Sorry for resurrecting the old topic (don't know if it's against the rules) but I was wondering if you want to start a short story with a quotation from some movie how exactly do you format it on manuscript. I mean there is no mention of it in Proper Manuscript Format by William Shunn and I tried looking on the net and there were some descriptions but I want to make sure. For instance could this be the right way (I' using Proper Manuscript Format by William Shunn text here as an example and quote from movie Jurassic Park)
It's called an epigraph. It's all a style issue. I think Chicago Manual says to put the author's name and the title of the work on the next line. Sometimes there's a dash preceding them. You have a bit of leeway in the formatting. Try this APA guide for it, because it's pretty good: https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2013/10/how-to-format-an-epigraph.html
Me leeway? I just copied it from https://format.ms/story.html I thought this is the standard. Maybe you're talking about the quote because the source seems to be far away from the quote but that's because it's double spacing, as he says "Always double-space between lines. Never submit a single-spaced manuscript. The editor needs room to make corrections and other typographical marks between lines--but not too much room, so don’t triple-space either." But person on your link doesn't mention any of that, although in the comment section someone asks her and she talks something about it But it's not so clear since editors seem to be very precise about it (or should I say a bit nazi).
Do you need the quote? Do you have permission to use it? I know some publications will pay to use movie or song quotes because someone does own them. But most publications aren't going to want that unless it's a super killer story. It's just one more thing the editors are going to have to consider besides your story. I try to submit work that is as ready to go as I can make it. I want to appear (and be) easy to work with. Personally, I would leave out the quote and work with your own original stuff. That's what really matters. Even if you want the quote, make sure the story doesn't need it and if an editor wants to buy your story, don't be surprised if they want to publish it without the movie quote.
How old is the source you're using? It seems to be contemplating print submissions, which are pretty rare these days. The expectations do change, so it might be more useful to find a more modern resource?
I use an epigraph on the title page of my WIP and am pretty sure this is how it's formatted. You can either include the title of the work that the line appears, or not. I was able to contact Mr. Shakespeare via occult means, and he has graciously allowed me to use the line in my work of fiction. (Ignore the dot-dot-dots. I needed to slide Shakespeare to the right) True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings. .......................................................— Shakespeare
Weirdly enough I ran into an agent recently that took ONLY print submissions. Made me wonder if they were actually legit or maybe just kind of a fuddy. Not that I can say much, I'm still trying to break my double space after a period habit.
I think some places require print submissions as a way to weed out less-serious applicants. But I think they're pretty rare.
what about quotes for editors? I mean I remember reading a leaked script for pilot tv show "Virtuality" (2009) and under the title of the script was a quote ("I know kung fu" --Neo, Matrix) that wasn't later used in the show so it must have been for people that were considering the script into producing it?
