i'm pretty much against programs that spit out outlines, that's not what i mean. i'd never spend money on that stuff, personally. but, software that supposedly makes screenwriting easily like with formatting, does anyone use those or are they just a waste of money?
does anyone use screenwriting software?
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Hi Preyer,
I despise the outlining and character sketch programs. I do however use Final Draft. It saves me oodles of time and I would recommend it to anyone. If you are expecting the program to make you a better writer, you are wasting your time and money, if you get it to save that time, I say it is worth every penny (and yes it is costly).
I despise the outlining and character sketch programs. I do however use Final Draft. It saves me oodles of time and I would recommend it to anyone. If you are expecting the program to make you a better writer, you are wasting your time and money, if you get it to save that time, I say it is worth every penny (and yes it is costly).
if you're serious about screenwriting then you should make the investment in Final Draft or Movie Magic - both the most highly recommended in the industry
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I love my Final Draft. Wouldn't ditch it if you paid me. Though I only got it so that I could work with another writer who was using it. She got a discount on it because it was her second copy.
That being said, there are a number of relatively inexpensive alternatives to programs like FD and Movie Magic. There are a ton of macros for Word out there, some of them free. I had Scriptwerx before I got FD and I liked that one a lot, too. And a good chunk of the PC camp swears by Sophocles.
Check around. You'll find something to smooth the process that won't break the bank.
That being said, there are a number of relatively inexpensive alternatives to programs like FD and Movie Magic. There are a ton of macros for Word out there, some of them free. I had Scriptwerx before I got FD and I liked that one a lot, too. And a good chunk of the PC camp swears by Sophocles.
Check around. You'll find something to smooth the process that won't break the bank.
I use Final Draft as well. You can find cheap copies on eBay, but that is considered pirating software and is frowned upon, generally. Though sometimes you can find a copy that someone is just trying to sell.
Well, I used to use Sophocles and Word macros. I now use Final Draft. While there are a lot of okay screenwriting programs out there, the problem is if you have to electronically submit documents (especially for a work for hire), you'll be making things a lot easier if you can submit them in a file format the production company's pc can read. Exporting from Sophocles and importing into Final Draft or Movie Magic would cause your format to be screwed up (it happened to me). So for that reason, I recommend Final Draft.
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Final Drafter here too. I don't really do script format, but the customisability comes in really useful for other document types as well.
I'm using a final draft 7.0 demo I got free off the net. 
It works for now, but soon I am going to purchase the full version. As soon as I can scrape my pennies together. 
Steph
It works for now, but soon I am going to purchase the full version. As soon as I can scrape my pennies together. Steph
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Download the demo versions and try 'em out:
Movie Magic
Final Draft
Sophocles
-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity.
Movie Magic
Final Draft
Sophocles
-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity.
I have an older computer and first learned screenwriting on scriptbuddy. Unfortunately it doesn't work fully on my computer so editing is a huge pain. So my new scripts are done in microsoft word. I can write a script extremely fast only a few days and im halfway done with just a stupid word processor. I will rewrite it in microsoft word. I'll only put the final polish in the screenwriters software since its such a pain to rewrite, but it does put my work in PDF format and proper screenwriting format which would be a slight pain to have it done through word. I can get the formatting pretty close though, just margins and centering etc, is a bit tricky so I'll leave that for the final polish.
If you have final draft save your word program as a text file and open it in final draft and it will automatically put everything where it belongs and such so you don't have to type it in. Just a tip if you have that program.
GonnaBeFamous said:
I have windows 95. I looked up final draft and I think you need windows 98. It's not a big deal. I'm more concerned with writing the script at this point then formatting. I'm a man on a mission and I want to spit out an additional 2 1/2 scripts in the next 3 or so months. Why the rush? So I can spend as much time as I want fixing them.
P.S check out your critique thread, I posted in it.
P.S check out your critique thread, I posted in it.
Final Draft
It seems like everyone I know uses Final Draft, though I know a couple of seasoned pros who still use a typewriter, one very famous pro who stills uses a typewriter, and several who just use Word.
I just use a Word Macro, and I've found it really doesn't matter much what you use. Everyone I've had to send screenplays to either wanted a paper copy or a Word doc, so the method I use to write the screenplay just doesn't matter to them.
The truth is, writing a screenplay is all tab and return, and I can write one faster without Final Draft. I can write one faster on a typewriter than on anything else, but getting good ribbons is a pain in the neck these days.
It seems like everyone I know uses Final Draft, though I know a couple of seasoned pros who still use a typewriter, one very famous pro who stills uses a typewriter, and several who just use Word.
I just use a Word Macro, and I've found it really doesn't matter much what you use. Everyone I've had to send screenplays to either wanted a paper copy or a Word doc, so the method I use to write the screenplay just doesn't matter to them.
The truth is, writing a screenplay is all tab and return, and I can write one faster without Final Draft. I can write one faster on a typewriter than on anything else, but getting good ribbons is a pain in the neck these days.
Optimus
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icerose said:
Yes, but make sure it's saved as a "rich text format" (rtf.) or the formatting may not transfer properly (even though you still need to go through your script to correct the few mistakes that FD may have made by formatting some lines incorrectly. It happens.).
I'd also like to point out that if you are using a macro for MSWord that you must ensure that the line spacing is the same amount of picas used by FD. I'm not sure the exact line spacing in FD, but I do know that it is much "tighter" than the Word template I used to use (which is a very good template, btw) and even using Courier 12 pt. in MSWord, the line spacing will kill your script by padding it unnecessarily (unless, of course, you're looking for a way to cheat and pad your page count).
Professional readers CAN tell the difference between a script printed by FD or MMS and one printed by a Word template with inflated line spacing (like many of the templates out there).
For instance, my latest script is 107 pages in FD, but nearly 116 pages in MSWord.
Good advice Optimus,
See I don't have MS Word so I didnt' have that template available. If you don't have it properly formated and everything is on the left margin but have it properly spaced and capitolized, Final Draft will actually convert it all into script format for you. Thought that was rather interesting and made it really nice to not have to go in and re-type everything.
See I don't have MS Word so I didnt' have that template available. If you don't have it properly formated and everything is on the left margin but have it properly spaced and capitolized, Final Draft will actually convert it all into script format for you. Thought that was rather interesting and made it really nice to not have to go in and re-type everything.
great replies. is this something i'd absolutely have to get, though? sounds fairly expensive, and i just don't get into many programs with a lot of bells and whistles. beyond formatting, is there any advantages to using them? i mean, is it possible to be turned down just because it's not in FD? i highly doubt it is, so it is something i could get around?
Format
I would suggest you to read the book called CRAFTY SCREENWRITING from Alex Epstein, a very useful guide to anyone. He mentions the type of format your script should be in and I wouldn't recommend using Word as the margins could differ from one computer to another. Unless, you are then saving it into a PDF format.
I would suggest you to read the book called CRAFTY SCREENWRITING from Alex Epstein, a very useful guide to anyone. He mentions the type of format your script should be in and I wouldn't recommend using Word as the margins could differ from one computer to another. Unless, you are then saving it into a PDF format.
EXTRA EXTRAS
... and don't forget about all the "extras" MM and FP include, which different people who have different functions find necessary.
This isn't a plug for MM or FP, but (with writers being an exception) everybody I've talked to has and uses one or the other, and in ways and for reasons I never dreamed of.
... and don't forget about all the "extras" MM and FP include, which different people who have different functions find necessary.
This isn't a plug for MM or FP, but (with writers being an exception) everybody I've talked to has and uses one or the other, and in ways and for reasons I never dreamed of.
of course you don't have to get them
but, when you're ready to market your script then it should be in that format for various reasons: experienced readers can tell if the formatting is off (which it usu is if you don't use it) and many will want you to send it to them in a program that they have (most have both FD and MM but, PDF is universal and not an industry type)
just know that when you do get it and cry b/c you spent $300!!!! that once you turn it on you be crying that you've wasted so much time with formatting before and overjoyed with how much faster you can write b/c you don't have to think about the formatting. and you will be grateful for some of those bells and whistles too.
but, when you're ready to market your script then it should be in that format for various reasons: experienced readers can tell if the formatting is off (which it usu is if you don't use it) and many will want you to send it to them in a program that they have (most have both FD and MM but, PDF is universal and not an industry type)
just know that when you do get it and cry b/c you spent $300!!!! that once you turn it on you be crying that you've wasted so much time with formatting before and overjoyed with how much faster you can write b/c you don't have to think about the formatting. and you will be grateful for some of those bells and whistles too.
Amen to that!
And so will a lot of other people involved in the process, from the creative, to the production folks, to the bean counters.
NikeeGoddess said:... you will be grateful for some of those bells and whistles too.
I knew a lot of no budget film makers who were hackers and who had free boot leg versions of FD and MM. Really, if you download it from FD, you can do everything except print. However, there's a program that allows you to crack the demo, making it print and do everything the paid version does. So you could hook up with people who know how to do this.
Stealing
FYI: Both FP and MM limit installs to three. If you get a new computer, as I recently did, you have to call them and, brother, the information you give had better match. You can use a stolen copy but you'll have to insert the disk each time and thieves don't like to be inconvenienced.
My problem with this is that 70% of my income comes from royalties, the same as does the authors of those programs, and when someone steals from me, I get a little, well, upset. How would you feel as a writer if you were expecting, say, $50,000 but receive $10, "... because someone stole the rest?"
Some people attempt (operative word) to justify stealing, but stealing is stealing. Period! And, brother, do those kind ever whine when they get caught.
JustinoXXV said:
FYI: Both FP and MM limit installs to three. If you get a new computer, as I recently did, you have to call them and, brother, the information you give had better match. You can use a stolen copy but you'll have to insert the disk each time and thieves don't like to be inconvenienced.
My problem with this is that 70% of my income comes from royalties, the same as does the authors of those programs, and when someone steals from me, I get a little, well, upset. How would you feel as a writer if you were expecting, say, $50,000 but receive $10, "... because someone stole the rest?"
Some people attempt (operative word) to justify stealing, but stealing is stealing. Period! And, brother, do those kind ever whine when they get caught.
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