Write and format a screenplay

You write in FilmKit the way you write in any screenplay app: you type, and the Return and Tab keys move you from one element to the next. FilmKit applies the margins and spacing of each element for you.

A screenplay is made of elements: Scene, Action, Character, Dialogue, Parenthetical, Transition, Shot, and General. The element type menu in the toolbar always shows the type of the element the cursor is in.

Write a scene heading

A scene heading has three parts: the interior or exterior, the place, and the time of day. A new screenplay starts with the cursor in a scene heading.

1. Type INT. or EXT., then press Space.
   The cursor moves to the place.
2. Type the place, then type a space and a hyphen ( -).
   The cursor moves to the time of day. A hyphen inside a word, as in SUB-BASEMENT, stays part of the place.
3. Type the time of day, such as NIGHT, then press Return.
   A new Action element starts below the heading, and the scene appears in the Scenes list of the side panel.

To start a scene heading from an Action line, type INT. or EXT. at the start of the line, then press Space. In a scene heading, press Tab or ⇧+Tab to move between its parts.

While you type a scene heading or a character name, a list of matches appears below the cursor: INT., EXT., I/E., and POV.; the project's places; times such as DAY, NIGHT, and CONTINUOUS; and the project's characters. Press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to highlight a match, then press Return or Tab to use it and move to the next part, or press Escape to close the list.

Write action and dialogue

The Return and Tab keys choose the next element for you:

• Return in a scene heading: Starts an Action element.
• Return in a Character cue: Starts the character's Dialogue.
• Return in a Parenthetical: Starts the Dialogue that follows it.
• Return in a Transition: Starts a new scene heading.
• Return at the end of Action, Dialogue, a Shot, or an empty line: Starts a new Action element.
• Tab in an Action element: Turns it into a Character cue. Press Tab again to turn it back into Action.
• Tab in Dialogue: Turns it into a Parenthetical. Press Tab again to turn it back into Dialogue.
• ( at the start of an empty Dialogue: Turns it into a Parenthetical. Typing ) takes you back to the Dialogue. FilmKit draws the parentheses for you.

A typical exchange goes like this: write the action, press Return, press Tab, type the character's name, press Return, then type the line.

To change any element to another type, click the element type menu in the toolbar, then choose the type. When a character speaks again after an interruption, FilmKit adds (CONT'D) to the cue automatically.

Format text

Select the text, then do any of the following:

• Bold, italic, or underline: Click , , or in the toolbar.
• Center a line: Choose Format > Center text, for example for THE END.
• Write two speeches side by side: Put the cursor in the second character's cue, then choose Format > Dual dialogue.
• Add a line break without a new element: Press ⇧+Return, for example in song lyrics.

Add details to cues, scenes, and shots

With the cursor in the right element, choose an option from the Format menu:

• Dialogue origin: In a Character cue, choose V.O., O.S., O.C., or FILTER, or On camera (none).
• Scene modifiers: In a scene, add FLASHBACK, INTERCUT, ESTABLISHING, DREAM SEQUENCE, or MONTAGE.
• Shot pre-vis: In a Shot element, choose a Perspective (2D or 3D) and a Field of view in degrees.

Insert a page break or a bookmark

• Page break: Put the cursor where the new page should start, then choose Insert > Page break.
• Bookmark: Put the cursor in an element, then choose Insert > Bookmark this element. To jump to a bookmark, choose View > Bookmarks, then choose the bookmark.

Find and replace text

You can find a word or phrase anywhere in the script, including scene headings, and replace it.

1. Choose Edit > Find (or press ⌘+F).
2. Enter the text you're looking for.
   Every match is highlighted, and the find bar shows which match is selected, for example 3 of 12. To narrow the search, click Match case or Whole word.
3. To move between matches, press Return or ⌘+G for the next match, and ⇧+Return or ⌘+⇧+G for the previous one.
4. To replace text, click the arrow at the left of the find bar (or choose Edit > Find and replace), enter the new text, then click Replace or Replace all.
   Replace all changes every match in one step, so one undo restores them all. In Suggest mode, each replacement becomes a suggestion that someone accepts or rejects. In View mode, you can find text but not replace it.
5. To close the find bar, press Esc.

Keyboard shortcuts

See also

• Change editor modes and view options
• Link script text to the catalog
• Keyboard shortcuts