So, you’re ready to write your first movie script, but where do you even start? I get it—starting from scratch can be a little intimidating. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back.
We’re going to break this down step-by-step, and by the end of this post, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to take your story idea and turn it into a full-fledged script.
And hey, we’re going to use Final Draft, which is hands down the best screenwriting software out there. Speaking of the following video is sponsored by Cast & Crew Productions which runs Final Draft and Coverfly. With that being said; Check out todays video in the link below and let’s dive in.
Step 1: Before You Open Final Draft—Get Your Idea Right
Okay, before we even open the software, let's get your story down. You can’t just start typing into Final Draft without knowing what you want to say, right?
The first thing you need is a logline—a one-sentence summary of your entire story. The logline needs to be tight and to the point. Here’s an example from Jaws:
Logline: A great white shark terrorizes a small beach town, and a local cop teams up with a marine biologist to hunt it down.
Notice how in just one sentence, you get the setting, the conflict, and a hint of the main characters? That’s your goal. Keep it simple.
Once you’ve got that logline, expand it into a story outline. This is where you’re going to break your story down into three major sections: Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3.
Act 1 (Setup): Introduce your main characters, the world, and set up the problem. You’ve got about 25-30 minutes of screen time to do this.
Act 2 (Conflict): This is the meat of your story where the character faces major obstacles. In a feature-length script, this takes up the majority of the screen time (about 50-60 minutes).
Act 3 (Resolution): The climax and resolution. This is where everything comes to a head, and we finally see how your character deals with the problem.
If you’re a visual person like me, I highly recommend using a storyboard or a beat sheet. A beat sheet is a list of the major “beats” or events in your story. It’s a simple outline of what happens in each scene. This will help you get everything in the right order before you even start writing.
Final Draft actually has a Beat Board which can be found in the upper left hand side of the screen. I prefer to use post it notes and posters. YEAH!! I know, I'm old.
Step 2: Opening Final Draft and Getting Set Up
Alright, now that you have a solid outline, it’s time to open Final Draft.
Here’s how to set up a new project:
Open Final Draft and click on File > New. You’ll see a pop-up with options for selecting script formats. For most movies, you’ll want to select Feature Film.
Final Draft will automatically give you the correct script format—no more worrying about margins, font size, or spacing. It’s all set up for you.
Quick tip: Final Draft is built to follow industry standards, so you won’t have to think about the details like margins or how to format the dialogue. It’s all about your creativity—Final Draft handles the technical stuff for you. But, we’ll get into the details of using it as we go.
Step 3: Writing Your First Scene (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Now for the fun part—writing your first scene.
Scene Heading (Slugline): This tells us where and when the scene is taking place. For example:
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
EXT. PARK - NIGHT
INT. means the scene is indoors (Interior).
EXT. means the scene is outdoors (Exterior).
The location goes next (like LIVING ROOM or PARK).
Finally, you add the time of day—DAY or NIGHT.
Here’s the thing: Keep it simple. Don’t overthink the details. The goal is to give enough info to set the stage for your reader, not to describe everything. The director will handle that.
Step 4: Writing the Action Lines (Keep It Tight)
After the scene heading, you’ll write your action lines. This is where you describe what’s happening visually—what the audience will see.
Let’s say your character, Tom, enters a room, looks around, and sits on a chair. Your action line might look like this:
Action: Tom steps into the room. He looks around, unsure. The room is bare—just an old chair in the middle of the floor. He sits down.
Notice how I didn’t go into super detail? You don’t need to describe every little thing—just the important stuff. Let the director and crew figure out the rest.
Also, avoid using camera directions (like "zoom in" or "pan left"). The script is not for directing; it’s for telling the story.
Step 5: Writing Dialogue (This Is Where the Magic Happens)
Dialogue is where you bring your characters to life. This is what people hear in the movie, so it has to sound natural and true to your character.
How to write dialogue:
Character names are centered and written in ALL CAPS.
Below the character’s name, write what they say.
For example:
TOM(softly)I didn’t know what I was walking into.
JANE(nods)You never do.
And here’s something I wish I knew when I started: Show, don’t tell. Your characters don’t need to always explain their feelings. Let their actions and dialogue hint at what they’re thinking or feeling. Also, Keep in your head that the script is only the BLUEPRINT. Think of it kinda like a business plan.
In all reality, you are starting a business and this is your plan. Keep it to where the director can envision it without over complicated or dragged out action lines.
Step 6: Dialogue Formatting Tips in Final Draft
So, here’s where Final Draft really shines. When you type out dialogue, Final Draft automatically formats it for you.
It adds a character name centered above the dialogue.
If you need to add a parenthetical (a brief description of how the line should be read), you can do that too. For example:
TOM(sarcastically)Great. Just what I needed.
One more quick tip: When a character speaks off-screen, write (O.S.) or (V.O.) (Voice Over) next to their name. For example:
JANE (V.O.)They told me to leave. I couldn’t.
Step 7: Act Breaks and Transitions (The Magic of Pacing)
When writing your script, it’s important to think about pacing. How fast or slow does the story move? Use act breaks to divide your story and create suspense.
After Act 1, you’ll often see the words “ACT 2” or “ACT 3” written in the script to indicate the change in act.
For transitions between scenes, you can use words like CUT TO:, DISSOLVE TO:, or FADE IN/OUT. But, keep in mind, Final Draft formats these for you, so just focus on your story.
Step 8: Rewriting and Polishing Your Script
This is the part that most people miss. You have to rewrite. You can’t get your first draft perfect—don’t even try. You need to get the basic idea down, then go back and polish.
Here’s my advice:
Take breaks. Step away from the script and come back to it with fresh eyes.
Read it out loud. This will help you catch awkward dialogue or pacing problems.
Get feedback. This is the part I really learned the hard way. Share your script with people who understand storytelling. Use their feedback to improve.
So, there you have it. You’ve got a game plan now. You know how to start your script, how to format it in Final Draft, and how to keep things flowing.
You can pick it up at https://www.finaldraft.com/
and if you would like to get some valuable feedback on your script, go to coverfly and subscribe. They also have some amazing script writing competitions along with pitch competitions. https://coverfly.com/
Remember, don’t stress. Every writer, no matter how experienced, started just like you. The most important thing is to keep writing—because that’s the only way you’re going to improve.
And if you’re ready to take your scriptwriting to the next level, be sure to check out Final Draft, You can pick it up at https://www.finaldraft.com/
and if you would like to get some valuable feedback on your script, go to coverfly and subscribe. They also have some amazing script writing competitions along with pitch competitions. https://coverfly.com/
Lastly Lets Give a big shout out to our participants that took part in this week's video.
📣 SHOUTOUT (Instagram)
Matthew Thomas - https://www.instagram.com/@belvoirfilms
Dhruv Balahi - https://www.instagram.com/@dhruv_balaji_
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