Elements of the Sitcom by Mr Cunha with
Elements of the Sitcom by Mr. Cunha with help from screenstyle. com
The Cover n n n Name of the show Episode title Writer(s) 30 Rock “Hardball” by…
Fade In/Fade Out Used to open and close the script n All caps and underlined n FADE IN left justified n FADE OUT right justified FADE IN FADE OUT n
CUT TO/DISSOLVE TO n n Used at end of each scene CUT TO – small passage of time or parallel occurring event or scene DISSOLVE TO – longer passage of time between scenes Left justify in all caps and underlined CUT TO: DISSOLVE TO:
Scene Numbering n n n Numbered using capital letters Centered Underlined ACT ONE SCENE A
Slugline n n n A. K. A. “scene heading” or “scene caption” Explain where, time of day Capitalized and underlined INT. TRACY JORDAN’S DRESSING ROOM, DAY
Scene Action n n All caps, single-spaced List the characters Place in parentheses What are they doing as scene begins? (TRACY AND HIS ENTOURAGE, GRIZZ AND DOT. COM ARE HANGING OUT PLAYING VIDEO GAMES. )
Character Intros/Camera Instructions All caps n Underlined n Entrances left justified, exits right justified n Examples: KENNETH ENTERS n CLOSE UP ON TRACY KENNETH LEAVES
Character Names/Dialogue n n Character names are in all caps and centered Dialogue is tabbed twice and double-spaced TRACY I love that cornbread so much, I want to take it out behind the middle school and get it pregnant.
Personal Direction n Appears within dialogue All caps Enclosed in parentheses KENNETH (AMUSED) Mr. Jordan, (HANDS TRACY THE CORNBREAD) pregnant cornbread!
Power of Three n n Cause and effect order A causes B causes C Builds suspense (in a drama) Involves the complications in a sitcom
Scriptwriting Rules n Limit stage directions n Avoid parentheticals n Avoid long speeches or monologues
Now get writing!
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