Format for Writing a Screenplay - What You Need to Know

What format for writing a screenplay is one of the major stumbling blocks of the budding writer. But it doesn't have to be, as there are numerous scriptwriting aids, downloadable information and examples available, in all aspects of screenplay writing. Why then, you may ask, are questions still being asked on the web. For example I found this writer asking...

"Help! I've been told that one must use a 12pt New Courier font with page margins of 1.5" on left side (for binding) and 1" on the right side, top and bottom. I'm confused, because when I read sample scripts, they invariably seem to be able to cram more lines and character spaces on a page. How?

I agree that your script should be presented in the format the industry expects. It not only makes you look more professional, with the Final Draft being more pleasing to the eye, but more importantly YOUR HARD WORK will be less likely to be thrown out.

Your content and story maybe the next blockbuster, but without that presentation you will fall at the first hurdle.

Five Amazing Chick Flicks

Women love them, men fear them, and Hollywood keeps on making them better and better. Chick flicks are those sappy movies that are best watched with a glass of wine and a box of tissues. Most women have seen the classic chick flicks that include "Dirty Dancing," "Pretty Woman," and "Ghost," but many others are just as amazing although not as well known.

John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale star in "Serendipity," a story about destiny and true love. Jonathan Trager (Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Beckinsale) meet by chance while doing some shopping and feel an instant attraction to each other. Although both of them are engaged to other people, they grab a bite to eat at a small café called Serendipity 3. Deciding that fate is at work, Sara writes down her name and phone number on the inside of a book and then sells it to a used book vendor. She tells Jonathan that if being together is their destiny, he will eventually come across that book and will be able to contact her.

Because it is a true chick flick, the two do find each other again under the stars in a light snowfall at the skating rink in New York's Central Park. The bulk of the film details the twists, turns, and misunderstandings that lead to that point. At various times, the viewer will wonder whether the two will lose each other forever or simply find each other too late.

Viewers should have two boxes of tissues near them when watching "Message in a Bottle," as Robin Wright Penn, Kevin Costner, and Paul Newman will keep them teary-eyed throughout most of the movie. This is a story about true love and gut-wrenching loss. Wright plays the role of Theresa Osborne, a city-dwelling researcher for "The Chicago Tribune" who finds a love letter in a bottle that washed up onshore. She tracks down the letter's author, a seafaring North Carolina native, Garrett Blake (Costner), who hasn't yet come to grips with the death of his wife, Catherine. His father, Dodge (Newman), lives nearby.

Great Movies for Guys to Enjoy Over and Over

A number of movies are made specifically for girls' nights. They usually follow a basic formula, and they star a few famous women and a handful of handsome men. When they end, you can typically be assured that everything will work out well for the lead characters and everyone will live happily ever after.

While a large number of men have watched these movies, they can rest assured that Hollywood is still making movies specifically for men. From mobsters and contract killers to racecars and outer-space adventures, plenty of great guy flicks promise to take viewers away from the real world for a few hours on any given afternoon.

One of the best movies for men is 1994's "Pulp Fiction," which was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Some fans of the movie who had seen his previous work, "Reservoir Dogs," were already familiar with his nonlinear storytelling style. Those who witnessed his wizardry for the first time felt themselves caught up in a film like never before. "Pulp Fiction" tells the story of two California hit men and the intertwining tales of other lives they touch over a few strange days. From a guy's point of view, this movie has an abundance of male camaraderie, prolific use of colorful language, and a ridiculous amount of gunplay and gore. While many women love the movie, this film is ideal for guys to enjoy time and time again.

In 1999, David Fincher introduced a testosterone-fueled film called "Fight Club." Starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt as two men who start an underground fighting ring, this film is full of explosions, blood, and violence. At the start of the film, the protagonists are simply trying to find a way for men to get in touch with their baser instincts in order to truly appreciate their lives. Brutal fistfights are cleverly interspersed with humorous situations, a combination that male audiences can easily appreciate. "Fight Club" is another film that was viewed in theaters by men and women alike, but it is replayed on networks for men, such as FX and Spike.

Those looking for an enjoyable trip to the movies are likely to enjoy "Rush," which hit theaters on September 27, 2013. Every eighteen months or so, director Ron Howard treats audiences to a film that is big on energy and excitement, and this year's offering is no different. "Rush" tells the amazing story of Formula One racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda before and after the 1976 German Grand Prix. In a sport with virtually no room for mistakes, both drivers pushed their bodies and their machines to the limit in the quest for that year's championship. Lauda almost lost his life in a horrific crash that year, and he had to overcome third-degree burns on his face and head in an attempt to finish the season. Howard does an exceptional job showing the speed and danger the two drivers faced in one of the best racing movies-and best guy movies-of all time.