Action descriptions are the parts in screenplays that describe what is going on when there is no dialogue or nothing to introduce a scene. Formatting them properly can be difficult; but following this tutorial will not only make you look much more professional, it will also help your script get read.
Instructions
Write Action Descriptions in Screenplays
1. Think about the action that needs describing. You cannot write a description if you are unsure about what you need to describe.
2. Stay in the script. We cannot keep the description as written in Step #1 because it sounds like commentary from a party outside of the story. Good action descriptions bring you into the world of the script and sound as if from the story, not an outsider.
3. Be brief and to the point. Action descriptions are the most overlooked areas of scripts because they are the most unread. Get your point across quickly and do not waste any time of the readers.
4. Never go over three lines without a line break. Maybe even never over two lines. When readers see a large chunk of paragraph form writing, they will most likely skip it. Constant line breaks, such as in this Step, will trick readers into thinking they are seeing less--even when it is the same amount.
5. Never use exclamation points. Underline or capitalize words to stress importance.
6. Only write what can be seen on-screen. Viewers cannot visibly see interior motives, so they should not be made to read about them.
7. Never use the phrase "We See" or describe any type of directing shot in the script. That coincides with Step #1, in terms of sounding like an outsider.
