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Fade in: INT. FILM STUDIES CLASSROOM. DAY A screenplay begins with the words 'Fade in' and ends with 'Fade out'. The SLUG-LINE (as seen above) heads up each scene and whether the scene is interior or exterior (INT/EXT), the setting and the time of day (Day or Night). The scene heading changes when the location or time changes. The ACTION description (this text) should describe to us what is happening in the scene in a concise but descriptive way. Each paragraph or BLOCK of action should not be any longer than about 5 lines. New characters and important sound effects should be capitalised as follows. EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND. DAY TERRY, a scruffy 18 year old student with floppy hair and his shirt un-tucked runs into the deserted playground. Wind WHISTLES eerily though the dead leaves that litter the concrete floor. TERRY This is how dialogue should be written! New characters are written in capitals. A DARK FIGURE approaches Terry. He moves slowly but with purpose. DARK FIGURE Umm...Hello. Keep in mind that a screenplay is visual and your characters' actions move the story forward from scene to scene. Don't write any 'unfilmables' such as... Mary thinks about the time she grazed her knee whilst skateboarding. Show the ACTION: Mary picks up her skateboard but hesitates. Her fingers caress the scabbed over wound on her knee. She winces in remembered pain and tosses the skateboard into a corner. Screenplays are written in the present tense.