Lazy Bee Scripts
Formatting Headings

Overview

• All scripts have a title
• Some scripts are divided into acts
• Some scripts (and some acts) are divided into scenes
• Thus in principal any script can be described by four layers of hierarchy - the fourth being the text of the script. You should have one format (one Style) for each of these levels and that is enough
• If you are a competent user of a Word Processor, you will sort out these four layers of hierarchy by using four different Styles, and each time you want to format text according to a particular hierarchical layer, you will just apply that style.
• If you don't understand the previous point, then the following might help...

The Title

• This should be a large font, in Title Case (hence the name), not in UPPER CASE.  (In exceptional cases, we put titles into capitals, but these are really rare exceptions.)
• We will centre-justify the title.  If you don't know how to do that (without using the space bar or tab key), then leave it to us

Act

• The Act heading is generally just "Act 1", etc. (Though, in some cases, this may be followed by a descriptor.)
• Use a large font (but smaller than the Title font), in Title Case.
• We will left-justify the Act heading (so doing anything else would be a waste of your time.)
• Use ordinary numbers, not Roman numerals
  (We do occasionally use Roman numerals, but we reserve them for scripts about Ancient Rome!)
• Format consistently. Don't use "Act One", then "Act 2". If you use a descriptor after the Act number, then use the same separator - preferably a space-dash-space construction in each instance.
• Don't use tabs within a heading - because if we change the font size, we may distort the spacing
• If you use a descriptor, keep it short. A heading should fit on a single line.
• If your play is structurally in one act, you don't need an "Act 1" heading.
  (The heading "Act 1" is only necessary in a play that has an Act 2.)

Scene

• The Scene heading may be just "Scene 1", etc., however frequently this will be followed by a short descriptor (usually time and/or place).
• Use a large font (but smaller than the Act font), in Title Case.
• We will left-justify the Scene heading (so doing anything else would be a waste of your time.)
• Use ordinary numbers, not Roman numerals
• Format consistently. Don't use "Scene 1", then "Scene Two".
• If you use a descriptor after the Scene number, then use the same separator - preferably a space-dash-space construction in each instance.
• Don't use tabs within a heading - because if we change the font size, we may distort the spacing
• If you use a descriptor, keep it short. A heading should fit on a single line.  If you want to include more information than will fit in a single line, the chances are that you are spilling over into a scene-setting direction - in which case put in a shorter scene heading and, on a new line, a scene-setting direction, formatted as a direction.

Example

The following example shows
- Title
- Act Heading
- Scene heading
- Scene-Setting Direction
 
Setting an Example
Act 1
Scene 1 - The Drawing Room, Evening
(The drawing room of Settingsby Manor.  Downstage: comfy chairs; upstage: a well-stocked drinks cabinet.  Heavy curtains are drawn across French windows.)