I was toying around with some of the features on Final Draft today and I came to this option.  I was wondering if there was a standard for screenplays.  Of course it is automatically set to normal, but does it matter if I decide to use "tight" spacing or even "extra tight" spacing?  It really helps on chopping off some page if my script is running a little long and it doesn't seem to make the script any harder to read.

Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

T.I.N.

Quoted from Jonathan Terry It really helps on chopping off some page if my script is running a little long and it doesn't seem to make the script any harder to read.

Indeed. But I'd bet that any guy who reads scripts every day for a living can spot an "extra tight script" just by glancing at it. If you use this feature in a very long script, you run the risk of highlighting the very flaw you're trying to hide.

And to be honest, the use of this feature does take a bit of "white" from the pages.

If you're planning to submit your script to prodcos, contests, or agents, I suggest you to stick to the normal page layout, unless you're over 120 pages and you find impossible to cut any more "black" from you pages.

A lot of professional readers and agents will stop reading your script if your layout is tight or if you play with the margins.  With with the normal stuff.


Phil

Figure I'd spark up an older discussion here, I just finished reading a blacklist script. As I read it, something struck me as different but I couldn't put my finger on what. A closer look revealed the format was not only on tight, but working it VERY TIGHT.

This format choice didn't distract from the read, but I'm sure some old salts can argue it's a cheap way to clear the high jump. So I went through several pro and amateur scripts to see if it's common. I didn't see one amateur script go tight, but noticed a few produced/popular scripts go tight or very tight. Two old typewriter scripts were tighter, but I don't think they had much of a choice.

Has anybody here had the balls to go VERY TIGHT, submit to a contest or something significant and live to tell the tale?

I has never bothered me as far as reading goes, but it will DQ a script from some comps. Especially if page count matters. At MP, this was a no no.

Quoted from Grandma Bear I has never bothered me as far as reading goes, but it will DQ a script from some comps. Especially if page count matters. At MP, this was a no no.

I agree. Not sure if there's a writer out there crazy enough to pay money and submit tight. It's weird, part of me actually likes the way it looks. If it wasn't considered by most as a cheat, I'd for sure experiment with it.

I believe some people use it also to cheat on page count for proofreading/Coverage etc. to get a better rate. Really not a good idea.

Quoted from LC I believe some people use it also to cheat on page count for proofreading/Coverage etc. to get a better rate. Really not a good idea.

Yep, I'm sure they got that pinned as the oldest trick in the book. Taking milk out of the baby's bottle.

It's pretty simple to trim fat. We should be able to write the same story in 10 or 100 pages if we put our minds to it.

In my opinion, if super tight is an option and you like the way it reads then you should use that option.

Quoted from DustinBowcot It's pretty simple to trim fat. We should be able to write the same story in 10 or 100 pages if we put our minds to it. In my opinion, if super tight is an option and you like the way it reads then you should use that option.

Ah, Dustin, the devil on my shoulder. For me I'd never use it to get below 120, but I imagine that's what most addicts say before it starts. The option is there, as well as the evidence of its use...

I'll just keep it normal for now lol, not that brave

It shouldn't be done to drop page count... but if you like it for aesthetic reasons then use it. I can't see any prod co turning a script away for that reason, but I don't really know. What makes sense to me doesn't mean it will to anyone else.

I don't like the default FD margins. I adjust them a bit to the left for purely aesthetic reasons. No one has said anything.