class: