Have you ever been curious about why screenplays are formatted in such a specific way?  The very first screenplays were, of course, without dialogue; they were simply lists to help the director keep track of assembling necessary shots.

Here is an excellent video that explores the history and evolution of the screenplay format, from our friend John P. Hess at Filmmaker IQ.

Screenwriting isn’t easy. Great story telling requires craft and insight – but it all starts with getting the proper formatting. Trace the roots of how the screenplay evolved from the earliest moving pictures, through the golden age of Hollywood and into the post-studio era.

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