ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXIs '3 holes' an unbreakable rule?
13 years, 2 months ago - Ben Latcham
Can anyone help with a formatting question? I understand that the industry standard for screenplays is for three holes punched in the side of the script, but I can't seem to find a decent A4-sized three hole punch anywhere. I recently ordered an expensive 'adjustable' one from the US, but it still didn't adjust to A4 size. Has anyone else had similar problems? Does anyone know if agents, producers, etc. are picky about this? Is a fourth hole an unforgivable faux pas?
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13 years, 2 months ago - Richard Elson
Are you sending it to the States or just UK? If it's UK you'll be fine. The 3 holes is more for the States, and if you were sending there it shouldn't be on A4 size either - think it's US letter size but I'm not sure as the only scripts I've submitted or worked with have all been to UK spec.
13 years, 2 months ago - Vasco de Sousa
If you do want to send to the US, and use the three holed stuff, you'll be using "letter" sized paper, not A4. There's no point in putting three holes in A4, nobody wants that. A4 is metric, and Americans don't use metric, the paper is slightly smaller. 8 1/2 (inch) * 11 (inch) (call it letter sized or Fellini sized.)
You can buy American sized paper online, from major UK office suppliers. And, you can buy it with the holes already in. It's more expensive than "normal" paper, but most printers (both inkjet and laser) will handle it if you change the settings (and they'll have the setting). I bought some pre-punched Letter-sized paper a while back.
There's also some firms which will print it up off and bind it for you, and post it. Just send them a script electronically, and tell them where to send it.
Oh, and the Canadians have yet another size. It's like letter sized, but metric. (Just to give everyone a headache, I suppose.)
13 years, 2 months ago - Ben Latcham
I'm about to approach UK agents with a spec script, and I just wanted to make sure I'm in with the best chance of being read. Thanks for your help!