What is the font size for screenplays?

Question

I am writing a lot of screen plays but I'm beginning to wonder what should be the font size for them? I've read several official screenplays and the font size tends to differ.. yet the size of the font will play a role in the amount of pages the script is. The page amount (by default) to go for is 150 pages for a feature length film.

What is the best (best recommended or required) font size for screenplays?

Answer 1

12 point Courier or Courier New

If the font size differs, the script may be a copy that someone made into a PDF and sent by email, then was printed out, because this will change the size sometimes if it isn't set up correctly.

You also must have the proper 4 margins because each page should correlate to approximately one minute of screen time, so format is important. Your screenwriting software should have a way to make sure you have the correct margins or to adjust the number of lines on a page. 120 page script = 120 minute (2 hour) film  This is, of course, a very general guideline to go by, it depends on how much action, dialogue, etc is on the page. But it's a helpful guideline when you first start writing.

Eek! 150 pages? Not if you want the reader to like you! Here is a general idea of how long scripts should usually be:

Drama: 110-120

Action / Action-Adventure: 95-115

Romantic Comedy / Comedy: 90-110

Horror / Thriller: 90-110

Some experienced writers actually mis-number (53, 54, 54, 55) their pages in the middle if they are close to 120, because that's the first place a reader looks, the last page. If they see 150, that's the last page they'll look at. There are exceptions to script length, but not unless you're someone who has already sold a lot of scripts.

Here is a website about script format:

http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/format.htm...

FYI in LA in November is the big screenwriting convention. It's worth attending - http://www.screenwritingexpo.com/index.h...

Good luck!

Answer 2

its size 12 font. Courier New font style.  Always.

If it isn't in that font style they'll throw it away.