RTF is kind of a side save for FD. It prefers fdr file for all its wonderful features to stay intact. The pages numbers, continueds, and title page are all extras you lose with the RTF save.

Many moons after this old post, I learn the secret of the Cournier Final Draft Font. It isn't a smaller font than Courier New, but it takes attributes from the old Courier (which doesn't do double quotes for some reason) and Courier New (which does) and combines them (sort of). What's the big difference? The spacing between the lines. I learned this because I use some non-English characters such as this: ä. In it's capital form, it will not display the dots in Courier Final Draft because the narrower spacing allows more writing on the page. This is why I got fewer pages than I did with Courier New. Interesting? I think so.

I actually have a question regarding the fonts.  In many guides and contests they say "Only 12 point courier font," but many scripts I read on here are in 12 point courier new.  Is this a loop hole or something, or if a contest says "only 12 point courier" then should it just be 12 point courier?  

Personally I found the new courier a little neater and easier on the eyes.

I've found it to be the same way and I tend to use Courier New a lot. The problem comes in with the spacing between the lines. Take any script and paste it into Word or some other WP program that has both fonts. Select All and change the font to Courier New. Take note of how many pages you get. Select All again and change to Courier. You'll note a difference in pages. It's not huge but I found Hard Rain in txt format and used it. I went from 119 pages in Courier New to 116 in Courier. Little changed but the spacing between the lines. In Courier Final Draft, it's only the spacing.

However, in most cases, either is still acceptable, but if you're looking to trim a couple of pages...

Yeah, I have FD5 and have yet to figure out how to save a title page. It's not a big deal, but it does kind of piss me off, you know?

The process in FD7 may be backwards compatable to FD5. Barring that, I would suggest scouring the help file. That's how I figured it out.

I'll try it later, thanks.

so final verdict....i'm using MS Word .... 12 point Courier new is GOOD?

When I was writing a script on Word and Courier FD replaced Courier or I didn't have Courier to begin with.

Herodreamer, I'd use Courier as a safety. But if you don't have it, then Courier New will just have to do.

Hi

I was wondering if anyone knew how to get final draft to cheat your screenplay down to 120 pages.  I read about it in a thread I think but I can't seem to find it.  Maybe it was in a review I read about final draft though>?? I dunno.  

thanks in advance

Jaykur

If you're going from Courier New to Courier Final Draft, there will be a minor page reduction because of the space between lines being less in Courier FD than Courier New. Beyond that, the only trick is editing, and that's more of a skill.

If you try to cheat pages down by reducing margins or increasing dialogue width, the readers will notice. I wouldn't try it.

thank you.  

What George said, and I might add that somewhere you can choose between "normal", "tight", or "very tight". That compresses the script a lot.

I don´t remember exactly where´s that option, and I don´t have FD here at work to check it out. But it should be easy to find; there aren´t much menus in FD.

On a sidenote, do know that professional readers are famous for spotting this kind of cheating from a mile away.

They read normal scripts all day long, so when they spot one that's cheating, it just sticks out like a sore thumb. Best to let the 125 pages or whatever through.

Hi Jaykur!

Instead to compress you script why do not to reduce the words in what you trying to say for example:

- Gonzalez, a guy about 30 years old, tall and unshaved wearing an exaggerated hat are asleep leaned on the sheriff office’s wall.

- Protected by his Mexican hat Gonzalez, 30, sleeps leaned on the sheriff office’s wall.

PS: Sorry I know that there are better examples than that I showed.