Bill Williams (IT): Support Site
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By USA Stage Format
John F Edit MessageUploaded - 7 Nov 2003 13:21

I've used your Stage4C Word template to write a play script. Unfortunately, it doesn't conform to American style standards where the character name is on a line by itself and centered. It isn't being accepted for submission.

Is there a way to modify the Name macro to change this? I've tried many different ways to reformat the script,but none work. And when I try to change the macro, it asks for your password. I know you want to protect your work, but is there any way around the problem?

Thank you.

John

Bill.

Bill Williams


Edit MessageUploaded - 7 Nov 2003 13:24

As far as I can tell, USA stageplay script formats are all slight variations
on the Hollywood Film Script format, so if you use that it should suit your
purposes. You can change the styles of the paragraphs in that template if
necessary to match the requirements. The name is on a line by itself.


Bill.

John FEdit MessageUploaded - 7 Nov 2003 13:25

Hi Bill - thanks for the reply. Here's the problem. I originally used the Stage4C template which put the Name on a line with dialogue. Once I found USA Stageplay I attached it as a new template to the original document. I had to do some fiddling around to reformat, but finally got it looking OK. However, everytime I try to save the file or print it, it loses the new formats. I have "add to template" and "automatically update" boxes checked, but it still reverts to somthing halfway between the two templates. Very weird. Any suggestions?

John


Bill.

Bill Williams


Edit MessageUploaded - 7 Nov 2003 13:26

The only reliable method that I have used in the past for switching from the
name-on-same-line templates to the name-on-own-line type is to start a new
empty script using the desired template, fill in the 20 character names,
then copy paste the entire body of your former script into the new one.

Then comes the tedious bit, go through the script one dialogue at a time,
put the cursor at the end of the previous dialogue & press the key
combination of the desired character. Then delete the former entry of the
name as was inserted by the original template.

I did the entire script of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors this way to make
an example.

Are you aware that version 5 of the Scriptwriters Toolkit is now
available.
http://www.datahighways.co.uk/dhl/toolkit.htm
[Link]


Bill.

John FEdit MessageUploaded - 9 Nov 2003 13:50

Bill - thanks for the advice, although that seems like a daunting task to make the switch. I went to the web site to check out the new version. It doesn't mention anything about the American formats. Have they been eliminated from the set? Thanks again.

John


Bill.

Bill Williams


Edit MessageUploaded - 9 Nov 2003 13:51

There never were any USA stageplay formats as such in my template set. You can use the Hollywood Film format from the Version 5 set instead.

If you have received a specification for a USA Stage Play format from a relevant organization let me have a copy of it and I will try to incorporate it in the toolkit in the future.

Regards
Bill


Bill.

John FEdit MessageUploaded - 3 Feb 2005 18:24

Bill - I've had Script5 for over a year and it works well. I communicated with you last Spring about getting a template done that will conform to current American stage format standards. Well, I've finally created one.

It centers character names, places stage directions on the right third of the page and does all the other nice things producers want here. I based it on the Hollywood template.

I've used it to write a full-length drama that has just been done as a staged reading. No Broadway production yet, so no success fee. I hope one will be coming to you soon, however.

regards,

John F

Bill.

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