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Final Draft Review Whether you're a first-time scriptwriter or have been doing it for longer than you can remember, there comes a time when you might feel the need to move into a more organized production, using scriptwriting software. Our associated Buyer's Guide, explains several options available in scriptwriting software. This mini-review takes a look at three programs to give you an idea of what features are at your disposal and how they can help you work. Final Draft version 8
Final Draft version 8 is full of great features that allow you to focus on the most important part of scriptwriting: the words. Once installed, Final Draft opened with three windows on the display: Untitled Screenplay, Navigator and Script Properties. Wanting to jump right in, we started where it felt natural: in the Untitled Screenplay window. As we began to type, right away Final Draft's SmartType began suggesting words for the slugline and character names. The shortcuts felt natural, making the process quick and easy to learn. We noticed the Navigator window beginning to fill in as we typed, and it soon contained elements from our script without requiring any action from us. We were able to sort our content within the Navigator, as well as move through our script with ease. With a click of the mouse, we were able to navigate to a specific scene in our script, which spared us from scrolling through pages to find what we were looking for. Another helpful feature was the Index Cards. We were able to rearrange elements of our story by dragging and dropping the cards into the desired order. Changes made in the Index Card mode were automatically reflected in the script. The tutorials were helpful and thorough, covering everything from the basics of scriptwriting to more complex processes like using the Index Cards and the Scene Panel. The Ask the Expert feature is also a helpful tool when trying to refine various elements of your story. Final Draft version 8 supplies the necessary tools to enable both beginners and seasoned professionals to write a script, seamlessly collaborate with a writing partner(s) via the internet and, when completed, break down the script in preparation for production. Overall, we found Final Draft version 8 to be conducive to the process of scriptwriting by allowing the user to focus primarily on the creative process. Tech Specs: Final Draft version 8
Platform: PC or Mac Strengths
Weaknesses
Summary
Final Draft is a robust program allowing for seamless collaboration. Final Draft, Inc. |
