Screenplay presentation format

[eddyuk]

Lo again all.
Another question to get you all a postin'.
I recently completed my masterpiece and have printed it out (all @#%$ 89 pages of it).
The format of the screenplay itself is fine, I think - 12 point courier as font, yeah? - but I have some general questions about what I do with the screenplay now.

1)How many holes do I punch in it, and where?

2)Do I put some kind of card front and backing on it - if so, is colour important (and yes, that's the UK spelling of colour, the correct version :) )

3) What do I use to keep the screenplay together - what goes through the holes, what are they called, where can I get 'em and how much do they cost?

4) Does anyone know of any sites where I can see examples of some nicely done up screenplays?

Many thanks guys, appreciate it.

Eddy. :)

[eddyuk]

Please help me someone, I don't know where else to ask.

Thankie.

[spidey12]

I'll bite. Welcome, Eddy.
1)Punch three holes on the left side, like it was going in a 3-ring binder.

2)It's my understanding that some companies prefer a board backing, whereas others don't. Do your homework with each individual company, and find out what in which format you should submit.

3)Those things are called 'brads' and you can use 2 or 3; for the most part it's personal preference. (If someone knows something I don't about this, by all means set me straight.) You can get 'em at a hardware store, you can order 'em online, etc.

4)By 'nicely done up' do you mean in the correct format? If so, type in 'screenplays' or 'movie screenplays' or 'scripts', etc. in a search engine and watch the sites roll in.

Hope this helps.

[eddyuk]

Cheers, Spidey.

Much appreciated, and oh yeah, do I have to number pages?

Thanks.

[Leandro]

Here's a good link for you re: formatting and binding:

scriptwritingsecrets.com/contents.htm (http://scriptwritingsecrets.com/contents.htm)

WRT binding and brads, click on the "Binding" navigational link located near the bottom of the left-hand sideboard of the above website.

Regarding some of your specific questions:

1. Brads: The consensus seems to be that two (one in the top hole, one in the bottom hole) is preferred over using three (one in each hole.)

2. Cover sheet: Use cardstock, white is probably safest, on the front; cardstock on the backside is optional. Don't print anything on the front cardstock cover--leave it completely blank. Your title, contact info, etc should appear on the first page, the title sheet, which should be of standard 20 lb. weight white paper.

3. WRT to general formatting of the screenplay, the link I included above provides fairly detailed examples which should help you out.

Best of luck,
:)
Leandro

[Zeeman13]

No. In fact, I understand the industry prefers that, when submitting, you don't number pages and that you shuffle them casino style (6 scripts at a time to deter a reader from page-counting).

[Leandro]

:lol

Eddy, yes, DO number your pages; no number on your first page and begin with "2" on the second page, top right hand corner seems to be the convention...

[steeves]

for those who thought 3 holes? was a dumb question... maybe not, based on his uk location

over these parts many (most?) binders are 2 holes, about 3cm up and done from page centre - here in qatar i can get nothing but a4 paper and two ring binders (which sucks)

eddy: a4 paper size is apparently frowned on - try to find US stock (8.5*11 inches) if you can - otherwise consider have the pages cut short to match - proper length page seems to be important to some, width you can get away with, or so i have been told......... opinions?

use 2 brads - top and bottom. and i think #6 size is preferable for 100pages+, #5 for less - watch for sharp edges, don't fold 'em over or cut 'em short (hard to impress the reader after you pull some threads on a favourite sweater or semi-maimed their fingers or their lap

maybe reconsider the cardstock cover?? i hear different answers to this everywhere, but most answers i have read from the pros indicate that the agencies add the covers - straight paper with page 1 as the cover may be preferable (wcm? gig? wat u tink?) if you do use a cover, make it WHITE. period. no choice.

do NOT write the name of the script on the spine - they do that and if it appears in the copy you send it may appear to be "used" (resubmitted from somewhere else)

[eddyuk]

Thankie for your help people, it's greatly enlightened me - who'd have thought the damn presentation was so important, eh? :)
But thanks anyway.

Oh, and does anyone know the exact length of that wierd US A4 paper, as this'd be helpful.

Thanks again all :)

Ed.

[steeves]

they use metric (a4) paper
they sell gas by the litre (i think they changed, could be wrong)
only other g7 country to not go metric (just like you yanks :-) but the imperial and US gallons aren't the same bloody size
and of course they drive on the wrong bloody side of the road.... stranger than fiction!

anyway, us standard sheet is 8.5 inches by 11 inches (1 inch=2.54cm)

paper size is certainly a hassle for those of us not (anymore) living in north america

[eddyuk]

Thanks for that and yeah - Britain i wierd, I admit - but at least we don't let our kids take guns to school.

Thankie.

Eddy..

FADE OUT:

END.