I’m new to scriptwriting, and fairly new to Scrivener, so I’m just learning here. I’ve been trying to format a script, but it seems like a struggle at every step of the script. I need to define the sections every line practically (dialog, action, etc.) and even then, I don’t seem to be getting the standard script formatting. Primarily, when I set the type to Dialogue, it seems to jump up a line (eliminating the empty line between the last text and the new dialogue), then I type in the name, and hit return, and I’m down two lines and starting an Action sequence, instead of going to the next line, being a tab back from where the name is, and letting me enter dialogue. What am I doing wrong? How do I get the name to be centered, and the dialogue to be formatted properly underneath it?
I’ve played with Montage from Mariner, and while it hasn’t been updated since 2011 and is buggy, it does do some interesting things which would be nice in Scrivener. First, it has various scriptwriting templates, which includes a color-coded one that is useful in visualizing the structure of the script. Second, you type and it autodetects the format sections. It also auto-detects people and places in your script and automatically adds them to the Characters and Locations sections of the app. For example, if you write:
INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY
It will create a Location called Beach House.
Presumably, you could change the name Beach House in one place and have it change throughout the script. That is very useful, and possible because it understands the structure. It’s also how it can do things like color-coding the script.
I don’t know if these kinds of things are possible in Scrivener (or planned for the next version) but they seem like very useful features to have.
Scrivener already has a dramatis persona and locale list feature. Project > Auto-Complete List will show it to you. These entries will also be offered to you in the appropriate script elements (Character and Scene Heading). Entries are auto-inserted as you type but you can add (delete and amend) entries yourslef by using the +/- buttons on that window where you can add other scopes such as General Text and Action. The columns in the list are clickable so you can sort by Character, or Location. However, I’ve not found a way to insert those lists into a document but then the fashion for dramtis persona lists has long since passed.
I don’t find the specific formatting issue you mention (no blank line between two consecutive dialogue elements) that distracting. I use it occasionally to introduce a pause but prefer to signal that with a parenthetical element. Normally I keep typing dialogue and let Scrivener deal with justifying the text between the two margins.
The other feature of Scriptwriting mode I exploit is keyboard shortcuts. I’ve learned them as occasionally the auto-formatting goes awry; a bug that I’ve reported. Also useful when I change my mind over other something should be Parenthetical, Action or General Text. And when all else fails there’s the pop-up menu in the status bar.
Fellow Scrivener user here. How the different script elements get formatted will be determined by the script type selected in Format > Scriptwriting (no matter what template you started with). Is it possible that the document you are looking at somehow has a script style chosen on that menu that uses a script style other than the one you were wanting/expecting to work with?
–gr
P.S. One small thought: You say you are new to scriptwriting. Are you sure your own expectations about script format are in the right here? Just saying.
I’m using the screenplay template, and script is obviously from that template, so presumably it should match.
I’m thinking the dialogue is the right place, it’s just that that character name is not. How do I insert a character name properly? Is there a way to add in existing characters quickly?
When in Scriptwriting mode and the current element is Character then my typing a letter or two brings up a list of existing character names from that dialogue box mentioned in an earlier comment.
You might also want to investigate the Format > Scriptwriting > Script Settings dialogue box and particular the checkbox for Automatically add phrases to project list that occur:
I can’t see any difference between what my script looks like when using that template and the sample script included in the Research folder. Or what I get when using the Novel template and switching to Scriptwriting mode Format > Scriptwriting Mode (Cmd-8). All the elements in documents writing in that mode looked exactly like that sample. The only thing that looks odd about that sample is the way that character name KB stands out; but then it should given who the real life model for that character is.
But what exactly are you comparing to that sample. Your script in Scrivener (perhaps in Scrivening mode) or the Compiled version?
[EDIT: Rewrote to address Screenplay styling specifically:]
Start a new document in scriptwriting mode (with Screenplay style), then do this: Type ‘some heading’, hit return, type ‘some action’, hit return. Now note your current submode will be again the action submode, but we want to start some dialogue now, so: hit tab, type ‘Macbeth’, hit return, type ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow!’, hit return.
Now that should give you your first line of dialog with character name included and all in the right (screenplay) format. Did that work?
Note that the use of return and tab characters are not you formatting your script. Rather, these are signals to Scrivener of what submode to move to next. Which key will do what at any given moment is, of course, described in the central area of the status line at the bottom of the editor pane (when in scriptwriting mode).
Also, as reepicheep says, once you’ve typed character names once, Scrivener will suggest auto-completion for them after you type a few initial letters of the names.
-gr
The current submode is specified at the right corner of the status line at the bottom of the editor pane.