Screenplay Format Guide Story Sense174;（剧本格式指南Sense174故事;）.pdfVIP

Screenplay Format Guide Format-wise, anything that makes your script stand out is unwise. This may seem counterintuitive. Anything you do to make your screenplay distinctive is good, right? Depart from the traditional format, though, and you risk having your script prejudged as amateurish. A truly conscientious reader will overlook such superficial matters and focus on content. However, if your work looks unprofessional, it may not be taken seriously. To ensure your script gets a fair read, follow these formatting guidelines: It isn’t necessary to file a copyright with the Library of Congress. Your script is automatically protected under common law. However, it’s a good idea to register it, either with an online service, such as the National Creative Registry (), or with the Writers Guild. This being said, the Industry tends to view registration and copyright notices as the marks of a paranoid amateur. You would be wise to leave them off your script. Use a plain cover. White or pastel card stock, not leatherette. Avoid using screw posts or plastic-comb binding. Bind your script with sturdy, brass fasteners, such as those made by ACCO. The ones Staples sells are too flimsy. Readers hate it when a script falls apart in their hands. You can order professional-quality script supplies online from WritersS. Although scripts are printed on three-hole-punched paper, there’s an unwritten rule that speculative scripts are bound with two fasteners, not three. Why this tends to be common practice is unclear. Perhaps it’s because submissions often get copied by the studio’s story department, and it’s easier (and cheaper) if there are only two brads. It’s an indication of how petty some readers can be that they judge your professionalism by the number of brads you use. However, to avoid this pitfall it’s a good idea to use only two brass fastener