Formatting NYC contradiction |
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scottdcon
NYC Midnight Groupie Joined: 18 Oct 2018 Status: Offline Points: 129 |
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Posted: 20 Dec 2018 at 4:37am |
Hello folks,
With regards to screenplay formatting, I've had a discussion with someone who said the formatting of my page numbering is incorrect. I know it's a small detail, but it's worth solving. I read the rules and NYCmidnight's recommendations which contradict each other (I have underlined the contradicting sentences): On this link, under page numbering, it states: Yet in the official rules states: LENGTH - The maximum length for each individual screenplay is 5 pages (not including the title page).
All pages must be numbered. What should I do? Number page 1 or not? Any help would be appreciated. Scott |
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cheezopath
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1138 |
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title page not numbered, the 5 pages of the body of the script numbered. final draft does this correctly by default
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scottdcon
NYC Midnight Groupie Joined: 18 Oct 2018 Status: Offline Points: 129 |
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I have read your scripts (great by the way) but none of them has page #1 numbered. Final draft doesn't number page 1 by default, but starts with 2. So what I hope to clarify is that it's correct not to number the 'FADE IN' page, but to number the rest?
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cheezopath
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1138 |
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thanks! also WTF?? how did i never notice that. goes to show how much I'm relying on the autoformatting
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scottdcon
NYC Midnight Groupie Joined: 18 Oct 2018 Status: Offline Points: 129 |
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In The Screen Writer's Bible' it specifically says page 1 of the screenplay should not be numbered, and every other source seems to agree. So I think it's safe to say that NYCMidnight has made a slight error here and nobody will be penalised for not numbering page 1.
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FMau
NYC Midnight Regular Joined: 17 Oct 2018 Location: Oxford Status: Offline Points: 369 |
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I suspect, come January the whateverth, I'll have learnt not to rely on autoformatting... take a look at the lower margin on my pages (Sporty, Ginger...). I was so busy making sure I didn't go to a 6th page, I didn't notice. Bound to be dinged...
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DJewell
NYC Midnight Regular Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Status: Offline Points: 468 |
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I've been doing these comps for years, and I agree that this error will not penalize you. The main reason for using proper format is that people who read screenplays expect it and not using it can distract your reader from the story - not good. That said, a page number, there or not, isn't going to distract anyone.
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NilesPerry
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 10 Dec 2014 Location: Nevada Status: Offline Points: 2199 |
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If you're using Final Draft, Movie Magic Screenwriter or Celtx, you don't even need to worry about this. If not, then your Title Page indeed does not count toward page count or numbering, nor should it be numbered. Page 1 of your screenplay should also not be numbered. So, the only pages with numbers (in this competition) should be 2-5. As mentioned above, if Page 1 should be numbered, I seriously doubt anyone would even care. But then again, this current group of judges has many of us scratching our heads in bewilderment, so you might get nit-picked if your first script page has a number on it...
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scottdcon
NYC Midnight Groupie Joined: 18 Oct 2018 Status: Offline Points: 129 |
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There are loads of difficult formatting instances and the only reason I bring this one up is because of the contradiction, and someone criticized me for having not numbered page 1.
Interesting you mention the judges are behaving strangely. What makes you say that? You noticed anything consistently weird in their feedback or something? A lot of people mention that and it's my first time in this competition. |
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