Sometimes formatting rules for screenplays seem random, but there is a practical reason for everything. If an architect did not use established guidelines, symbols, and visual clues in his blueprint, the crew would not know how to proceed with their construction similarly, a screenwriter must adhere to established formatting to effectively communicate to the film crew. The usual analogy people use is that a screenplay is the blueprint for a movie this is a fairly accurate description, because an architect drafts a blueprint for a building and hands it off to a construction crew to use as a guideline to build their project like a screenwriter turns his screenplay over to the film crew to produce the motion picture. Unlike a novel, which requires only the author and perhaps an editor, a screenplay is used by possibly hundreds of people, and they all need to understand exactly what is meant by the screenwriter. The reason for this is simple–a screenplay must communicate to the actors, director, and all production personnel what is to appear on screen. Much like plays require a format agreed upon by those who put on stage productions and poetry has rules regarding meter and verse, screenplays follow a specific manner of putting the words on the page. This basic yet essential fact is why the screenplay format is so important. This may be obvious, but the purpose of screenwriting is to end up with a motion picture.
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