Load the Template
1) Click on File > New from Template and choose Sitcom I or II from the Blank Templates folder.
2) You should now be looking at a blank document.
Adding a Teaser, Cold Opening, Prologue or starting the first act
Since you don't want an Act/Scene Break before the Teaser (or first Act), you could type in one of the following aliases: "teaser", "cold opening", "prologue" or "newact" to have the program format it automatically.
1. |
Add a Teaser by typing "teaser" on the first blank line. Screenwriter should format it for you in the middle of the page. |
2. |
Press Enter and type "d" to put in FADE IN: from the pop-up list. Screenwriter will automatically format it in ALL CAPS and bring up the pop-up list for a Scene Heading. |
Typing a scene
1. |
Type "i" for INT. |
2. |
For the Location, type in "manhattan highrise". |
3. |
Press RETURN and Screenwriter will pop-up the list for Times-of-Day. |
4. |
Press "d" for DAY. |
5. |
Type in the following lines of Action, making sure to underline (Ctrl+U) Tina's introduction: "Tina sits on the edge of the couch playing solitaire Jenga. A shaky tower of pieces wobbles on the coffee table." |
6. |
Press RETURN to go to a new blank line of Action. Screenwriter double spaces for you. |
7. |
Type in the following lines of Action, making sure to underline Amir's entrance: "Amir bursts through the front door. He is all smiles." |
8. |
Press the Tab key and type the character name "tina". Screenwriter automatically puts it in ALL CAPS and at the correct margin. |
9. |
Press the RETURN key. Screenwriter automatically takes you to Dialogue. |
10. |
Type in the dialogue: "Don't move! I've been working on this all day... " Screenwriter automatically makes the dialogue double spaced with the correct margins. |
11. |
Add a Parenthetical to put in some instructions for the actor. Click right before the sentence "I've been working on this all day..." |
12. |
Press Shift+9 (open parentheses) on the keyboard to insert a Parenthetical element. |
13. |
Type in "shushes him with her hand". The text following the parentheses will be in ALL CAPS (this is correct for now). |
14. |
Press Shift+0 (closed parentheses) on the keyboard to close the Parenthetical. Now, only the text within the parentheses is in ALL CAPS. |
Ending a scene/Starting a new act
Let's end this scene to start a new one in ACT ONE.
1. |
Type "fade out". Screenwriter automatically makes that a Transition (flush right, ALL CAPS) and brings up the Scene Heading pop-up list. |
2. |
Type "a" to select "End of Act". Screenwriter automatically does the following: |
• |
· Enters "END OF TEASER" and centers it |
• |
· Puts in an Act/Scene Break (forced page break). |
• |
· Puts in Act Break and Scene Label (ACT ONE / A). |
When entering the last 'End of Act' (act three) the program will put 'End of Show' instead. You can change 'SHOW' to 'EPISODE' (or something else) under Format > Edit User Lists > End of Act text.
