Hi,
I just signed up and I've posted several pages of a script I've been rewriting. One of the questions I have is that I seen various script formatting online. What is the rule for capitalizing? I know actions and character name are in caps, but what else?
I wouldn't put actions in caps too often, only for serious emphasis. Character names are capped the first time they appear in the narrativer. A lot of people cap sounds, but IMO it's not required. The key thing is to produce an easy to read script. There is a fair amount of leeway format-wise.
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I would suggest obtaining and studying a copy of The Screenwriters Bible which is the most definitive guide to the script formatting rules. Otherwise, I'd start using screen-writing software (some are free) which would mostly take care formatting so that you can concentrate on your writing.
John. Anthony is right. You are doing a lot of things wrong and the screenwriter bible is a greats source. If you are a good animator maybe you can help me with a trailer for one of my animation projects and I can help you write a professional looking screenplay. If you are interested let me know.
I just had a look. Yeah, you're capping too much. Also you should proof your work before posting. I know it's only a sample three pages but your typos and editing mistakes make a real impact and avoid repetition in your work, one of your action lines tells us the same thing that the preceding parenthetical tells us.
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The simple rule is caps only for CHARACTER intro and non-human SOUNDS, the latter as cues for foley and SFX artists.
I do it like A.S. said but I will all cap sounds if I know they will be added to the film after the scene had already been shot. As far a spec screenplay goes that wouldn't matter.