SPECIAL PAGES

Special script pages include title pages, cast pages, sets pages, first pages, last pages and pages containing act breaks.

Samples of many of these pages can be found in Appendix C.

Title pages

Every script needs a title page. The type of script will determine what information the title page should contain.

For a screenplay or teleplay written on spec (that is speculatively, not on assignment or under contract to a studio or producer), the title page should contain, at minimum, three pieces of information: 1) the title; 2) the name of the writer; and 3) contact information.

For a screenplay or teleplay written under contract to a studio or producer, the title page should contain 1) the title; 2) the name of the writer; 3) contact information, in this case the name of the studio or producer; and 4) the draft and date. It may also contain 5) a copyright notice.

1.    Title

2.    Name(s) and credit of the writer(s)

3.    Contact information

4.    Draft and date

5.    Copyright notice

6.    When a script is based on other material or on a true story

Cast pages

A cast page is usually included in an episodic television script at the preproduction stage. Some made-for-television movie scripts also incorporate cast pages. Feature film scripts and spec scripts do not.

A cast page follows the title page and lists the cast arranged either in order of appearance or according to some set order of regular cast, followed by the guest cast in order of appearance. The character names are typed in all capital letters at the left margin, beneath the title and the heading “CAST”:

NINE LIVES

Cats Away

CAST

KITTY

JULIO MENDEZ

HILDE SCHMIDT

FELIX SIMPSON

LIEUTENANT MARTIN

For hour-long television and made-for-television movies, the list can wrap into a second column, if necessary.

Half-hour television scripts often include the names of the actors playing each role and a listing of any extras needed. The character name appears on the left side and the actor’s name appears on the right. The names are connected by a dot leader:

NINE LIVES

Cats Away

CAST

KITTY..........................................MARSHA WILLIAMS

JULIO MENDEZ.....................................ALEX GONZALEZ

HILDE SCHMIDT.................................ALISON PARMENTER

FELIX SIMPSON............................MICHAEL PAUL MILLIKAN

LIEUTENANT MARTIN................................ANTHONY BOGNA

PARKING LOT EXTRAS
POLICE HEADQUARTERS EXTRAS

Cast pages are not numbered.

Sets pages

A sets page, like a cast page, is usually included in an episodic television script at the preproduction stage. Some made-for-television movie scripts also incorporate sets pages. Feature film scripts and spec scripts do not.

For hour-long television and made-for-television movies, interior sets are listed in a column on the left side of the page and exterior sets are listed in a column on the right:

NINE LIVES

Cats Away

SETS

INTERIORS: EXTERIORS:
KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
STORM SEWERS
PARK
SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
DUMP

Sets are grouped logically. For example, if scenes take place in several different locations inside an elementary school, they get listed like this:

HAMMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

   Library

   Cafeteria

   Mrs. Timberlake’s

      Classroom

Sets pages are not numbered.

First pages

The first page of a script is unique in the following ways:

The first page of a script for a feature film or a made-for-television movie begins like this:

THE LONG SLIDE

FADE IN:

EXT. HIMALAYAS — HIGH ON WINDSWEPT PEAK

Snow and blinding sunshine.

The first page of an hour-long television episode begins like this:

NINE LIVES

Cats Away

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. PARK — DAY

KITTY sits high in the branches of a tree.

An example of the first page of a half-hour television script can be found in the section on Multicamera film format.

Last pages

The last page of a script concludes with the words “THE END” typed in all capital letters, underscored and centered. If space allows, leave five blank lines between the final transition (e.g. FADE OUT or CUT TO BLACK) and “THE END.” If space doesn’t allow the full five blank lines, leave at least one blank line.

Kitty climbs back into the tree and watches as the dilapidated school bus disappears into the night.

FADE OUT.

THE END

Act breaks

Scripts for episodic television shows and for many made-for-television movies contain act breaks, which represent the commercial breaks in the program. An hour-long television script usually consists of four acts. Half-hour scripts consist of either two or three acts. Two-hour movies typically consist of seven or eight acts. Some shows also include a teaser or prologue before the first act and/or an epilogue or tag after the last act.

A new act always begins at the top of a new page which includes a heading identifying the act in all capital letters, double-spaced beneath the page number, centered and underscored, followed by a transition double-spaced beneath it:

16.

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. DETECTIVE BULLPEN — NIGHT

Savage slams a case file down on his desk. He picks up the phone and punches in a number. He’s not happy.

The last page of an act ends with a transition (usually FADE OUT) double-spaced below the final script text, followed by the words “END OF ACT ONE” (or TWO or THREE, etc.) typed in all capital letters, underscored and centered. If space allows, leave five blank lines between the final transition (e.g. FADE OUT or CUT TO BLACK) and “END OF ACT ONE.” If space doesn’t allow the full five blank lines, leave at least one blank line.

Kitty races out the door in time to see McCloud wrestled aboard the bus. She pulls her gun and sprints for the BUS but it ROARS away, leaving her in a cloud of dust

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FIVE

The last page of the entire script ends with no reference to the number of the current act. Instead, it ends with the words, “THE END.” (See Last pages above.)