Dr. Format Tells All: Everything you need to format your screenplay (2022 edition) Paperback – January 9, 2022

Women read; men watch movies. When I wrote my first novella last year as a romantic suspense, I was told that my male protagonist would not appeal to the primary audience for this genre: older women. One thing led to another and I realized that if my novella were to end up as a screenplay, I would need to write it. This line of reasoning led me to begin studying screenwriting.IntroductionIn the preface to his book, Dr. Format Tells All, Dave Trottier writes:“My desire is to provide you with guidance to specific formatting and spec screenplay writing topics…I have mainly selected columns and articles prepared for Script magazine.” (iii)Needless to say, Trottier writes a column in Script magazine entitled: “Ask Dr. Format.” This book is written to complement his other title: The Screenwriter’s Bible (review).Background and OrganizationTrottier has a master’s degree from Goddard College and is a graduate of both the Hollywood Scriptwriting Institute and the Hollywood Film Institute. He describes himself as a screenwriter, script consultant, and teacher. He is the author of numerous books and screenplays.This book primarily takes a question and answer format. The table of contents cites these divisions:• Crucial Formatting Information (page 1)• Answers to Specific Formatting Questions (20)• General and Miscellaneous (214)• How I Became Dr. Format (225)• Index (229)• Screenwriting Resources (240)The individual sections typically pose a question and offer answer along with screenwriting examples.DiscussionTrottier writes: “Formatting is the language of screenplays.” (6) He observes that when he taught screenwriting, about half the questions from students had to do with formatting (226). His focus is on writing spec scripts.Trottier describes the spec script in these terms:“The spec is sometimes called the reading script or selling script. A spec script … is primarily written for a reader (story analyst).” (2)Spec is short for speculation, a script written for sell, not one written under contract. Once it is sold, it is typically rewritten as a shooting or production script, where camera direction and other needs of the director are considered. Because a spec script has not yet been sold, it is written in a standard form to facilitate the reader being able quickly to understand and appreciate it. Non-standard formatting distracts the reader and can lead the script to be rejected.AssessmentDave Trottier‘s Dr. Format Tells All proved to be a useful read. It focuses on special formatting circumstances that come up and require discussion. After reading The Screenwriter’s Bible I thought that I knew all the conventions, but after reviewing my first script I found that I clearly misinterpreted many of these special issues. Inexperienced screenwriters, like myself, may find this book helpful.

If you’re like me you already have at least one formatting book near your desk. Final Draft is excellent, but reading to learn, keeping it as a reference, or looking up something specific requires a formatting book at hand. Even with easy access via Google, sometime you need to deep dive something. But there are those things that even the best formatting books may have missed or are in print so long they aren’t up to date. This book was recommended by my UCLA Professional Program professor, so grabbed it. I’ve already used it half a dozen times for his class.Set up with questions and answers one can usually find something similar to what you’re looking for. Does it have “everything?” No, not really. But with changing technology and life “everything” is realistically impossible. So like that trusty formatting book by your desk, add this one for this missed things.I’ve not read the whole thing since getting it, I’ve not had more than those half dozen questions - 5 of which were to verify I was right - but what I have used it for I appreciate grabbing it easily, and I have noted a number of things I want to spend time reading as soon as I have the change.Overall I am glad for the purchase and it will live on my desk. I do recommend it as an excellent supplement to your handy reference books.

It teaches by multiple examples of each possible scripting situation. A little tedious, but this is a nuts and bolts aspect of script writing that must be mastered, so it can't ber all fun and games. All in all I definitely got the information I needed. The book is indexed so you can look up a specific format question you may have. Highly recommend.

You don't have this book, and your script is filled with errors that you would know not to have in your script - if you had studied this book. And you expect people in the industry to take your script seriously while it is filled with those errors. Don't bother sending out your script.All screenwriters should study this book - BEFORE they show their scripts to anyone. Also study "The Screenwriter's Bible" - BEFORE you show your script to anyone.Industry professionals don't have time to read scripts that are a mess. They get dozens - and some get hundreds of scripts - every month. They might first simply flip through the pages to see what the script looks like. If they see wonky formatting and big blocks of text, the script might be dismissed right their... without being read. Why should they take the time to read the script if you haven't taken the time to format it correctly, and to clear if of common errors like rambling dialogue, overwritten scene description, lousy scene headings, and margin errors?If you want your script to be taken seriously, then you should seriously study this book - AND "The Screenwriter's Bible."Screenwriting is like a language. If you want to be taken seriously at it and for industry people to understand your scripts, study the books about screenwriting. This is one of the books you should study.

Before this book, I was a googling fanatic! Now having his book has eased me to where I have become comfortable. I am an author writing my book’s screenplay and both this book and his other Two Screenplays in correct spec format pair PERFECTLY together for any beginner or pro who just needs guidance or a refresher I am sure. Me. Dave, you ARE A BLESSING.

If you want to know how to format a screenplay, there is no better author in the market in my opinion. This book will make you look like a pro in formatting your script. It's up to you to write a story that sells, but with this book it will at least be formatted properly. It's easy to understand and necessary to compete in the marketplace.