Here’s the deal: While fellowship season corresponds with quarantine season, we’re breaking down formatting of library scripts to help you get the info you need for writing your spec. If we haven’t covered the show you’re spec-ing, or if you have additional, more targeted questions, please send us an e-mail at library@wgfoundation.org.
We can’t send you scripts in their entirety. We aren’t the copyright holders and we don’t have the right to distribute them beyond the physical library. We can, however, pore through the scripts and try to find you the information you need.
THE BOYS (AMAZON)
Average page count: 52
Average scene count: 53
Broken into acts? No
Other things to consider:
Each script opens with a “FADE IN…”
Scene headings are in bold.
Action sequences feature lots of CAPITALIZATION for visual emphasis.
Scripts typically end with a dramatic transition and “TO BE CONTINUED...” centered and underlined.
GOOD GIRLS (NBC)
Average page count: 50-55
Average scene count: 49-67
Broken into acts? Yes, 5
Other things to consider:
No specific teaser, but they do specify a title card in each episode. Sometimes it's on the right side; sometimes it's centered... but it always occurs before the end of act one.
The average act length is 8-11 pages. It seems like most of the time, the first act is a bit longer, clocking in at more like 15-16 pages.
Act headings are centered and underlined — the standard ACT ONE / END OF ACT ONE. (END OF EPISODE at the end.)
Significant action is underlined sometimes. Occasionally, significant visuals are CAPITALIZED.
Good Girls is unafraid to have blockier paragraphs of description. Overall, though, there's a lot of white space in each script, which means lots of unremitting dialogue.
THE GOOD PLACE (NBC)
Average page count: 29
Average scene count: 21-26
Broken into acts? Yes, 4. Scripts also include a 2-3 page cold open.
Other things to consider:
All scene headings are underlined.
Flashbacks are specified in the scene headings with FLASHBACK in bold.
Cold opens and act breaks begin at the top of a new page. Act labels are centered, bolded, underlined and in all-caps. Each act ends with “END OF ACT ONE” etc. (also centered, bolded and underlined). When the show ends on the last page, it’s “END OF EPISODE.”
The show features lots of things that require onscreen VFX: point counters, graphs, lots of cute stuff added in post. The script describes what the viewer is seeing but is not overly specific.
MANIFEST (NBC)
Average page count: 54
Average scene count: 50-55
Broken into acts? Yes, 5.
Other things to consider:
The average act length is 9-12 pages. Act headings are centered and underlined — the standard ACT ONE / END OF ACT ONE. (END OF EPISODE at the end.)
Scripts are written in a fairly standard, straightforward manner. However, the show uses flashbacks. Flashback sequences are italicized, plus they display how the show enters and exits flashback scenes. They also denote the year of the flashback in the scene heading.
The show goes back and forth between act outs that include twists, and act outs that have more of an emotional purpose, so doing a good mix of these in your spec is probably a good idea that could help you capture the show’s feel and style.
THE MORNING SHOW (Apple TV+)
Average page count: 60
Average scene count: 38-67
Broken into acts? No
Other things to consider:
They are not afraid to write a lot of description on this show. On the page, it often looks like a screenplay from the 1970s or 80s -- huge paragraphs of text. There are also a lot of big monologues.
They'll also leave little "NOTES" in bold that clarify what's going on in the scene.
While the scripts aren't broken into acts, all scripts end with "END OF EPISODE" centered, bolded and underlined.
