When writing a script, let's say you get 2/3 of the way down the page and that scene ends (or even 1/4 or where ever) would you advise starting the next scene on the next page or simply carry on?
It just looks a wee bit shitty if I carry on from a 1/3 the way with the next scene but looks a little odd if I jump to the next page with a new scene from only ending the last scene 1/4 the way down the page.
If that makes sense 
All advise welcome.
Film carry on. TV start with a new page.
They need to have space to write all those lovely comments remember.
Quote: Marc P @ October 9 2008, 12:41 PM BSTFilm carry on. TV start with a new page.
They need to have space to write all those lovely comments remember.
Yeah, but surely you only need to do the new page/new scene once your script has progressed? For a spec script, just carry on.
I always start on a new page.
Also, my spec scripts look like production scripts anyway,as I figure it's less work to change it later on.
I just wanted it to look bob_on from first glance.
Thx, MP & MJ 
However, just trimming up some now and i've created a new page for the end of a scene with only 3 lines on it!
Mmmmmm!
Thinking tho', if they read 10 pages, some maybe blank'ish 
I hate it when a scene goes over to a new page by just a line of dialogue or two. It feels like a waste of a page. I think to myself - thats a bloody whole page now that is counted into my total page count, and all because of one bloody line (or more likely the formating!)
A serious question - if someone stipulates a page count how do you judge these pages that only have a line of dialogue and a 'cut to' transition on them? It seems unfair.
Def.
I just tend to do whatever looks neatest. If it means only having one line of dialogue of a new scene I start on the next page.
I also hate going onto a fresh page by one line. In that case I tend to muck about with borders/margins or see if I can cut anything to make it fit. Not ideal I suppose but ugly documents offend me.
If I only have one line of dialogue and a CUT TO on a page, then I go back through the previous page(s) and cut it down a bit so that it fits neatly at the botto of the previous page.
Quote: Deferenz @ October 9 2008, 2:30 PM BSTI hate it when a scene goes over to a new page by just a line of dialogue or two.
I quite like it when that happens, because it forces me into brutal editing mode and I usually find that something can be cut (or reworded) so that the scene ends nicely at the bottom of the page.
EDIT - As Mikey J just said, in fact. Should have read the whole thread before replying.
There's no ambiguity or ifs or buts to this question. For a tv script you start a new scene on a new page every single time, even if the preceeding page ended with one word. Or even a full stop.
New scene, new page. It is the law.
Quote: Lee Henman @ October 10 2008, 8:02 PM BSTNew scene, new page. It is the law.
Except when it's not.
A biggggg producer basically suggested that's not always the case. I had my script - new scene new page - and when he'd tinkered with it, it came back all in one run with no page breaks.
Quote: Seefacts @ October 10 2008, 10:59 PM BSTExcept when it's not.
A biggggg producer basically suggested that's not always the case. I had my script - new scene new page - and when he'd tinkered with it, it came back all in one run with no page breaks.
God give me strength...it bloody amazes how you have all these formatting rules shoved down your throat, book after book telling you the correct way to do it and then some producer throws it all out the window. I had a BBC producer email about a script once, complaining that the format was screwed up. "There's a huge margin down the left hand side of page" he whined.
"Isn't that how it's supposed to look?" I said.
"Well I've never come across it before" he sniffed.
F**k me, it tells you quite clearly on the BBC Writer's Room script formatting section to always leave a large margin down the left hand side of the page! Every book on tv scripts I've read tells you to do the same. So why hadn't this numpty ever seen it?
I bloody give up, me.
Quote: Lee Henman @ October 11 2008, 12:13 AM BSTI bloody give up, me.
Can I have the panel show gig, then?
Quote: Lee Henman @ October 11 2008, 12:13 AM BSTGod give me strength...it bloody amazes how you have all these formatting rules shoved down your throat, book after book telling you the correct way to do it and then some producer throws it all out the window. I had a BBC producer email about a script once, complaining that the format was screwed up. "There's a huge margin down the left hand side of page" he whined.
"Isn't that how it's supposed to look?" I said.
"Well I've never come across it before" he sniffed.
F**k me, it tells you quite clearly on the BBC Writer's Room script formatting section to always leave a large margin down the left hand side of the page! Every book on tv scripts I've read tells you to do the same. So why hadn't this numpty ever seen it?I bloody give up, me.
Well, I wrote in the BBC style and then got told to switch to the US style. So now everything I write is Courier US style.
Just do what you do and have done with it.
No f**ker knows.
Quote: Seefacts @ October 11 2008, 12:39 AM BSTNo f**ker knows.
In a spec sitcom script it is probably fair to say no one gives much of a shit about the formatting, as long as it looks like a script.
Drama you are probably better off making it look right from the start.
Radio - just read it aloud and tape it and send in the cassette.