Revision Marks

What revision marks are

Revision marks are the system used during production to track changes to a screenplay after it has been locked. When a page changes, the new page is printed on colored paper so the production team can see at a glance what has been updated.

This system exists because a film shoot is a logistical machine. Every department works from the same script. If a line changes on page 47, everyone needs to know, and everyone needs the new version of page 47.

How revision marks work

When a script is locked for production:

1. Page locking. Each page gets a number. When text is added or removed, the page count shifts. Instead of renumbering everything, new pages are inserted with decimal numbers (e.g. 12A, 12B, 47A).

2. Colored pages. Each round of revisions gets a color. The first revision might be blue, the second pink, the third yellow, and so on. The production team swaps the old page for the new colored page.

3. Asterisks. In the body of the script, an asterisk (*) appears in the right margin next to any line that changed in the current revision. Older revisions use a different mark, like a vertical line or a box.

When revision marks matter

Revision marks matter when:

• A script is in production or pre-production
• A script is being distributed to a cast and crew
• You are working with a line producer or script supervisor

They do not matter when:

• You are writing a spec script
• You are submitting to a competition
• You are sharing a draft with a writing partner

Tips

• Do not add revision marks to a spec script. They signal that the script is in production, which it is not.
• If you are in production, use the revision tools in your screenwriting software. Do not add asterisks by hand.
• Scene Forges Pro includes locked-page revision tools with colored pages and revision marks. Use them when your script enters production.
• Keep a clean copy of the script without revision marks. You may need it later.