Double Spacing throughout the Script? I'm Having a Meltdown...

[WildChild]

Okay, I have 2 screenplays that I've been writing for years. Working on the revisions.

I realized my tabs were a bit off and looked into it.

I'm reading now that you're supposed to double space AFTER ANY ACTION DESCRIPTION and double space AFTER DIALOGUE before the next CHARACTER speaks?

This will make my 120 pg screenplay, I don't know, 140 pages long?

No, I don't use the screenplay auto-formatting things and don't plan to...

[Population17]

I read somewhere, Syd Field I think it was, that said to always use the double spacing after sluglines, action lines, character dialogue, all the things you mentioned.

Basically because doing that will allow the page to have more white space on it so, to the readers eye, it will seem easier to get through.

I know that if I was a paid reader, or the reader's secretary, or the secretary's friend, and I was given 100 scripts to read a week and I had to pick between a script with pages full of INK and pages with a lot of WHITE, I would read the latter of the two just for convenience purposes.

I am no pro but that's what I read - actually paraphrased - from a long time pro. Basically, it makes your work more readable.

If your script is ALREADY 120pgs, can it be trimmed down at all?

Any body, with more experience than I, have any thoughts. I've wondered that too.

thanks
brad

[mikeb]

Okay, first of all... Have you read a screenplay? This shouldn't be a crazy revelation. Maybe I'm misjudging how a page of your screenplay actually looks (based on what you wrote, it sounds really crunched), but, yes, white space is good in a screenplay.

I know you said you don't want to get into the "auto-formatting" thingamajigs, but... you should. Final Draft and MM are industry standard. If you can't throw some money down, get a free one... Celtx works okay.

And last, if your screenplays are that crunched... and yet STILL 120 pages... you are probably overwriting your screenplay to an enormous degree. Either in your action, or your dialogue... you're using too much description.

I don't think 120 pages is unreasonable, but personally, I try to keep mine between 95-115. Anything shorter feels to thin, anything longer and readers are prone to set yours aside and go for the "lean 110," especially if there's no pressing reason to get to yours first.

That being said, there's always exceptions to the rule. Maybe you have a 140-page masterpiece that HAS to see the screen. More than likely, no, but... to each their own.

[WildChild]

I read somewhere, Syd Field I think it was, that said to always use the double spacing after sluglines, action lines, character dialogue, all the things you mentioned.

Basically because doing that will allow the page to have more white space on it so, to the readers eye, it will seem easier to get through.

I know that if I was a paid reader, or the reader's secretary, or the secretary's friend, and I was given 100 scripts to read a week and I had to pick between a script with pages full of INK and pages with a lot of WHITE, I would read the latter of the two just for convenience purposes.

I am no pro but that's what I read - actually paraphrased - from a long time pro. Basically, it makes your work more readable.

If your script is ALREADY 120pgs, can it be trimmed down at all?

Any body, with more experience than I, have any thoughts. I've wondered that too.

thanks
brad


Thanks, Brad. I entered my scnplays to Bluecat 2 years ago and got feedback on my stories, but they never mentioned the double space thing. One reader even wrote something like "professionally presented."

And I'm pulling up "sample pages" off the internet of what a page should look out, printing it out and they don't look doublespaced.

So some screenwritng sites are saying double space, some are not.

Very confused. I can't cut back that much, so if if this is a preference rather than a rule I'll have to stick with what I have.

Anyone else? Do you double space after sluglines, action lines and character dialgue?

[JonnyAtlas]

No, I don't use the screenplay auto-formatting things and don't plan to...
:confused:

Why on earth not? There are two great programs out there if you can drop the $, and some solid free ones as well.

If you do not have proper format, your script will be thrown out. This is not a myth meant to scare amateurs. If your format is off, your script will not even get a read. Ever. (unless we are talking insignificant contests, which don't really matter in this industry)

Seriously, just get some screenwriting software. You are apparently just learning format, so why make it harder than it needs to be? You're just being stubborn, and it will only hurt you.

[WildChild]

Okay, first of all... Have you read a screenplay? This shouldn't be a crazy revelation. Maybe I'm misjudging how a page of your screenplay actually looks (based on what you wrote, it sounds really crunched), but, yes, white space is good in a screenplay.

I know you said you don't want to get into the "auto-formatting" thingamajigs, but... you should. Final Draft and MM are industry standard. If you can't throw some money down, get a free one... Celtx works okay.

And last, if your screenplays are that crunched... and yet STILL 120 pages... you are probably overwriting your screenplay to an enormous degree. Either in your action, or your dialogue... you're using too much description.

I don't think 120 pages is unreasonable, but personally, I try to keep mine between 95-115. Anything shorter feels to thin, anything longer and readers are prone to set yours aside and go for the "lean 110," especially if there's no pressing reason to get to yours first.

That being said, there's always exceptions to the rule. Maybe you have a 140-page masterpiece that HAS to see the screen. More than likely, no, but... to each their own.

Yes, I've read tons of screenplays and I've never noticed this double spacing thing!!! I majored in screenwriting (about 12 years back) and we read each other's pages w/an instructor and everything...no double spacing ever mentined.

I don't like the auto-format things because I feel it interferes with my process. Sometimes I write very quickly and have a lot of notes and spill it all out at once. Then I go back and tab everything, which works for me.

Crap. Does anyone have a sample page that I can print out and hold up to the light (along with my own)??? And how would I get Celtx? I can plug in my lines and see if it looks like what I have...thank you!

[WildChild]

:confused:

Why on earth not? There are two great programs out there if you can drop the $, and some solid free ones as well.

If you do not have proper format, your script will be thrown out. This is not a myth meant to scare amateurs. If your format is off, your script will not even get a read. Ever. (unless we are talking insignificant contests, which don't really matter in this industry)

Seriously, just get some screenwriting software. You are apparently just learning format, so why make it harder than it needs to be? You're just being stubborn, and it will only hurt you.

You sound like my mom! Okay, so could I take a screenplay I already have and plug it into the screenplay format program and it'll format the whole thing automatically?

I never thought the screewriting software would work for me because I write in transcript form, eg.:

b: blah blah blah blah blah
c: blah blah blah blah blah

Action blah blah blah.

NOTE: move this to so and so.


I put down the initials because it goes faster. And then I get notes and ideas or research for other scenes and blurb it all down. I don't write in order, and I like to write in transcript form. Then when I've got scenes written out, I tab it all over. It's worked well for me, except for the friggin' double space thing I'm finding out about now...

[WildChild]

How do I get some free screenplay format programs? I'll see how a page compares to mine. Pls advise, otherwise I'll have to pop another tranquilizer.

[Robot17]

I don't know about Celtx but if you import an formatted rtf file into Final Draft and it will pretty much format it.

You still have to know what it should look like but its not that hard - its kind of part of the job.

Here's a link to Celtx:

http://celtx.com/overview.html

[Population17]

I've been using the FreeWare of Celtx for a while and I love the outcome. It formats it as i type. It has an index card feature. A place to put notes for each individual SCENE HEADING and it saves in PDF form... all for free!!!!! That's the best part.

Seriously WildChild... check it out... just google CeltX or check the site Robot posted.

thanks
brad

[WildChild]

I don't know about Celtx but if you import an formatted rtf file into Final Draft and it will pretty much format it.

You still have to know what it should look like but its not that hard - its kind of part of the job.

Here's a link to Celtx:

http://celtx.com/overview.html


Thanks, Robot. I'm downloading it now.

[lucidimage]

I never thought the screewriting software would work for me because I write in transcript form, eg.:

b: blah blah blah blah blah
c: blah blah blah blah blah

Action blah blah blah.

NOTE: move this to so and so.

Well screenwriting software will automatically adjust the format when you copy/paste from a document file ASSUMING you have followed some kind of basic formatting rules and it can figure out what you were writing.

I will be honest- I am not entirely sure what "transcipt form" is. Based on what you are saying- does that mean no formatting of any kind and all characters are just their initials? If there is zero format used I would think that Final Draft or any of the primary softwares would have a hard time figuring out what was what (i.e. Action, Shot, Transition, Character, Dialogue etc.).

If you are just writing for the fun of it and never plan on doing anything with it, I'm sure "transcript form" is fine, but you WILL need to follow proper formatting guidelines if you ever want someone in the industry to look at it. Its a must. They will throw it out if it doesn't, most likely without even reading a page.

If cost is an issue, there is free software (as mentioned already) like CeltX that can give you proper formatting and there is also free to download Microsoft Word templates that can be great for getting the proper format.

But either way, if you have never followed any formal screenplay guidelines to this point- you are going to need to do a lot of editing regardless if you use Word or screenwriting software.

[JonnyAtlas]

As for the usage of initials "because it's faster", every screenwriting program keeps a database of character names. You only have to type in the first letter, and it auto-fills the rest (like a t9 dictionary). Way faster. Plus, with the addition of hotkeys, it is unbelievably fast. It should not hinder your process at all.

[WildChild]

Many many thanks, everyone. I downloaded the Celtx and typed in one of my pages. My, it's convenient! I still don't write that way - like to write "transcript style", but I can plug in what I have into this program and I know I've gone the right format.

As for double spacing after a dialogue and before the next paragraph, there is no double space. I held up my original page and the formatted page up to the light; it's the same.

Still not sure about doublespacing after slugline or action, because the program allows you to hit return.

THANKS EVERYONE!

[ComicBent]

Look, I skipped over the other replies, mostly.

When you talk about "double spacing," do you understand that this just means you have ONE blank line between the paragraph above and the one below?

I am asking this, because you must have seen at least one screenplay at some time or another. I don't understand how all of this information about "double" spacing could be so surprising to you, unless maybe you don't understand what double spacing refers to.

[Population17]

Look, I skipped over the other replies, mostly.

When you talk about "double spacing," do you understand that this just means you have ONE blank line between the paragraph above and the one below?

I am asking this, because you must have seen at least one screenplay at some time or another. I don't understand how all of this information about "double" spacing could be so surprising to you, unless maybe you don't understand what double spacing refers to.


BLAMMO! And there it is! Comic always knows how to sum up these things.

Well played Sir. Well played.


brad

[WildChild]

Look, I skipped over the other replies, mostly.

When you talk about "double spacing," do you understand that this just means you have ONE blank line between the paragraph above and the one below?

I am asking this, because you must have seen at least one screenplay at some time or another. I don't understand how all of this information about "double" spacing could be so surprising to you, unless maybe you don't understand what double spacing refers to.


HOLY CRAP! It's ONE blank line? I thought double spacing meant TWO blank lines in between the paragraph above and the one below...I've been printing out pages and holding them up to the light underneath mine...okay...I think I get it now...double spacing....means you hit ENTER

twice. Okay, I'm officially embarrassed now...thanks, Comic.

[WildChild]

Well screenwriting software will automatically adjust the format when you copy/paste from a document file ASSUMING you have followed some kind of basic formatting rules and it can figure out what you were writing.

I will be honest- I am not entirely sure what "transcipt form" is. Based on what you are saying- does that mean no formatting of any kind and all characters are just their initials? If there is zero format used I would think that Final Draft or any of the primary softwares would have a hard time figuring out what was what (i.e. Action, Shot, Transition, Character, Dialogue etc.).

If you are just writing for the fun of it and never plan on doing anything with it, I'm sure "transcript form" is fine, but you WILL need to follow proper formatting guidelines if you ever want someone in the industry to look at it. Its a must. They will throw it out if it doesn't, most likely without even reading a page.

If cost is an issue, there is free software (as mentioned already) like CeltX that can give you proper formatting and there is also free to download Microsoft Word templates that can be great for getting the proper format.

But either way, if you have never followed any formal screenplay guidelines to this point- you are going to need to do a lot of editing regardless if you use Word or screenwriting software.

Hey Lucid, I basically blurb out a lot of stuff, unformatted, and then later (after a couple of scenes or pages) format it to the tabs I set and type out the character's names. I write faster that way and it works better for me, if that makes any sense....

[ComicBent]

I have encountered the confusion about "double spacing" before. That is how I knew (or at least suspected) what the problem was here. :)

[NikeeGoddess]

I never thought the screewriting software would work for meonce you use screenwriting software you'll realize how silly you were. it frees up having to think about formatting making the writing process that much easier. i'm sure those free ones are good. i've never tried one. but final draft and movie magic (expensive yes) are industry standard and what the pros use. if you want to be a pro then you need to follow in their footsteps. you'll be so happy once you try.

TANGENT ALERT:
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