I was looking over something that I had recently written, and while I feel ok about it, I noticed that much of my first page is composed of sluglines and action.

To what extent should the visual asthetics of a script be of concern as I feel that the visuals of a script play a large part in actually getting anyone to read it.

Thanks.

No more than 4 lines of action per slug.

Every page should be as white as possible.

Hmmm, back to the ole drawing board.  Thanks for the tip/

Quoted from Baltis. No more than 4 lines of action per slug.

What? You mean no more than 4 lines of action per paragraph. A slug can have as many action paragraphs as it needs to tell the story, but each paragraphs needs to be as concise as possible to tell what is happening, but not overdone. Screenwriting isn't novel writing. With novels, you can let yourself go, but in a screenplay, it's got to be just what's needed and move on.

If you have a page of action, it better be interesting.

Thanks George.

When I first began, I had what I would call "regular" paragraphs and soon realized that wasn't acceptable.  I've since pared them down a lot and broken them into the 2, 3, or 4 sentence paragraphs.  Still, as I said, my first page is mostly action.

I think I need to continue working at making it tighter.

I learned the difference when converting one of my screenplays into a novel. The script had two sentences where the novel ended up with 5 pages covering those two sentences. Just as an illustration.

Quoted from George Willson What? You mean no more than 4 lines of action per paragraph. A slug can have as many action paragraphs as it needs to tell the story, but each paragraphs needs to be as concise as possible to tell what is happening, but not overdone. Screenwriting isn't novel writing. With novels, you can let yourself go, but in a screenplay, it's got to be just what's needed and move on. If you have a page of action, it better be interesting.

No, not 4 lines of action and that's it.  Simply no more than 4 lines in each "paragraph" persay.  The more lines you have the closer it's going to feel like a novel.  I seldom go over 3 and never go over 4.  

Yep, white space is king on the opening page of your script and every other page for that matter.

As George says, if the script requires a certain amount of descriptive to cover those vital opening sequences, then thats what needs to be done. Just ensure that what you are detailing on the page is essentially what we're meant to see on screen, no more, no less.

One paragraph per beat of action or image, but keep it as short and lean as you can.

I don't see how this is would be a problem though, since you're talking about the beginning of your script. The length shouldn't be a problem as long as we know what we need to know in order to follow the story well.

Also, genre has a lot to do with it as well. If you are writing an action and your opening scene is a car chase, I'd hope you have more than just a couple sentences of action. Flipside, a romantic comedy with large blocks of action would be unnecessary

Overall, I'd say write whatever you have to write in order to finish your first draft. Once you're down with that draft, spend your 2nd and 3rd draft cleaning it up. Follow the KISS format at all times: Keep It Simple Stupid . . . . not calling you stupid, just a phrase

Quoted from sniper Every page should be as white as possible.

I agree with Rob here.

Although my work tends to be heavy in black, I'm not incapable of writing in the white.

It is a matter of skill with your delivery and also, even when you know how to do it "apparently right" to choose for yourself what is important in your own delivery:

That is to say, that if you are "There"! I don't think we'd even be having this conversation. Well, I know we wouldn't.

Truthfully now I say,

Learn the ropes, discover for yourself, and then:

Do whatever the hell you please! And now watch as some idiot goes and quotes me out of context. Everyone's an idiot except RV, MC, Pia, Phil, Tommy, Stevie, Cindy, Breanne, Michel, and... OK, wait a minute!!! No one's an idiot!!! Just me.  

Seriously, just don't agonize over it, but pay attention to it because it is important. But like everything in life, you've gotta have balance.

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. Although my work tends to be heavy in black, I'm not incapable of writing in the white.

hmm

Quoted from sniper Every page should be as white as possible.

Just another rule.

We'll always get back to if you tell it good, nobody will notice. Kind of like page count, we see, tight on, etsetera, etsetera, etsetera.

I'm an idiot, then, huh??????