Screenplay Title Page Format: A Complete Guide
First impressions matter. Discover how to format your screenplay’s title page like a pro.
The title page is the first thing anyone reads when they pick up your screenplay. Too much information looks amateur. Too little looks incomplete. This guide covers exactly what belongs on a screenplay title page, what doesn't, and how the format differs between feature films and television scripts.
What Goes on a Screenplay Title Page
All title pages should include the following, centered on the page:
The title, written in uppercase. This should be the only thing in uppercase on the page — it immediately draws the eye and establishes what the script is.
"Written by", on the line below the title. Use exactly this phrasing — "screenplay by" or "an original screenplay by" are variations you'll see in produced scripts, but "written by" is the clean, standard choice for a script.
The writer's name, directly below "written by." If there are two writers, both names appear here. If you're a WGA member writing with a partner, follow WGA credit conventions.
"Based on" credit, if applicable. If your screenplay is an adaptation of a novel, play, article, or other source material, include "based on [title] by [author]" below your name. If it's an original script, omit this line entirely.
The date, placed in the lower right-hand corner. Use the draft date, not the copyright year. More on dating your draft below.
Contact information, placed in the lower left-hand corner, opposite the date. For unrepresented writers, your name and email address is sufficient. If you have representation, use your agent or manager's contact information instead of your own.
What to Leave Off Your Screenplay Title Page
A clean title page signals professionalism. Several things that writers commonly add actually work against them:
WGA registration numbers. Including your WGA registration number on the title page is unnecessary and subtly marks you as a newer writer. Registration does not offer meaningful additional legal protection beyond copyright, and experienced readers know this. Leave it off.
Copyright notices. Similarly, "© 2025 [Your Name]" on a title page is unnecessary. Your work is protected by copyright the moment it's created. The notice adds clutter and, again, signals inexperience.
Draft numbers on a first submission. If this is the first draft you're sending out, don't label it "First Draft." It implies the work isn't finished. Only include draft information when you're sending a revision to someone who has already read a previous version.
Screenplay Title Page Format: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a screenplay title page need to be numbered?
No. The title page is never numbered.
What font should I use on my screenplay title page?
Standard Courier 12-point, the same font used throughout the script. Some writers use a slightly different or stylized font for the title itself.
Should I include my phone number on the title page?
For unrepresented writers, name and email is sufficient. A phone number is optional. Email is the standard mode of contact in the industry and adding a phone number doesn't improve your submission. If you have representation, use your representative's contact information instead of your own.
Is a screenplay title page the same as a cover page?
Yes "title page," "cover page," and "front page" all refer to the same thing: the first page of your screenplay document that precedes the actual script. They're used interchangeably in the industry.
Does a TV pilot title page look different from a feature film title page?
Somewhat. Feature film title pages are clean and minimal — title, author, contact info, date. TV pilot title pages often include the episode title and number in addition to the series title, and produced pilots may include network or production company information. For a spec submission, keep it simple regardless of format.
Supplemental Links:
Sample title pages can be found on the scripts in the johnaugust.com library.
