Quoted from jwent6688 I love when Balt's around, because he sums this shit up so much better than I. James

Damn right jwent...

&

FADE OUT:

Quoted from B.C. The reasons for NOT putting in aren't good enough to have your script KO'd over two tiny words.

While this is the reason I put the lines back in my 7wc script, it makes me f***ing sick that this is something that would "KO" a script or a writer... Absolutely disgusting.

Quoted from Dreamscale I have to agree with this.  I've made several posts and none were acknowledged.  You're on your own now, Conz, as far as I'm concerned.

with all due respect, who are you, and why do you believe your opinion is the gold standard around here? I'm not just talking about this thread either, you literally destroy every writer in every review.  Most people seem to try to be curteous, but you act like you're some kind of screen writing drill sergeant.  I'm not putting you down, I'm simply asking who you are you warrant saying some of the things you do like you created screenwriting.

you could be Aaron Sorkin for all I know, I'm just curious, b/c you get very defensive about just about everything.

and if i have you confused with someone else, that is my bad, and i apologize.

Quoted from Conz with all due respect, who are you, and why do you believe your opinion is the gold standard around here? I'm not just talking about this thread either, you literally destroy every writer in every review.  Most people seem to try to be curteous, but you act like you're some kind of screen writing drill sergeant.  I'm not putting you down, I'm simply asking who you are you warrant saying some of the things you do like you created screenwriting. you could be Aaron Sorkin for all I know, I'm just curious, b/c you get very defensive about just about everything. and if i have you confused with someone else, that is my bad, and i apologize.

Who am I?  Just another person trying to help writers write.  If you don't like my advice and feedback, don't go with it.  Simple as that.

You posted a question, asking for help and advice, as you have many times.  IMO, this is a downright foolish question to begin with, yet a number of people have chimed in to try and help you.  That's what this site is all about - people helping other people.  Quid Pro Quo.

The problem is that you rarely if ever give back, Conz.  You repeatedly post inane questions and topics, but you rarely provide feedback to others or even acknowledge those who try to help you and give you very valid, obvious answers to questions that don't need to be brought up in the first place.

Any and all information on a site like this, or really anywhere, for that matter, needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as much of it is downright, flat out incorrect or foolish.  I try to always give detailed answers and the reasoning behind it.

If Alan Sorkin told you that you had to use a FADE IN but never use FADE OUT and then Quentin Tarantino told you that you had to use the word "fuck" 75 + times in each and every script, what would you do?

I'd hope you'd come up with your own take on that advice, based on the reasons given for each.

If you sent a script to an independent producer they likely wouldn't care if you used FADE IN or not.  

However, if you are sending it to an agent who wants to sell your script they will care. They probably would not read it if there is no FADE IN because if they are planning on shopping it to anyone "Hollywood" then those people probably would care.

It's one of those things where it's appropriate in most situations to include it.  

The only time I might not include a FADE IN is if I'm writing a short for a Movie Poet contest and leaving out the FADE IN provides me with precious additional lines.  That is a completely permitted practice at Movie Poet.

Out in the real world, however, you should always try to include a FADE IN.

It's all well and fine to deviate from the norm - I completely support that.  However, you do have to realize that there are repercussions when doing so.  

Quoted from Felipe While this is the reason I put the lines back in my 7wc script, it makes me f***ing sick that this is something that would "KO" a script or a writer... Absolutely disgusting.

It is crazy, but apparently true.

Slightly off topic, but not too much --  

Guess what I read on a script readers blog the other day? Putting 'Copywrite 2012' on your title page can seriously harm your chances when sending unsolicited scripts out. The reason why? Because the reader is likely to think you are a paranoid lunatic that's egomaniacal enough to beleive your script is actually good enough to be stolen.

I'm not kidding. I laughed when I read it, but the more you dig deep the weirder this stuff gets. Best not too worry too much, otherwise it's Basket Case central.  

Yeah I don't put copyright or wga registration numbers on scripts for that reason. Just having the copyright is enough to protect you. If you put that stamp on every script you send out the company will be afraid to read it, fearing that doing business with you is an invitation for a lawsuit.

Putting a copyright date on your script also dates your script... If you have a script with 2007 on it and a copyright/wga registration it screams

1.  Amature
2.  I have an old ass script that hasn't sold yet

Even if your idea/script is good, odds are someone else has wrote something just like it.   Don't be afraid of theft... but when you land an agent or a working relationship with consultants/readers they will ask that you not put your material online and hand it out.

Make certain you put that copyright on your script if you are posting on the internet.  Take it off when you're sending your script out to an agent, however.  

Quoted from mcornetto Make certain you put that copyright on your script if you are posting on the internet.  Take it off when you're sending your script out to an agent, however.

Wow.  This is the first I'd ever heard of this.

I own hundreds of screenplays and from my very fast skim, it seems that a lot of the older scripts wrote FI on both sides or not at all.

Newer scripts have it in left side or not at all.

I write mine on left side. English people start reading on the left side and end on the right side. I put my FO on the right side.

It may be obvious but it's what I do and how I like it.

I've brought this up before with reviewers who criticise the writer if they don't include it and I just don’t buy it.

If you want the opening scene to fade in as a lot of films do, include it.

If you don't want the opening scene to fade as a lot films do, don't include it.

Simple as that.

It shouldn't be a hard rule.

Also, if you choose not to fade in, it doesn't mean the opening scene has to be startling like a gunshot or chase or whatever. It can be any type of scene, it’s all up to you, the writer, how you visualise it thus the script should reflect this.

Obviously, some scenes suit a fade in (i.e. someone waking up/gaining consciousness) and vice versa. A reviewer’s suggestion that an opening scene would work better if it were faded in is fine but I don’t agree with being dogmatic that it must always do.

I understand about putting your best foot forward as an unestablished writer and playing ball, I get that but if a reader wants to throw away your script on the basis of that omission, regardless how your first scene unfolds, well…SS is far too noble a site for me to print my response.

I have the same opinion towards fade out at the end of a script, all depends on the scene.

Anyway, that's just my thoughts on it.

I know it has already been said, but what I really like about the "FADE IN" and "FADE OUT" is that they give the hook and disconnect to "the story"-proper... my 2c worth...

I put Fade In and Fade Out, just out of habit. Even if, when I visualize my story, it happens a different way. There's very few ways you can go from a black screen to an image and vice versa. Might as well go with something that's universal.

I'll forgive anything if the words on the page grab me.

However, I do a lot of reading for other companies...
If I don't know the author, I gauge them by how well they adhere to industry standard.
Then, at least I can get an idea of how well they know format and the craft.
And figure out if I'm in for a tough read or not.
I won't quit if FADE IN: isn't there. But it goes in the red flag column.

In the end, I'll forgive anything if the script jumps off the page!

Regards,
E.D.