Screenplay Title Sheet

Screenplay Presentability

The title sheet is the page encountered after opening the cover, unless a "tweener" sheet is inserted as discussed separately. The title sheet contains the title, author name(s), and contact information (as discussed below) . .

Laser print the information on standard white paper.
Center the title about one quarter of the way down the page in ALL CAPS without quotes, or ALL CAPS underlined. Courier font, 12 pitch. No messing around!
Place author name(s) a couple lines below the title, also centered. No "by" or "original screenplay by" necessary. In cases where one writer deserves credit for the story, the other for the screenplay, seek expert advice on proper attribution.
Put contact information at the bottom right of the page, left justified along the center line. Include mailing address, phone number(s), fax number, and e-mail address. The author name(s) need not be repeated.

Consider leaving off the contact information completely, as:

it may appear more professional
non-L.A. writers may be better off not specifying location
it reduces the chance of error

The risk, of course, is the potential for communication breakdown--making follow-up all the more important. E-mail address only might be an elegant modern approach.

Eliminate registration or copyright information--particularly any accompanying date. The script is assumed to be registered or copyrighted prior to submission. Unnecessarily stating that it is pulls and tires the eye, appears amateurish, and may even be taken as a suggestion of a lack of trust or underlying belligerence.

NOTA BENE: Registering with the Writers Guild of America does not provide the same legal protection as does copyrighting with the U.S. Copyright Office. Seek legal advice on this. And consider international copyright protection.

Strike all dates. Hollywood readers want to believe every script is hot off the "press", that they are the very first to see it. 1999 is a whole decade, century, and millennium ago.
Delete any sort of draft designation, e.g., "First Draft", "Review Draft", "Final Draft". Only the very best effort should be sent to Hollywood. And the writer will be expected to rewrite his "Final Draft", perhaps many times, if a deal is reached.