AgentSkillsCN

fountain-syntax

本技能提供完整的 Fountain 剧本格式语法参考，涵盖标题页、场景标题、动作描述、人物姓名、对话内容、转场、注释、章节划分，以及各类特殊格式元素。 适用场景：编写或编辑 .fountain 文件、验证剧本格式、实现不同格式间的转换，或用于教授 Fountain 语法。

SKILL.md
--- frontmatter
name: fountain-syntax
wtfbId: wtfb:fountain-syntax
description: |
  This skill provides complete Fountain screenplay format syntax reference.
  Covers title page, scene headings, action, character names, dialogue,
  transitions, notes, sections, and all special formatting elements.

  Use when: writing or editing .fountain files, validating screenplay format,
  converting between formats, or teaching Fountain syntax.

Fountain Syntax Skill

Invocation Triggers

Apply this skill when:

  • •Writing or editing .fountain files
  • •Validating screenplay format
  • •Converting between formats
  • •Teaching Fountain syntax

Complete Fountain Syntax Reference

Title Page

Key-value pairs at the start of the document:

fountain
Title:
    **Seoul Identity**
Credit: Written by
Author: Scott Graham
Draft date: December 27, 2025
Contact: scott@wordstofilmby.com

Standard keys: Title, Credit, Author, Source, Draft date, Contact, Copyright, Notes

Scene Headings

fountain
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - NIGHT
INT./EXT. CAR (MOVING) - CONTINUOUS

Must begin with: INT, EXT, EST, INT./EXT, INT/EXT, or I/E Force any line as scene heading with . prefix:

fountain
.FLASHBACK - TWENTY YEARS EARLIER

Optional scene numbers:

fountain
INT. HOUSE - DAY #1#
INT. HOUSE - DAY #1A#

Action (Description)

Plain paragraphs are action. Line breaks are preserved.

fountain
The room is dark. A FIGURE moves in the shadows.

Sarah enters, hesitant. She looks around.

Force uppercase lines as action with !:

fountain
!MONTAGE - SARAH'S MORNING ROUTINE

Character Names

All UPPERCASE on own line, blank line before:

fountain

SARAH
I don't understand.

With extensions:

fountain
MOM (V.O.)
When I was your age...

JOHN (O.S.)
I'm in the kitchen!

SARAH (CONT'D)
And another thing...

Force mixed-case with @:

fountain
@McCLANE
Yippee ki-yay.

Dialogue

Text following Character or Parenthetical:

fountain
JOHN
This is dialogue. It can span
multiple lines without a problem.

Parentheticals

Wrapped in parentheses, after Character or within Dialogue:

fountain
SARAH
(looking away)
I never said that.
(beat)
Not exactly.

Dual Dialogue (Simultaneous)

Add ^ after second character:

fountain
JACK
I love you!

JILL ^
I hate you!

Transitions

Uppercase ending in TO:, or forced with >:

fountain
CUT TO:

DISSOLVE TO:

>FADE TO BLACK.

Centered Text

Bracket with > and <:

fountain
>THE END<

>TITLE CARD: "THREE YEARS LATER"<

Emphasis (Formatting)

fountain
*italics*
**bold**
***bold italics***
_underline_

Escape with backslash: \*not italic\*

Lyrics

Prefix with ~:

fountain
~Somewhere over the rainbow
~Way up high

Page Breaks

Three or more = on own line:

fountain
===

Notes (Writer Comments)

Double brackets, won't appear in output:

fountain
[[This is a note to myself about the scene.]]

Boneyard (Archived Content)

Content between /* and */ is ignored:

fountain
/*
CUT SCENE - keeping for reference

INT. DINER - NIGHT
...
*/

Sections (Structural, Hidden)

Pound signs for outline hierarchy:

fountain
# Act One
## Sequence 1
### Scene Group

Synopses (Scene Summaries, Hidden)

Prefix with =:

fountain
= Sarah discovers the truth about her father.

INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Validation Rules

Required Elements

  • •Title page (for complete scripts)
  • •Scene headings with location and time
  • •Proper character/dialogue structure

Common Errors

  1. •Missing blank line before character names
  2. •Scene heading missing time of day
  3. •Parenthetical not on own line
  4. •Unescaped special characters triggering wrong format

Syntax Validation Checklist

  • • Title page has required fields
  • • Scene headings start with INT/EXT
  • • Character names are UPPERCASE
  • • Parentheticals are in (parentheses)
  • • Dual dialogue uses ^ correctly
  • • Notes use [[double brackets]]
  • • Boneyard uses /* */ correctly