Screenplay basics
How to read a screenplay. What each line does, what INT., EXT., EST. and I/E mean in a scene heading, and the common abbreviations.
A screenplay follows a fixed layout, so everyone on a production reads it the same way. Morphic does the formatting; this page explains what each part means.
A scene, line by line
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY <- Scene heading
The morning rush. MAYA (20s) waits <- Action
in line, checking her phone.
MAYA <- Character
(to the barista) <- Parenthetical
One coffee, please. To go. <- Dialogue
CLOSE ON HER PHONE <- Shot
CUT TO: <- TransitionScene headings
A scene heading starts with a code, then the place, then a dash and the time.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| INT. | Interior: the scene is inside |
| EXT. | Exterior: the scene is outside |
| I/E | Moves between inside and outside, such as a moving car |
| EST. | Establishing shot: a wide view that shows where we are |
The time is usually DAY or NIGHT. CONTINUOUS means the scene follows straight on from the last one; LATER means the same place, some time on.
Abbreviations
| You see | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (V.O.) after a name | Voice-over: heard but not spoken in the scene, such as narration |
| (O.S.) after a name | Off-screen: the character is in the scene but out of shot |
| (CONT'D) after a name | The same character keeps talking after an action line |
| (MORE) | The speech carries on to the next page |
| (beat) | A short pause in the dialogue |
| FADE IN: / FADE OUT. | The start and end of the film or episode |
| CUT TO: | A straight cut to the next scene |
| ANGLE ON, CLOSE ON | A shot: points the camera at one thing |
The PDF export adds (MORE) and (CONT'D) at page breaks, so you don't type those.
Rules of thumb
- Write only what the camera sees and hears, in the present tense
- Put a name in capitals the first time a character appears, with their age if it matters: MAYA (20s)
- Keep each action paragraph to three or four lines
- One page is about one minute of screen time
Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Screenplay format | The standard layout for scripts: a typewriter font, each line type in a fixed place, about one page per minute of screen time |
| Scene number | Each scene's number, used to plan the shoot |
| Title page | The cover page: title, writer, draft date and contact |
| Fountain (.fountain) | A screenplay saved as plain text. Simple rules mark each line, such as INT. for a heading or a name in capitals for a character, so any text editor can open it and screenplay apps show it fully formatted |
| Final Draft (.fdx) | The file format of Final Draft, the screenplay app most film and TV productions use |
That's how a screenplay reads. To start one on Morphic, see Write a screenplay.
If you have any trouble or have any questions, feel free to reach out. We're happy to help. Write to us at support@morphic.com.