Formatting Title Cards
And Credits

Title cards and credits are essential elements of a screenplay, providing crucial information to the audience and setting the tone for your story. As a newbie screenwriter, understanding how to format these elements correctly is essential for presenting your script in a professional and industry-standard manner. In this blog entry, we'll explore the importance of title cards and credits, their formatting guidelines, and provide insights for beginners on how to handle them effectively.

Title Cards:

• Setting the Tone: Title cards are the first thing the audience sees, establishing the mood and genre of your screenplay.
• Contextual Information: They can provide essential context, such as the time and place of the story.
• Creative Expression: Title cards offer an opportunity for creative design and typography, contributing to the overall visual style of your screenplay.

Credits:

• Acknowledgment: Credits recognize the contributions of the entire cast and crew involved in the production.
• Professionalism: Properly formatted credits demonstrate professionalism and adherence to industry standards.
• Legal Requirements: Inclusion of credits may be legally required in some cases, ensuring that contributors receive appropriate recognition.

Formatting Title Cards:

Credits appear at the end of your screenplay and should include the names and roles of everyone involved in the production. Follow these guidelines:

• Centered Text: The title card should be centered both horizontally and vertically on the page.
• Font and Size: Use a bold and easily readable font. The font size can vary but is often larger than the standard screenplay font size (12-point).
• Formatting: Capitalize the title and any relevant information (e.g., 'Based on a True Story'). Avoid underlining or italicizing the text.
• Placement: Title cards are typically placed a few lines below the top margin to leave room for any necessary production information (e.g., 'FADE IN:').
• Duration: If the title card contains time-related information (e.g., 'Two Years Later'), it should be followed by 'CUT TO:' or 'FADE TO BLACK:' to indicate the transition to the main story.

Formatting Credits:

Credits appear at the end of your screenplay and should include the names and roles of everyone involved in the production. Follow these guidelines:

• Order: Credits are traditionally listed in the following order: writers, director, producers, principal cast, and crew (in various departments such as cinematography, editing, costume design, etc.).
• Formatting: Use a consistent format for all names and roles. The format often includes center-aligned text and a combination of capital and lowercase letters.
• Title: Use standardized titles for roles (e.g., "Directed by", "Produced by", "Director of Photography").
• Separation: Separate each credit with a horizontal line or an appropriate visual divider.
• Legibility: Ensure that credits are legible and not overly crowded. Consider using a larger font size than the main screenplay text.

Example:

In Conclusion

Title cards and credits are essential components of a screenplay, providing important context and recognition to your story and the people involved in its production. By following industry-standard formatting guidelines and considering the creative and informational aspects of these elements, you can present your screenplay in a polished and professional manner. Properly formatted title cards and credits contribute to the overall professionalism of your script and demonstrate your commitment to storytelling excellence.

Happy writing!

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