Places online to find free formatting templates?

[bluejester12]

I remember from some imdb thread that someone posted links to formatting templates in Word or other simple format. Anyone know where I can find something like that, with the tabs and margin in the right spots etc.?

:shrug

[joecalabre]

If you know someone with Final Draft, have him/her save a copy of any script (with all the elements used) in Rich Text format and then when you open it in Word you will have all the tabs in place. Save as a template and you are all set for future endevours.
If you don't know anyone, send me your email and I'll gladly send you one.
joecalabrese@comcast.net
Good luck.

[JustinoIV]

Or you can simply do a search for screenplay templates on the web. Go to yahoo in put in screenplay templates. There are also programs you can add onto MS word like Digiscript that turn Word into a screenwriting program.

[Writing Again]

I use Sophocles, you can download the trial version freely, use it as long as you like, and the only difference between it and the full version is:

Printed pages are marked TRIAL VERSION and export functionality (including clipboard-related functionality) is disabled. The registered version provides full clipboard support and allows you to export your scripts to txt, rtf, html and pdf formats.

With this you can learn screenwriting ( and learn if screenwriting is for you) before you spend money. When you are ready to submit something you can show your gratitude to Sophocles by purchasing it.

I bought a copy even though I'm so not ready to submit anything, just to encourage them.

[JustinoIV]

I learned screenwriting on Sophocles, and though I have Final Draft 6.0, I still write screenplays on Sophocles. When I'm done I export then as rft or txt, and then import then in Final Draft. Then I convert them to Final Draft scripts.

[Writing Again]

Ok, Justino, there has to be a reason why you would do all that work to convert them to Final Draft scripts.

Would you share?

[JustinoIV]

Yes.

If a production company or studio purchases a script from you, the expect you to send the file over in Final Draft format. Final Draft is the industry standard, and the other screenwriters and director will need your script in Final Draft format.

Also, a lot of screenwriters get work for hire assignments. Again, you will need Final Draft.

[Writing Again]

Thank you.

[lowellgrippo]

Since Final Draft recognizes and has no problems opening an .rtf, would there be a reason for any of them to reject a script sent in rich text format?

[JustinoIV]

"Since Final Draft recognizes and has no problems opening an .rtf, would there be a reason for any of them to reject a script sent in rich text format?"

That would depend on who you're dealing with. For some it might not be problematic, for others it might be.

The best thing to do is get Final Draft when you have the chance. It doesn't have to be tomorrow or next week. But it is something that you will have to use ultimately.

[lowellgrippo]

Thanks for the reply JustinoIV. Since the thought of going back to Windows is abhorrent to me, this presents an interesting dilemma...

[Writing Again]

Lowellgrippo,

Writing, script or otherwise, takes very little computer. Any $300 or less hunka junka stuck in the corner could be used to transfer files to Final Draft.

I actually like old computers to do things on I don't want to waste my best computer on. Come to think of it, I don't use my best computer to surf the web either.

Link in a small network and you can do it all from one station.

[lowellgrippo]

Hi Writing Again,

I'm afraid my opposition to Windows is more philosophical than practical, though there are plenty of practical reasons why I prefer to use Linux.

There is a type emulator called "wine" which allows you to run certain Windows apps under Linux. MS Word runs very well using a version of wine from Crossover office. I'm going to experiment and see if I can get Final Draft to run reasonably well with it.

I appreciate the suggestion though. :)

[joecalabre]

I use Mac (there was a time I swore I never would).

I very, very rarely crash (2 times in 4 years) and all my favorite programs are available, including Final Draft, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop and After Effects.

[lowellgrippo]

How does Final Draft run for you under Mac? I remember someone else mentioning they had problems with it crashing. Are you using OSX or regular Mac? OSX was created from FreeBSD which is Unix, the same as Linux. This may be something to consider.

Mac OSX would be preferable over an insecure operating system where I must run scandisks and defrags, and pay for Norton and McAffee, in hopes that my boxes will be protected from worms, viruses and spyware...

[joecalabre]

I'm running the latest version of OSX. When I got Final Draft 6 it was buggy, but by them, not Apple. After a few weeks the latest updates came in and now FD6 works great.

As for virus's there's only a few hundred worms and viruses for mac. Compare that to the 10,000 for PC's.

[lowellgrippo]

A friend of mine brought over his new "I-book" a couple of weeks ago. Man oh man, is that a fine piece of computin'! Very slick, and running the latest OSX! With such a wonderful piece of computer technology like the OSX I-book, it is hard to fathom why 95% of computer users continue to use Windows without a thought of even considering other operating systems!

Running Final Draft under Mac OSX sounds like a great reason to purchase a new Mac I-book!

[JustinoIV]

Well, this might take years for them to develop it, but you could also write the Final Draft people a detailed letter suggesting they port over to Linux. A lot of the special effects work is done on Linux.

Alternatively, you could get a second pc that is only used for Windows applications (or you could get a good, used Mac running Mac OS X) that do not yet have versions that run on Linux. You could convert on that. You could email the files to yourself (saved as txt or rft) open them up on the Windows machine (or Mac OS X), and convert there.

[lowellgrippo]

Hi JustinoIV,

Per your advice, I contacted Final Draft and expressed my view that they may want to consider porting their software to Linux.

I did a lot of experimenting with the Windows demo version of FD and "<a href="http://www.winehq.com/" target="_new">wine</a>" last night, and am happy to report that the demo works almost perfectly under Linux!

There are a few irritations, but nothing that can't be ignored. It imported my screenplay from an .rtf created with OpenOffice, as well as when running under Windows. All tools seem to be working properly.

The install kept freezing, but after three or four tries, it finally installed, and I was able to run it. I'd give it a four and a half out of five on Transgaming's scale of functionality.

For any Linux user who may come along:

Install Final Draft with regular old wine that comes standard with most distros. It will get installed to:

~/.wine/fake_windows/Program\ Files/Final\ Draft\ 7/

To run, use command:

wine ~/.wine/fake_windows/Program\ Files/Final\ Draft\ 7/Final\ Draft.exe

If using konsole, or another terminal that allows for copying, just copy and paste the above command, and you're on you way!

[Rozemeijer]

Here you can find free templates.
www.dvshop.ca/dvcafe/writ...tting.html (http://www.dvshop.ca/dvcafe/writing/formatting.html) ;)