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First things first

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 99 Comments

This blog is set up to test out the Scrippets plug-in, which allows users to insert small samples of screenplay-formatted material in their posts and comments.

It’s based on CSS code (and a Ruby script) developed by John August. The plugin was developed by Will Carlough and Andy Maloney, who each had his own approach to various issues.

Here’s how it works. You enter your screenplay text without any special formatting — except for capitalization:

  • Just like in real screenplays, scene headers are uppercase, and start with INT., EXT. or EST.
  • Character names for dialogue blocks are also uppercase.
  • Transitions (like CUT TO:) are also uppercase.

To turn text into a scrippet, just put [scrippet] at the start and [/scrippet] at the end.

As an example, this…

[scrippet]

EXT. ANCIENT ROME - DAY

ANTONIUS and IPSUM are walking down a tiny, crowded street.

ANTONIUS
Do you think in a thousand years, anyone will remember our names?

IPSUM
Not yours. But they’ll know mine. Because I intend to write something so profound that it will be remembered for the ages. Designers in the 20th Century call for Galadius Ipsum whenever they need to fill text blocks.

[/scrippet]

…becomes this:

EXT. ANCIENT ROME - DAY

ANTONIUS and IPSUM are walking down a tiny, crowded street.

ANTONIUS

Do you think in a thousand years, anyone will remember our names?

IPSUM

Not yours. But they’ll know mine. Because I intend to write something so profound that it will be remembered for the ages. Designers in the 20th Century call for Lorem Ipsum whenever they need to fill text blocks.

Feel free to try it out in the comments, and let us know how it’s working for you. There’s live preview, but please do submit your examples so we can check for server issues.

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Recent Entries

This is a new sample post

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 3 Comments

Here is a link made with Markdown.

And here is a scrippet:

INT. TREEHOUSE - DAY

Bart is talking on a tin-can phone, with the other end extending out the window.

BART

Operation Dizzy Beaver is go. I repeat. Operation Dizzy Beaver is go.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Homer is asleep on the couch when...

Installed Markdown

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 24 Comments

Markdown is apparently now playing nicely, but let us know if you find issues.

And it’s breaking scrippets in comments. Only the first line is coming through okay.

Crap.

Markdown uses brackets to denote links, and I think it’s seeing our scrippet tags as links. but it’s more than that. Angle brackets don’t work either.

Another test

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 18 Comments

Here’s some stuff I [Andy] copy-pasted from a script online:

INT. DRISKILL HOTEL SEMINAR ROOM   DAY

JOE and APRIL burst through the doors into a clean, well-lit seminar room.

JOE

Are we in time?

APRIL

How could they start without us?

We’re the main attraction.

Joe catches his breath as he leans against the podium at the front of the room.

JOE

(looking about the room)

We are?

APRIL

Don’t be a moron.  You know we’ve been invited to Austin to discuss script format.

JOE

But why is the room empty?

April and Joe both look out across the room -- rows of empty chairs and nary a person in sight.

APRIL

Okay, okay, don’t panic.

She takes three deep breaths.  Then she looks at her watch and smiles.

APRIL

(continuing)

We’re an hour early.  We should rehearse.

JOE

Okay, you start.  Margins?

APRIL

Left, 1.5 inches.  Right, 1.0 inches.  Top, 1.0 inches to the body, 0.5 inches to the number.

Bottom, 0.5 to 1.5 inches, depending on where the page break comes.

How does it look?

JOHN adds, same example, with dialogue kept together:

INT. DRISKILL HOTEL SEMINAR ROOM DAY

JOE and APRIL burst through the doors into a clean, well-lit seminar room.

JOE

Are we in time?

APRIL

How could they start without us? We’re the main attraction.

Joe catches his breath as he leans against the podium at the front of the room.

JOE

(looking about the room)

We are?

APRIL

Don’t be a moron. You know we’ve been invited to Austin to discuss script format.

JOE

But why is the room empty?

April and Joe both look out across the room -- rows of empty chairs and nary a person in sight.

APRIL

Okay, okay, don’t panic.

She takes three deep breaths. Then she looks at her watch and smiles.

APRIL

(continuing)

We’re an hour early. We should rehearse.

JOE

Okay, you start. Margins?

APRIL

Left, 1.5 inches. Right, 1.0 inches. Top, 1.0 inches to the body, 0.5 inches to the number. Bottom, 0.5 to 1.5 inches, depending on where the page break comes.

A joke

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 5 Comments

You might have heard it before.

DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE

Does it have to be a lightbulb?

Another example

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 1 Comment

Might be as follows…

MAN

I could say this.

WOMAN

Yes, you could.

Another sample to test plugins

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 4 Comments

This is a line outside of the scrippet to set up what I’m about to write.

The parole officer hits a test button on the anklet, which lets out a PIERCING ALARM.

And now another line of action.

MARGARET

Let’s never hear that again.

CUT TO:

EXT. FRONT OF HOUSE - DAY   

Margaret walks heel-to-toe, counting her steps.

MARGARET

97.  98.  99.

With a piece of chalk, she draws a line on the concrete.  She looks back to Gary, who’s waiting by the front door.

MARGARET (CONT’D)

Behold!  The edge of your world.  In the world.

(jumps over the line)

Out of the world. In the world. Out of the world. Look at me, I’m dancin’!

She starts doing the running man over the line.  Even Gary’s dark mood is broken.

This line is after the scrippet.

The history of Lorem Ipsum

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 2 Comments

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

EXT. ANCIENT ROME - DAY

ANTONIUS and IPSUM are walking down a tiny, crowded street.

ANTONIUS

Do you think in a thousand years, anyone will remember our names?

IPSUM

Not yours. But they’ll know mine. Because I intend to write something so profound that it will be remembered for the ages. Designers in the 20th Century call for Galadius Ipsum whenever they need to fill text blocks.

Antonius stops Ipsum short.

ANTONIUS

(whispering)

Do you see that girl over there?

IPSUM

The one smearing feces on the wall?

ANTONIUS

She’s more likely to write something that will endure through the ages.

IPSUM

Then I shall ask her to marry me.

(yelling over)

Excuse me! Hag!

The deranged woman turns...

IPSUM

What is your name?

HAG

Lorem!

CUT TO:

INT. DESIGNER’S STUDIO - DAY

PAUL looks over MAX.

PAUL

Where does “lorem ipsum” come from, anyway?

Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?

If this works, John gets a Nobel

Aug 24, 2008 Uncategorized 15 Comments

Because it sure would be useful…

Okay, here goes nothin’…

INT. CRAIG’S KITCHEN - DAY

Craig sits at his laptop, hoping to Jeebus that John’s done it.

CRAIG

Jeebus, I pray to thee...

Craig hits a few keys...

CRAIG

My God. It’s full of stars.

MELISSA

Why are you drooling?

CRAIG

You wouldn’t understand.

Hello world!

Aug 23, 2008 Uncategorized 4 Comments

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