Format screenplays to industry standard using Fountain markup for professional presentation
Format screenplays to industry standard specifications. Proper formatting demonstrates professionalism and ensures your script is taken seriously. One page equals approximately one minute of screen time.
Fountain is a plain text markup syntax for screenplays that exports to industry-standard PDF.
Title:
THE EXAMPLE SCREENPLAY
Credit: Written by
Author: Your Name
Draft date: January 2026
Contact:
[email protected]
123-456-7890
====
FADE IN:
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Description of the scene and setting goes here.
CHARACTER NAME
Dialogue goes here.
FADE OUT.
THE END
INT. LOCATION - TIME
EXT. LOCATION - TIME
INT./EXT. LOCATION - TIME
Components:
INT. (interior) or EXT. (exterior)Examples:
INT. JOHN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
EXT. CENTRAL PARK - CONTINUOUS
INT./EXT. MOVING CAR - DAY
Present tense. Active voice. Only what we see and hear.
Keep paragraphs short. Three to four lines maximum.
White space creates pace and readability.
Rules:
CHARACTER NAME
Dialogue here.
CHARACTER NAME (V.O.)
Voice over dialogue.
CHARACTER NAME (O.S.)
Off-screen dialogue.
CHARACTER NAME (CONT'D)
Continued from previous block.
CHARACTER
Regular dialogue goes here.
CHARACTER
(parenthetical)
Dialogue with direction.
CHARACTER
(beat)
Indicates a pause.
Parentheticals:
(sarcastically)(to John)(standing)CUT TO:
SMASH CUT TO:
DISSOLVE TO:
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
FADE OUT.
Note: Most scene changes are implied cuts. Use transitions sparingly.
> INTERCUT - LOCATION A/LOCATION B
FLASHBACK:
END FLASHBACK.
MONTAGE:
A) First image
B) Second image
C) Third image
END MONTAGE.
SUPER: "Three years later"
SERIES OF SHOTS:
A) Description
B) Description
END SERIES OF SHOTS.
Top margin: 1 inch
Bottom margin: 0.5-1 inch
Left margin: 1.5 inches
Right margin: 1 inch
Action: Left margin at 1.5"
Character: 3.5" from left
Parenthetical: 3" from left
Dialogue: 2.5" from left, 2" wide
Transitions: Right aligned
Font: Courier 12pt
Line spacing: Single
Between elements: Single blank line
Page numbers top right
First page has no number
"1." or just "1" formats acceptable
END OF ACT ONE* in margin)❌ We see John walk in (don't say "we see")
❌ JOHN walks in angrily (use action, not adverb)
❌ CAMERA PANS to reveal... (no camera directions)
❌ John thinks about his childhood (can't film thoughts)
❌ John (35, handsome, like Brad Pitt) (too specific casting)
✓ John enters, shoulders slumped.
✓ JOHN, 30s, weary eyes that have seen too much.
✓ A photograph on the desk catches his attention.
✓ He picks it up. His jaw tightens.
# Scene Heading forces a scene heading
.FORCED ACTION LINE (note the period)
@Character Name (forces character)
~Lyrics in dialogue
/*
Block comment
*/
[[ Note to self or reader ]]
= Section heading (for organization)
== Second level heading
Title: YOUR TITLE HERE
Credit: Written by
Author: Your Name
Source: Based on the novel by Author Name
Draft date: January 27, 2026
Contact:
Your Name
[email protected]
(555) 123-4567
Agent Name, Agency
Copyright: (c) 2026 Your Name
====