Formatting (Final Draft 8)

I've been using final draft 8 for the past couple of years, exclusively using the film/screenplay format, although I've been using this format for a writing project that is essentially a TV script. Would it be ok to use this format for TV writing? I know it's not really the format to be used for TV scripts but having got used to it these past years I think I much prefer the layout of the film/screenplay format.

Also, does final draft 8 have other formats such as TV script layout? And could someone who knows better please give me instructions on how to find the TV script format in final draft 8. I'm a bit of a caveman when it comes to being tech savvy with FD 8.

Also, I want to send my own ten page submission for the Red Planet Prize entry. Do you think I would be penalised if I was to send my submission for a TV project in film/screenplay format?

Thanks for any advice.

Final Draft has a BBC Screenplay template. At least I did the last time I used it.

Generally though, it doesn't really matter what format you submit in as an amateur writer. As long as it clean and clear to understand. If anything was commissioned it would be reformatted appropriately.

I use FD 6 on my knackerd old laptop which isn't to hand but, from memory, if you open a 'new' file, it asks you what type and lists a whole load of templates for film/tv etc. Select one of those. I have a feeling it may well then use that as a default but am no expert.

Would agree that the format only needs to be representative and easy to understand, don't get hung up on it unless a submission specifically asks for it.

You'll find the available templates under FILE>NEW FROM STATIONERY.
I think you can also download additional templates from the FD website.

But, as above, for a submission, you could use any of the TV templates.

Thanks Leevil & Steve. I was just curious to find a FD8 TV script format to compare with the film/screenplay format. I'm kind of comfortable with what I'm presently using, but as you both say a readable script is the most important thing. I'll take a wander through FD8 tonight and see if I can find the TV script format. I'm pretty sure FD8 includes play formatting so I would imagine it would have the TV option.

Cheers for clearing that up.

Edit: Ah thanks Italophile, I'll check that out, might just save me from having a fruitless wander through FD8.

Thank you

Nice juxtaposition of Italophile's dog looking down at the squirrel.

Film format is perfectly acceptable.

Yes, he's eyeing breakfast.

Ha! Breakfast? You'd need to catch him first.

@Micheal. Glad to hear film format is acceptable. I have this image of script readers throwing scripts into the bin purely because the formatting doesn't match a specific visual medium, irrespective of the content. But not so?

Quote: the sea squirrel @ January 6 2012, 6:02 PM GMT

Ha! Breakfast? You'd need to catch him first.

View original

Verily. Said avatar dog - barely 3 months old in the photo - is now 12 years old and very creaky.

@Micheal. Glad to hear film format is acceptable. I have this image of script readers throwing scripts into the bin purely because the formatting doesn't match a specific visual medium, irrespective of the content. But not so?

The fact that it's formatted at all - feature film format, whatever - will be a reason for them to read it in front of unformatted submissions that are all over the place like - well, a 12 year-old dog's breakfast.

Quote: the sea squirrel @ January 6 2012, 6:02 PM GMT

Ha! Breakfast? You'd need to catch him first.

@Micheal. Glad to hear film format is acceptable. I have this image of script readers throwing scripts into the bin purely because the formatting doesn't match a specific visual medium, irrespective of the content. But not so?

View original

Production scripts are formatted according to the requirements of the production by the script supervisor, but at submission stage legibility is the main thing. Although if it's an audience sitcom, you should specify that. Production scripts for audience shows have a wide left-hand margin to allow for camera directions to be inserted, but outside the production context, formatting like that is waste of paper.

PS - not everyone has Final Draft, so it's a good idea to send PDF versions.

I still just send Word docs. Not very pro.

Doesn't matter really.

Quote: Micheal Jacob @ January 7 2012, 4:57 PM GMT

PS - not everyone has Final Draft, so it's a good idea to send PDF versions.

View original

Very good tip. In days gone by a FD "reader" was available, a piece of FD software that could be downloaded to let people open and read FD documents without having the FD software itself installed. It was "read only". You couldn't make changes to the document. FD did away with the "reader", presumably because it discouraged buying the full software. Now the only way to send a FD document to non-FD-equipped readers is via PDF.

Quote: italophile @ January 8 2012, 9:52 AM GMT

Very good tip. In days gone by a FD "reader" was available, a piece of FD software that could be downloaded to let people open and read FD documents without having the FD software itself installed. It was "read only". You couldn't make changes to the document. FD did away with the "reader", presumably because it discouraged buying the full software. Now the only way to send a FD document to non-FD-equipped readers is via PDF.

View original

Yes.
Sadly, the main reason people want stuff sent as an FD file is so they can change it.

Quote: the sea squirrel @ January 6 2012, 6:02 PM GMT

Ha! Breakfast? You'd need to catch him first.

@Micheal. Glad to hear film format is acceptable. I have this image of script readers throwing scripts into the bin purely because the formatting doesn't match a specific visual medium, irrespective of the content. But not so?

View original

They might be that fussy in the United States, but not so in the UK.

Film format is much more compact than 3-camera studio (sitcom) format, so you save paper by submitting in Film format.