Courier 12?

[przybyla]

In reference books, they say that you should use courier "12", but every screenplay I've read is in courier "11". Why is that?
(check any screenplay on this site for an example.)

My screenplay is 122 pages long with courier "12", and 113 pages long with courier "11".

No doubt, a 113 page screenplay is more appealing than a 122 page one, but I am happy with the story the way it is now. I want to leave the rest of the cutting up to whoever buys it. (wish, wish) Should I submit it in courier "11" instead of "12", or will that just make the uphill battle with the readers even steeper, and show a lack of professionalism on my part?

What do you suggest I do? Smart ass remarks are encouraged, but serious ones are needed.

[NobodySpecial]

How do you know they're in Courier 11 instead of 12?

[Ronaldinho]

What do you suggest I do? Smart ass remarks are encouraged, but serious ones are needed.

Cut three pages, and keep it in Courrier 12.

Start at the beginning of the script, and look for "windows"--- lines at the end of paragraphs that only have one word on them. Rework those paragraphs so you save the line.

Come back and let us know how much that saved you.

[przybyla]

How do you know they're in Courier 11 instead of 12?

Because, my loser ass cut up some of the dialog on a few of them, then I retyped it on my PC, reprinted in "11" and "12", then compared. They were 11. The screenplays were:

Oh Brother Where Art Thou
Lost Boys
Being John Malkovich
True Romance

[przybyla]

Start at the beginning of the script, and look for "windows"--- lines at the end of paragraphs that only have one word on them. Rework those paragraphs so you save the line.

8 pages. I just finished doing that. It was 130. Will it look unprofessional if I use "11", or will it look worse at "12" with 122? Something else I noticed is using Final Draft courier it is 122 pages, but using new Courier, it is like 140 pages. Is the courier on word different from the courier on Final Draft?

[przybyla]

NS and Ron, I am really looking for a specific answer here because I am about to submit it. I've cut as much as I wanted, and I don't want to change it anymore. How should I submit it?

[XvoorheesX]

NS and Ron, I am really looking for a specific answer here because I am about to submit it.
What's the hurry?
Wait a couple hours, days whatever it takes. It's probably important, so don't rush it off with something that could be a big mistake. I've always heard courier 12, but I'm no expert on the subject.

[Ronaldinho]

Originally posted by przybyla
NS and Ron, I am really looking for a specific answer here because I am about to submit it. I've cut as much as I wanted, and I don't want to change it anymore. How should I submit it?

Look for other ways to cut.

Unless you have someone who's already asked for it, there's no rush. Putting it aside for a week may allow you to see it clearly enough to snip a few more pages.

[przybyla]

Man, you guys are tough. I really wanted you to say that 11 would be fine. Wishful thinking. I am leaving Cali pretty soon for a few months and I wanted to drop it in LA before I go. Why, I don't know. Seriously though, why are the scripts I mentioned in 11. That is what threw me off, and is still throwing me off.

Hey, Moderator!! Do you know if they were changed when they came to this site to save space or something?

[adamjohnson]

Different couriers (NEW courier, or just Courier) are totally different from each other, and lots of people get them mixed up. So make sure your friend didnt mean NEW Courier when he said Courier.

If that doesnt change anything, use 11.5. :D No one should really notice.

[przybyla]

If that doesnt change anything, use 11.5. No one should really notice

I wish. Final Draft doesn't give you that option. They know it's cheating.

[adamjohnson]

One of the many reasons why I hate Final Draft.

[Beeblebrox]

Originally posted by przybyla
Something else I noticed is using Final Draft courier it is 122 pages, but using new Courier, it is like 140 pages. Is the courier on word different from the courier on Final Draft? [/B]

If it's 122 pages in FD using FD courier, then it's 122 pages. If you have that font, then that's the one you should use.

IMO, I don't think 122 pages is any big deal. I'd read it.

[NobodySpecial]

Let me just start off by saying that it's generally ill-advised to create high pressure deadlines for yourself if you don't have to. By that I mean, if you don't have to deliver a script by 12am Monday morning, then you're better off not rushing to meet that imaginary deadline. Better writing is preferable to rushed writing, every time.

I'm not about to print out different Courier sizes and compare and contrast, but if you actually lose 10 pages by going from 12 to 11, and you really can't tell just by looking, then sure cut the size down to 11. Or ticker with the margins by 1/10 of an inch. Those are all the goofy little tricks we all do at some point because we think it matters...

But it does not. Five pages into your script, be it 5 pages of Courier 12 or 11, and the reader will already have an idea as to whether or not they're going to pass or not. 20 pages in, and in 90% of the cases it's a done deal.

You're better off not worrying about how the font affects your story, and instead focusing on going over the material a couple more times to make sure it really is the best writing you're capable of doing.

[Maestro]

One other thing to keep in mind is that, at some point, the prodco will convert your script to their "in-house" format. Any font or margin tweaking you've done is going to become apparent then, and they probably won't be happy about it.

Maestro

[Ronaldinho]

In truth, neither choice will probably kill you. But neither is great, either-- especially when compared to taking a little time off and then going back and looking for more to cut.

The thing is, amateur scripts always have stuff to cut. If you post a sample or two, we might be able to point out areas where you're overwriting.

Remember that it's a marathon and not a sprint. If you're in a position to get someone who can help your career to read one of your scripts, you don't want to give them anything but the absolute best you can do. Take your time. The people who will read it next week will also read it next month* so be patient. make it perfect.

If you're not making substantial structural changes from your first to your second draft, and your second to your third, while it's possible that you're just an unbelievable genius and nailed it perfectly the first time, it's far more likely that you're not really at the point of being able to objectively evaluate your work yet.

This is why new writers are advised, when they think they finally have a script that's ready, to stop, write another one, and come back to the first one. If it still seems ready, maybe it is. But usually after a few months away from it, it won't seem so perfect anymore.

*the exception to this is if someone contacts you and wants to see something of yours. This can happen, sometimes, say if you have a short that plays a major festival or something like that. People have short memories, and if you have heat for any reason, you need to use it or lose it. Of course, you will kill your heat by sending out something that isn't as good as you can make it, too... so try to be ready in advance.

[Tuukka]

http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp17.Fudging.html

Read that and you will probably be able to cut down a few pages. Of course you should have alread written at least 5 drafts of your sscript before you need to do any fudging.