beginnerLesson 1 of 172 min read
How a Script Page Looks
All scripts follow the same page layout for one reason: one script page is about one minute of film. If everyone uses the same layout, anyone can guess a film's length just by counting pages.
- Font: Courier, size 12.
- Paper size: US Letter. A4 is also used in many countries.
- Margins (empty space at the edges): about 1.5 inches on the left and 1 inch on the other sides.
- Page numbers: top right corner. The cover page and page 1 have no number.
- Length:
- Feature film: 90–120 pages
- One-hour TV episode: 50–60 pages
- Half-hour TV episode: 25–35 pages
Each part of the script sits in a fixed place on the page:
| Part | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| Scene heading, action | Starts at the left margin |
| Dialogue | Pushed in from the left |
| Parenthetical | Pushed in a little more |
| Character name | Near the middle |
| Transition | On the right side |
You don't need to measure anything. Script software like MyLogline, Final Draft, or Fade In places everything for you. Your job is to pick the right part for each line.