Has anyone used the paper folding method of counting eighths of a page? I've been working on my eighths of a page and I'm having trouble making them all add up. I'm using the paper folding method (just in case I even need it) and the margins are messing with my count. Since we can't count the margins, what happens when a margin is the only thing within the fold?
Anything Goes : Eighths of a page by Nikki Syreeta
Eighths of a page
Other topics in Anything Goes:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
Nikki – I don’t understand the reason for folding the pages into eights, but if you are using Final Draft, click on tools-> reports -> scene report. It will break your script down into eights for you. I don’t know about any of the other screenwriting software.
Doug, I saw it on a video and wanted to try it. If your are using paper as opposed to a computer. You fold the paper in half, then that half in half (4ths), and then that half in half (8ths). When you open it, you count how many eighths the scene occupies. I was just wondering because its old school.
That's a pretty cool trick with obvious benefits.
I doubt it has to be that accurate!
But you just count what's written!
Breaking a script into 8ths per page was used many years ago (before computers and digital.) It was a production time and cost tool that pointed out the number of shots and camera movements each scene needed. The time required to move the camera, lights, audio… create downtime which costs money. Relocating the entire production to another location was very costly. I write in Final Draft, which does generate scene reports, which I glance at when I’m formulating a “ballpark” budget – but that’s about all. It’s an antiquated holdover from the BC (Before Computers) era and has limited/no value in today’s digital environment.
It's just a ballpark, don't worry too much about it. R u producing yourself? U can find a line producer or UPM to help out.
1 person likes this
I don’t think anybody is poo-pooing the need to break down a script as a budgetary guideline. I can (and do) do a script breakdown in projecting approximate production expenses. I can generate a scene report for a 100 page script in Final Draft in a matter of moments whereas it would take me much longer to physically fold 100 pages into eights. (I also rely on the Tagger program and the Ouija board when estimating production expenses.)
Dropped EP Scheduling over year ago. Been using https://www.scenechronize.com it's free for solo use.