What! Formatter

[al1801]

Aloright already...I'm going to admit, I need the help of a good screenwriter formatter (al friendly). I've searched out a few, but I am not impressed.

Any suggestions please and advise truly appreciated.

Al

[dpaterso]

Which packages have you "searched out"? You don't say.

Movie Magic Screenwriter (http://www.screenplay.com/products/mmscreenwriter/index.html), Final Draft (http://www.finaldraft.com/)and Sophocles (http://www.sophocles.net/) all offer useable demo versions with limited options.

Or are you looking for freebie software?

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57/scripts.htm)

[IWrite]

Screenplay software is not always necessary for people who are learning the craft. There are templates out there for Microsoft Word which are set-up to be in the proper format for each element. The style sheets are automated so that they go from one element to another (i.e. when you hit enter after a Scene Heading, it automatically goes to an action line format). You can automate them further by customizing keyboard commands.

You only NEED screenwriting software if you are doing a writer-for-hire gig or revising a script that you've optioned or sold and the producer requires it. Even when you submit specs to agents or producers you are normally submitting hard copies or RTF or PDF files. Screenwriting software is a luxury, not a necessity - and by far not the best use of your screenwriting dollars.

Many would be far better off putting the money they spend on software toward a seminar or workshop so that they can learn the craft.

Proper formatting is important - but not nearly important as proper structure, character development, dialogue, etc.

[Enigma]

... There are templates out there for Microsoft Word which are set-up to be in the proper format....

Like, where might one find such a template?

I have Screenwriter but when I convert a script to RTF, or .doc for that matter, the page numbers don't remain the same. e.g. - 100 pages in Screenwriter comes out to be 110 when converted to RTF.

[dpaterso]

Enigma, you could try here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scriptsmart/

I'm assuming you've checked the obvious, e.g. font's OK, MS Word's top and bottom margins aren't too big, do other element margins match the examples found in... um... <searches> ...oh yeah, this thread, http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10453 etc. etc.

It's a guessing game, shrug.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57/scripts.htm)