You know how to write a compelling story, your dialogue is lean, and you are ready to shop your script. NOT SO FAST!

Is your script formatted in a way that meets industry standards? Do you know for sure what those standards are? 

Don't miss this important webinar that can make even the most seasoned writer more equipped to sell their script.

The first thing a reader sees is the formatting of your script. Formatting can make or break a project. Improper formatting can place a script in the “circular file” without it even being read. But formatting extends beyond proper slug lines or margins. Formatting is about presentation and structuring information to make an emotional impact on the reader. The density and flow of the stage directions can make a read feel like a slog - or a breeze. 

As a writer, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of screenplay formatting. A script with a clear mastery of formatting can make executives more comfortable with and confident in a writer. The best writers can play around with style to create stand-out material. Formatting is a tool, and this class will teach you how to fully use it to your advantage.

Formatting can be used to pack an emotional punch, but most screenwriting classes brush past this essential part of the process. This workshop will slow it down and take the time to discuss the fundamentals. 

In this information-packed webinar, Heidi Lux will take you through the basics of screenplay formatting - and how to use formatting to show your voice as a writer. Heidi will walk you through writing descriptions, get more with less, and use formatting to set your script apart from the others - without changing a word of story. 

Heidi is a produced screenwriter who believes that the “intangibles” that set a script apart actually are tangible - and can be taught. Heidi has written for multiple Nickelodeon series, and wrote the Tubi original feature Crushed. She has a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Heidi is passionate about the craft of screenwriting and excited to share her knowledge with the Stage 32 community. 

This webinar is more than just margins and designed for all levels of writers. You’ll walk away feeling comfortable with the “trickier” parts of formatting that even seasoned professionals struggle with. You’ll learn the key formatting rule that will allow you to break the rules, leaving you more confident as a writer.

PLUS you will receive exclusive handouts including:

• Reference pages with standard formatting
• Screenplay formatting checklist 
• Recommended reading list 

The Purposes of Formatting

• Why script formatting is the way that it is

• How a script is a collaborative document

• What your formatting tells executives about your writing 

• The key rule that allows you to break the rest of the rules

An Overview of Standard Formatting

• Slug lines 

• When to use all caps in the stage directions

• Using camera direction 

• Cut to and transitions 

• Montages

• Flashbacks

• Dream sequences

• VO vs OS

• Parentheticals 

• Single cam vs. multi cam formatting

• Formatting for animation 

How to Use Formatting for Impact

• What is read speed and why it’s important

• Description and detail - how to get more with less

• Writing stage directions for emotional impact 

• How to bring voice into a scene 

• How to write character descriptions that pop

• The difference between showing and telling 

• How to break the rules effectively 

Analysis of Examples

• Breakdown of scripts with great formatting and why they work

• Breakdown of scripts with terrible formatting and how it can be fixed 

Q&A with Heidi