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Hi. Is there a proper way to number pages. I have mine on the bottom centered, but some on the BBC website have them top right. These seem to be shooting scripts so they might be done diffrently.
Get some screenwriting software then and use that, a lot easier than messing about in Word.
There's a bunch of options, many with free trials etc, or something like Trelby which is open source and totally free... takes most of the hassle out of formatting.
No real answer given for this question, but here's mine. The title page gets no number, the first page of the actual screenplay is page one, but it is not printed on the page. The next page is page 2, it should be on the top right and each page thereafter should be numbered consecutively in the top right.
Picking up hookers instead of my pen I let the words of my youth fade away.
"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys," Sharon Vaughn
No real answer given for this question, but here's mine. The title page gets no number, the first page of the actual screenplay is page one, but it is not printed on the page. The next page is page 2, it should be on the top right and each page thereafter should be numbered consecutively in the top right.
This is, of course, the correct and accurate answer. You can continue to use MS Word, and do just fine. There are a few screenplay templates for MS Word that are first rate. I'm posting a link. But I'm also posting a link to Trelby. I use it and so do many other writers. The download page has guides and a link to a copy of Courier 10 pitch font to install and use. It really is a sweet piece of software. Mind you, it is all you get, as the project is no longer supported. It doesn't need to be, really. The only feature it is missing is dual dialog, but that can be beaten as well. The British do it, and their method just fine. If you, or any of your friends can code, the code is available to downloaded and you can modify and compile it as you like. All the links are on the page I'm sending you to.
No real answer given for this question, but here's mine. The title page gets no number, the first page of the actual screenplay is page one, but it is not printed on the page. The next page is page 2, it should be on the top right and each page thereafter should be numbered consecutively in the top right.
I will back up Anthony and Steven here and say that Trelby is the way to go. I'm just getting back onto the boards after a while, and man am I glad to see people aren't pushing Celtx anymore. I've been saying Trelby is superior for years!
Now, while Trelby is my preferred, even over Final Draft... I will say if you have the money, or even if you don't, put a little money aside here and there and give yourself Final Draft as a birthday present, even if it's just to get yourself acquainted and used to it. When you start working more and more with producers or production companies or actors and actresses or even collaborating with other writers, Final Draft is just a lot easier to synch and edit with others and in that way, is totally worth the price. (It also has several formats like a UK version and it'll format and page number everything the way it's supposed to be for your region.)
Almost all the current script writing software options allow you to try/trial them for free, so try a few out and see which you like and which fits your budget.
If your budget is zero then Trelby is a good option, if you have some cash then FadeIn is a good option (I interviewed the creator a few years ago, it'll be somewhere on here), if you have the cash and fall for the 'industry standard' marketing then Final Draft may be for you.
The key thing that they all have in common is that they take care of the majority of formatting for you, then when you are finished they will output to a PDF in a recognisable industry standard... which is all you really need for now.