Here is part 3 in our ongoing series to help you format your spec script. While fellowship season is also quarantine season, we will try to post a few examples once a week of how some popular shows approach format.

Our plan is to cover as many shows as possible. We’re working through the Warner Brothers Television Workshop’s List of Accepted Shows for 2020. If we haven’t covered the show you’re spec-ing, or you have additional, more targeted questions, please send us an e-mail at library@wgfoundation.org.

While we cannot send you scripts in their entirety (We are not the copyright owners and do not have the right to distribute scripts beyond the physical library), we can dig through the scripts and try to get you the info you need. Also, where possible, we’ll try to link to where award-nominated scripts and early drafts of pilots are available online.

BOB’S BURGERS (FOX)

Average page count: roughly 60

Average scene count: 30

Broken into acts? Yes, 4. (Each act is around 11-17 pages)

Other things to consider:

Act breaks are formatted like ACT THREE (or whatever act it is) centered, bolded and underlined at the top of the page, then at the end of the act there's usually a FADE OUT. bolded on the right side followed by END OF ACT THREE centered, bolded and underlined.
Dialogue is all double spaced, just like a multi-cam sitcom. (And don't worry about numbering it like you see in some of these examples).
Scene headings are bolded and there's no extra spacing between dialogue and description. Notice that occasionally in the scene heads, they write in establishing shots.

Sometimes there's an end credits sequence or a song. We didn't notice any special formatting for those scenes, but occasionally a script will include song lyrics appended at the end.

DEAD TO ME (Netflix)

Average page count: 30-33

Average scene count: 19-25

Broken into acts? No

Other things to consider:

The key to remember with Dead to Me is SIMPLICITY. It's a short page count and there really aren't that many scenes because it's a lot of dialogue-centric, heart-to-heart scenes and not all that many locations. Like most great scripts, there's a lot of white space because there's not a lot of description. It's mostly dialogue.
There isn't a "teaser" so to speak, but on page 2-3 (usually after the first scene), the writers include TITLE: DEAD TO ME in bold on the left side of the page.

The opening of each episode isn't formatted in any specific way. It's much like reading the beginning of a feature screenplay.
We’re also including a screenshot of a last page, so you can see how an episode ending is formatted.

POWER (STARZ)

Average page count: 56

Average scene count: 58

Broken into acts? No.

Other things to consider:

Scene headings are in bold and underlined.

Dialogue in Spanish is written in bold.

Read an early draft of the Power pilot here.

THE ROOKIE (ABC)

Average script page count: 53

Average scene count: 56

Broken into acts? Yes, 6. (Average act length 7-10 pages)

Other things to consider:

Scene headings are underlined.
Act breaks are formatted like ACT THREE (or whatever act it is) centered and underlined at the top of the page, then when it’s over: END OF ACT THREE, centered and underlined.
After the first scene, the writers insert a title card on the right, e.g — TITLE CARD: THE ROOKIE.

Scripts also tend to hold on characters’ reactions at the end of scenes and acts.

Read an early draft of The Rookie pilot here.

RUSSIAN DOLL (Netflix)

Average page count: 31

Average scene count: 40

Broken into acts? No

Other things to consider:

Due to the surreal nature of the content, sometimes the writers take more than 3-5 lines in their description paragraphs to really ensure we SEE what’s going on. They’ll also include explanations of certain concepts and characters feelings.

When a character resets, the writers often specify what time it is.

Episodes end simply with “END OF EPISODE.” in all capital letters on the ride side of the page.

Read Emmy-nominated episodes of Russian Doll here.

YOUNGER (TV Land)

Average page count: 29

Average scene count: 26-31

Broken into acts? Yes, 4. (Average act length is 8 pages or so)

Other things to consider:

Acts are formatted with roman numerals, e.g. - ACT I, ACT II. When acts begin, ACT III is centered, bolded and underlined in the center of the page. When acts end, it’s END ACT III (also centered, bolded and underlined).

Snappy, fun dialogue, throughout, but also plenty of dramatic moments to match, particularly at act conclusions. The show also has nice tidbits of information about the publishing industry.
Scripts are written pretty standardly. The only unique formatting seems to be the texting in the show.

Stay tuned for more formatting advice on additional shows next week!