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Basic Screenplay Format

Go from knowing nothing to writing something in minutes.

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Do Not Let Format Hold You Back

It's not as complicated as you think. Others will try to convince you it's some kind of mysterious formula that only a few understand. Don't let them. It's all actually quite simple, and with just a little bit of practice, you'll be writing scenes with the best of them. This mini-course will take you step by step through the whole process so you can get to the much more exciting stuff about screenwriting, like telling that story you've always wanted to tell. 

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Your Instructor: Tom Vaughan

I started writing professionally twenty-five years ago. I've had eight movies made and two more in production this year. I am proud of all the ups and downs of my career, but if you really want to understand a subject, I recommend teaching it.

I have been teaching for 20 years now. It forced me to communicate the why behind so many of the decisions I made as a screenwriter. In doing so, these decisions became tools, accessible whenever I needed them.

As I became a better teacher, I became a better writer. As I became a better writer, I became a better teacher.
When I struggle with any of my own projects, these are the principles I fall back on.

Because of my teaching, I finally have what I lacked early in my career: a tangible and repeatable process to maximize the full potential of a story idea and tell the story I am trying to tell to the best of my abilities.

That's what these classes are about. And Go Coogs!

The 3 Primary Elements

Sure, we'll talk about margins. But that's the easy stuff. Most importantly, we'll discuss what's mandatory and what is optionable. What is required to look and feel like a screenplay, and what can be a stylistic choice. After all, this isn't engineering. This is screenwriting.



The Often Misused

The mini-course will cover some of the most often misused tools of screenwriting. We'll illustrate the proper use of these invaluable terms to give you plenty of options when you start putting scenes on the page. You'll be formating with the confidence of an old pro in no time. Because you've been taught by one.

Books and Apps

The right screenwriting software will make your life so much easier. The wrong software just adds another distraction you don't need. We'll talk about which app works best for each budget. For those that like a handy reference book, we'll point you to the only book you'll ever need on screenwriting format.


The Basic Format Course Curriculum

Video Lessons

  • Welcome to Basic Screenplay Format
  • Lesson 1 - History of Screenplay Format
  • Lesson 2 - The Non-Negotiables
  • Lesson 3 - The 3 Primary Elements
  • Lesson 4 - Professional Examples
  • Lesson 5 - The Often Misused
  • BONUS: My own pages.
  • Lesson 6 - Books and Software
  • Closing Thoughts
  • Optional Assignment