Template for Documentary 2-Column Film/Video Scripts
TEMPLATE FOR documentary 2-column filM/VIDEO scripTS
PETER THOMPSON
I wrote this template in 1989. It is Freeware. Please give it to other filmmakers with my blessing. The 2-column script format is not only extremely useful for documentary paper edits, it’s also very handy for developing ideas for narrative screenplays.
Paragraph & Format Symbols:
If you cannot see four paragraph symbols (¶) between this line and the paragraph above, select “Show ¶” under the VIEW menu, and they’ll pop into view. I strongly recommend that you activate this “Show ¶” mode when writing a script. With it activated you will have wealth of format information at your fingertips and will therefore know how to correct a format mistake (more on that, later).
How to Create a 2-Column Script:
Here’s how to do it if you’re using Microsoft Word version 5.1 and earlier:
1. Choose “New” under the FILE menu. A blank worksheet opens.
2. Select “Table” under the INSERT menu.
3. Under Number of columns type “2”; under number of rows type “10”; under width type “3 in.” Hit “OK”.
Here’s how to do it if you’re using Microsoft Word version 6.0:
1. Choose “New” under the FILE menu. A blank worksheet opens.
2. Select “Insert Table” under the TABLE menu.
3. Under Number of columns type “2”; under number of rows type “10”; under width type “3 in.” Hit “OK”.
The table will now insert into your new worksheet. If you need to make space above the table to type the name of your project, hold down the Option-Comand keys at the same time, and then hit the Spacebar. The entire table will shift down one line.
Two things to be mindful of when working with tables:
1) The more words you enter into a table cell the slower the scrolling of the script will be. Therefore, break up your speeches into a few sentences per cell.
2) Do not let words in a cell spill the cell over from the bottom of one page to the top of the next page. On your screen it reads fine, but when you
PETER THOMPSON
I wrote this template in 1989. It is Freeware. Please give it to other filmmakers with my blessing. The 2-column script format is not only extremely useful for documentary paper edits, it’s also very handy for developing ideas for narrative screenplays.
Paragraph & Format Symbols:
If you cannot see four paragraph symbols (¶) between this line and the paragraph above, select “Show ¶” under the VIEW menu, and they’ll pop into view. I strongly recommend that you activate this “Show ¶” mode when writing a script. With it activated you will have wealth of format information at your fingertips and will therefore know how to correct a format mistake (more on that, later).
How to Create a 2-Column Script:
Here’s how to do it if you’re using Microsoft Word version 5.1 and earlier:
1. Choose “New” under the FILE menu. A blank worksheet opens.
2. Select “Table” under the INSERT menu.
3. Under Number of columns type “2”; under number of rows type “10”; under width type “3 in.” Hit “OK”.
Here’s how to do it if you’re using Microsoft Word version 6.0:
1. Choose “New” under the FILE menu. A blank worksheet opens.
2. Select “Insert Table” under the TABLE menu.
3. Under Number of columns type “2”; under number of rows type “10”; under width type “3 in.” Hit “OK”.
The table will now insert into your new worksheet. If you need to make space above the table to type the name of your project, hold down the Option-Comand keys at the same time, and then hit the Spacebar. The entire table will shift down one line.
Two things to be mindful of when working with tables:
1) The more words you enter into a table cell the slower the scrolling of the script will be. Therefore, break up your speeches into a few sentences per cell.
2) Do not let words in a cell spill the cell over from the bottom of one page to the top of the next page. On your screen it reads fine, but when you