Because I spent so much time this week on Jojo Rabbit, I’m going to keep today’s Formatting Friday post short and sweet.
A screenplay’s title page exists to, well, give the title of a script and attach your name. (For all of the do’s and don’ts below, we’re going to pretend that the script hasn’t found representation yet; once representation has been found, then the representation’s contact (and other) information will sometimes appear on it).
Title Page Do’s:
- Do: Put your title’s script name in caps in the center to upper middle. You can put quotes around it, underscore it, both, or not.
- Do: Put “By [your name] right beneath it.”
- Do: Put in the bottom lefthand corner, put your phone number and email address.
- Do: If listing more than two writers, be careful of using “&” versus “and.” If two writers worked on it together, use “&.” If “and” is used, it means that a writer was brought in later to rewrite the draft.
Simple enough, Right?
Title Page Don’ts:
- Don’t: Add your physical address in the lower lefthand corner. There’s no need (and, if the script ends up on the internet, could pose a personal security issue – do you really want strangers knowing where you live?).
- Don’t: Add a copyright number or WGA number – it could make you look paranoid and amateurish; also, with the WGA number, someone can look up how old the script is. Better to create the perception that the script is fresh.
- Don’t: Include the logline.
- Don’t: Include the draft number or the completion date. (This is usually only is necessary once you’re working with someone and need to keep track of drafts. Again, I’m only writing about what’s needed before you land representation).
Title Page Maybe’s:
- Maybe: Use “Written by” – this is up to you.
- Maybe: Cover art/illustration – my own personal preference is no. Less is more (especially as a new writer).
Let’s Look at an Example from Get Out:
See how clean that is? (Now probably Jordan Peele is Jordan Peele, putting his contact info. on the cover page is a non-starter…but you get the idea).