What is the standard?

[iDV8]

Here is a simple question. When you send in your scripts, what is the standard binding?

[TodayIsTomorrow]

Re: What is the standard?

Acco #5 brass plated fasteners...one in top hole one in bottom not in middle.

[Jcorona]

Re: What is the standard?

I use two, one-and-a-quarter inch, solid, brass fasteners stuck through washers in the back of the script. That way the script won't fall apart in a reader's hands. Makes a huge difference.

Corona

[J off course]

Re: What is the standard?

Never a fastener in the middle hole?

OOPS...I submitted my entry into the Nicholl with three fasteners
with washers. Will I be disqualified? <smile>

I get my supplies from scriptsupplies.com and the packages come
with 10 cardboard covers and 15 fasteners so I thought, Ok..thats
five scripts with three fasteners each.

Dumb me.

[Joaneasley]

Re: What is the standard?

Most office supply stores only have brass-plated fasteners on the shelf, but they are too light and flimsy to hold a script together well enough. Special order the solid brass ones. You can do that at some office supply chains, or at on-line sites catering to screenwriters.

[iDV8]

Re: What is the standard?

I knew the Trapper Keeper or the three ring binder was a bad idea!

Thanks guys, I didn't know about the washers, great idea! Now lets see if I can find them in France.

[English Dave]

Re: What is the standard?

You know, the people who actually read your scripts have seen so much garbage perfectly bound that it really doesn't make that much of a difference to them. I'm not at all saying your script falls into that category, just bear in mind they probably won't be reading your original submission, but a copy. So how it is bound will depend largely on who photocopied it.

If you get the request to read then anything looking like it's been submitted by someone with any sense, rather than in blood with compromising photographs attached then chances are you are okay. As an unknown quantity make sure your first ten pages are engrossing.

Not necessarily stunning, but engrossing.

[tabula rasa]

Re: What is the standard?

I thought this had been asked before and several folks thought the washers were a negative ... because it made undoing the script for xeroxing many copies a bore?

Does anyone advise NOT using washers? Just checking; maybe the thinking has changed in six months?

[Jcorona]

Re: What is the standard?

I haven't had any complaints regarding the washers, tab. I just noticed that by using the solid brass fasteners and adding the washers that the script is so much more secure.

But bottom line, as ED mentioned and I totally agree, it's what's inside the binding that counts.

Corona

[TATAM78]

Re: What is the standard?

I use washers, if I don't my scripts will fall apart.

A script needs to be able to sustain duress as it may be passed from hand to hand and needs to hold together.

I don't even use the Acco standard fasteners because I don't find them to be strong enough.

Two brads in the top and bottom holes of a 3 hole punched script.

Your script isnt going to get a PASS because of the way it is binded, but because of the quality of your work.