How to Format a Script

For many actors, writing and acting go hand-in-hand. In fact, we’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of actors wanting to use their own scripts when filming scenes with us. It can be daunting to approach writing a script when you have no previous experience, so we’ve put together the basics!

The Basics

• Always use 12-point Courier font

• Use a 1.5 inch left margin

• Page number starts from page 2 of the screenplay

• Page 1 often starts with “FADE IN:” rather than a page number

• Scene headings give us context about the scene;
  - Interior or Exterior (INT/EXT)
  - Location
  - Time of day

• The action is a brief description of the what is happening in the scene

• Character names are in all caps and roughly 3.5 inches from left of the page

• Dialogue starts roughly 2.5 inches from left of the page

• Use a parenthetical to give extra information about the dialogue, but use sparingly
  You don’t want to be overly controlling with performance direction - allow the actor to use their own judgement and creativity!

• Transitions such as “CUT TO:” are an editing note, used to demonstrate the transitions between scenes

• These are sometimes only seen in a post-production script alongside other notes such as;
  - Camera movements (pan down/close up/etc.)
  - Intercut (two scenes cut together, e.g. for phone calls)

Now you’re ready to write! Keep tuned for writing prompts and more tips and tricks.
Don't forget, we offer bespoke and affordable showreel scenes for actors in Manchester and the North West!

Writing a Showreel Scene: The Basics

When creating a showreel scene, you always want to ensure that you’re staying on the right side of copyright law.

In short - don’t use a scene you’ve found in an existing TV show or film! Not only is that a sure-fire way to shout “this is a showreel scene, not something I was actually cast in or a role I actually played”, but it’s also not ideal when it comes to respecting both the law and the creativity/intellectual property of the original writers.

Luckily - we offer both a bespoke script-writing service, as well as the opportunity to use scripts that you have written yourself. So, for top tips when writing your own scenes, just keep reading!

1. Location

It’s all well and good writing a scene set on the moon, but unless you have access to a spaceship (or a REALLY convincing set) - maybe think twice! Nothing spoils an otherwise brilliant scene like bad set design, so think simple. What do you have access to?

A bar? A stable? A student flat?

Start there - then create a scenario that fits within the space. It’s all too easy to get carried away when writing a scene, but as much as you want your reel to have the “wow” factor, make sure that you’re properly considering the very real limitations you may face due to access, budget, etc.

A well-considered and realistic scene in a living room is 10x better than a cheap, makeshift attempt at something more outlandish.

2. Your Scene Partner

Before writing your scene, consider the actor that you will be working opposite. It is best to know who your partner will be before writing your scene, rather than trying to cast a role that has already been created.

Sit down together and consider the roles you’d each like to portray, then workshop scenarios where each of those characters could plausibly interact. When writing specifically for a showreel, it’s also worth considering the relationship and the balance of power seen between the characters. This goes back to your casting bracket, as well as the casting bracket as your partner. Make sure that you’re writing a scene/placing your characters within a scenario that allows each of you to shine in a role that you could realistically audition for/be cast in.

3. Your Current Reel

What is missing from your reel? Is it still up-to-date and working for you within your current casting type?

Consider the types of roles you could be auditioning for right now - your showreel is not the place to be aspirational. You want to give yourself the best chance to secure the role - don’t fill your reel with scenes that make no sense for you as an actor.

Consider your diversity as an actor - remember, working within your casting bracket is not the same as limiting yourself to one genre!

If your reel is filled with scenes within one genre, consider the roles you’re seeing in other genres that you would be suitable for and mould your reel to fit.

3. The Big Picture

A showreel scene is designed to feel like it has been taken from a larger project, so work from the outside-in!

You don’t have to plan a whole movie, but consider the wider background of the scene you’re writing. If you were choosing the best scene from an entire project - what might that look like? What could the stakes be? Why would you have chosen that scene as a showcase of your best work?

Write the best scene - and know exactly what that looks like for you as an actor. Also, don’t give too much context - just enough the establish the relationship and the stakes of the scene.

Don't forget, we offer bespoke and affordable showreel scenes for actors in Manchester and the North West!

What is a Casting Type?

A casting type is a combination of traits that help to define the types of roles you are most naturally suited to. Working within your casting bracket ensures that you are giving yourself the biggest chance of success with booking jobs and securing auditions, and keeps you focussed as you build a solid foundation for a long-lasting career in the acting industry.

1. Your Playing Age

This isn't necessarily the age you actually are - it is the age bracket you can realistically portray on camera. A good place to start is to add and subtract a couple of years from your actual age - so, if you're 20, your playing age might be 17-23. Remember, this isn't set in stone. From there you must assess yourself honestly - ensuring you take into account not just your physical appearance but the energy you bring, the way you carry yourself, etc. This will help you to hone in on the ages that you feel you could genuinely portray. This age bracket will change as you age, and it isn't uncommon to find yourself ageing in and out of roles as your career progresses.

2. Your Appearance

Your physical appearance; Are you physically imposing, or small and unassuming? Are you “conventionally attractive”, or do you have more unique features? Your physically appearance will have an impact on the roles you are most suited for. But remember - this is a casting type, not a typecast! Your appearance alone doesn't define the roles you will book, nor does it exclude you from roles that will help you to build a strong and enduring career. It shouldn't be the main deciding factor when it comes to how you choose to approach your performance - but it can give you a good place to start when it comes to understanding the roles you are likely to be seen for.

3. Your Personality

Who are you as a person? Acting is often seen as the ability to transform yourself into a completely different person - and there is certainly truth in that thought. However, leaning into your dominant personality traits will allow you to portray certain characters more easily and naturally. That's not to say you can't portray characters who have a different personality than yourself - but it does just help you to find common ground with the characters and the roles you are either auditioning for or cast in, and ensures a truthful performance even when the characters themselves are very different than you.

3. Your Voice

What is the natural quality of your voice? Is it deep, strong and assured? Soft, nasal or quiet? You must also consider your accent - what is your natural accent? What other accents can you accurately utilise? All of these vocal qualities are important in defining the roles and the characters you will naturally align with.

Don't forget, we offer bespoke and affordable showreel scenes for actors in Manchester and the North West!

Why is it Important to Have a Strong Vision for Your Showreel Scene?

There are so many reasons why it is so important that you have a strong vision for your showreel scene. Having a strong vision means having a specific objective for the outcome of your scene - including why you have decided to create this particular scene, and why you feel the need to portray this character in this situation.

Below are just a few reasons why it's so important that you truly understand the vision and the goals for your scene.

1. A Strong Vision Ensures That You Don't Get Lost in the Noise

There can be a lot going on in a showreel scene - your performance, your partner's performance, the location, the props, the costumes, the sound effects. The list goes on!

Understanding exactly what outcome you are looking for, before you begin filming, ensures that you take centre stage during your time on screen.

If you have gone into the process with the hopes of just filming something that looks good for your showreel, then you won't be getting the full benefit of your experience.

Don't allow yourself to disappear into the scenery! Planning your scenes goes beyond just learning your lines. Consider things like;

• Your costume. Is the pattern too loud? Does it suit the character, or is it distracting? Is it comfortable?

• Your props. Are you familiar with them, or are you fumbling with them and ruining your focus?

• Your location. Is it quiet? Do you know your way around? Are you aware of any interruptions you may encounter?

• Your scene partner. Have you gotten to know each other? Have you discussed the scene, your priorities for the scene and your characters' motivations? Have you discussed the vision for the scene ahead of time?

Just a little planning and understanding of the “big picture” of your scene can ensure things run much more smoothly on the day - don't let your performance suffer because your pants are itchy and don't match the vibe of your character, you can't figure out how to use the props, there's a concert taking place next door that you didn't know about and your scene partner has a vastly different vision than you do!

Which leads us to…

2. A Strong Vision Keeps Your Performance Front and Centre

The most important thing in your scene is your performance.

Yes, amazing costumes, props, locations and having a visually strong piece are all great - but it's not what casting directors or agents are looking at. They want to see you. What are you bringing to the scene and the character? Is your personality shining through? Are you being truthful in your performance?

If you've followed all of the tips from above, you should be ready to give it your all in your performance. This allows you and your scene partner to really hone in on each other, and work together to create the strongest performance possible.

Having a strong vision for your scene means understanding exactly what performance you are wanting to add to your showreel. Don't add more of the same - you need to think about what is missing from your reel and go from there (within reason - don't go rogue and add something that isn't suitable for you!)

Which brings us to…

3. A Strong Vision Ensures That you are Working Within Your Casting Bracket

A showreel scene has a very specific purpose - you are using it as a tool to, ultimately, land you more roles in the acting industry. This means your reel needs to show you in roles that you could realistically be cast in.

It's very tempting to see a cool scene in a film, or have a favourite character in a TV show, and want to create a scene that replicates it. We get it - filming scenes and working on your skills is fun, but your showreel should be as to-the-point and as carefully curated as possible.

This is similar to a trap that many actors fall into - showing off the work, not themselves. Just because a scene has come from a short film that won lots of awards, or has some really cool special effects, or even stars someone famous as your scene partner doesn't mean it necessarily belongs on your showreel.

The scenes you choose for your reel must have you as the focus, must feature a strong performance and must, most importantly, be realistic for your casting bracket. If you're fresh out of university - don't portray a hardened detective or an astronaut. Ask yourself - would I feel comfortable and confident auditioning for this role if it were being cast? If the answer is no, it doesn't belong on your showreel.

Don't forget, we offer bespoke and affordable showreel scenes for actors in Manchester and the North West!

What Should you Consider When Creating a Showreel Scene?

What should you consider when creating a showreel scene? Well, many things! But here are just a few:

1. Where is this scene going to fit in your showreel as a whole?

Consider where this scene fits amongst your showreel as a whole. Remember - your showreel is like your CV, and it should only showcase the very best of you. You don't want your reel to feel monotonous, so try to have some variety in the snippets you have chosen to feature. If you have lots of similar scenes on your reel, try to shake it up!

2. What is the power dynamic in the scene?

The power dynamic of the scene is important - who is in charge here? What is their motivation? What is the relationship between the characters? Consider the light you are showing yourself in, and whether the character you are portraying and the dynamic between the characters is appropriate for the energy you naturally bring.

If you're a naturally front-footed person, bring that energy to the scene and the character. Remember, a showreel needs to show the very best of you and needs to be truthful to who you are as a person as well as an actor. You can still show diversity here, and that's a fine line to balance.

You can still play a role in which the character is acting submissive, even if you are naturally a dominant person, but just ask yourself - if I had to be submissive, how would I act? What scenario could I find myself in, and with what type of person, that would cause me to behave this way? How would I feel about behaving this way? Bring that energy to your scene - don’t just mimic similar characters!

3. Are you working within your casting bracket?

Working within your casting bracket is crucial. A showreel isn't the place to be aspirational, it's for showing exactly who you are as a performer right now. As you grow and evolve as an actor, so can your reel - but right now your scenes need to be accurate to the auditions and the roles you could realistically find yourself landing.

4. Why this scene? Why now?

What has made you decide to include this specific scene or character portrayal in your reel? Are you noticing a lot of castings at the moment that you would be perfect for? Have you changed up your appearance, or aged out of the scenes you have currently? Has your energy shifted as you have matured, and you no longer feel your previous scenes reflect you in a truthful way?

Your motivation for creating this specific scene will influence the scene itself, and will help you to be as grounded and aware as possible in your performances.

5. Cut to the chase!

It's a showreel scene, not a short film! We try to create scenes that feel well rounded, but always have a specific snippet that could be used in your reel.

You're only going to want to include the very best section of the scene in your reel (around 20 seconds of it!) so keep that in mind when in the idea-generation phase. Remember - the scene doesn't need to make sense as a stand-alone piece, it just needs to show you giving a strong and believable performance!