Script

In addition to the following FAQ's please find this addition materials which may help your screenwriting.

Common script problems

What is 'standard industry formatting' for scripts?
At the bottom of this page, there is a sample page of script from In My Father's Den which you can use as a template. Thanks to Producer Trevor Haysom for allowing us to reproduce this. Please remember to number the pages and date the draft. You don't need to put your name and copyright at the foot of every page.

What software can I use to write my script?
It's easiest to use dedicated scriptwriting software like Final Draft, Celtx or Zhura (the latter two are free to use). You can also use a text editor like Open Office or MS Word. The important thing is that the result is in standard industry format.

I'm using Final Draft to write my script and the title page appears with "(Name of Project) by (Name of Writer)", etc. How can I change this?
Each script file is automatically created with a title page which is embedded in the main script document and does not need to be saved separately. To customise your script's title page, open the script file and select "Document > Title Page". The generic title page will appear into which you can enter details of title, author, date etc. Close the title page (do not "Save As" to create a separate file), and save the script document. When you re-open the title page your amendments will have been saved.

Can I write a script which is an adaptation?
Yes but be aware that you will need to secure the rights if the original work is not out of copyright.

How can I copyright my idea?
Generally speaking, ideas cannot be protected by copyright - only the expression of those ideas in a certain form (e.g. notes, a treatment, script etc.) is protected by copyright.

How can I copyright my script?
In New Zealand (unlike, say, the US) there is no formal process for registration of copyright ownership of your work. Copyright automatically exists at the time of creation of the relevant work, for example, at the time you write the first treatment or script draft. However, you may wish to keep paper and electronic records of emails, correspondence, notes, treatments, previous drafts etc. relating to your script to help prove when copyright came into existence, You can also register your script with the NZ Writers Guild.

How long should my script be?
Normally a feature-length script will be no less than 85 pages and no more than 120 pages long.