FINAL DRAFT JOINS AVID METASYNC PROGRAM -
Scripts Can Now Be Used To Streamline Closed Captioning and Subtitling Within Avid Editing Systems

Encino, CA - April 7, 2002

Final Draft, Inc., (www.finaldraft.com), publisher of Final Draft®, the #1-selling scriptwriting software, today demonstrated Final Draft Version 6.0.2 which contains a special export function to Avid Technology, Inc.’s next generation Windows-based nonlinear editing systems. The ability to export to Avid® systems directly from within Final Draft enables all the characters’ dialogue in a script to be synchronized with video and audio in the Avid timeline, automating and streamlining the closed captioning and subtitling processes.

The new Avid export function within Final Draft was developed through the company’s involvement in the Avid MetaSync™ Developers Program. Through Avid’s MetaSync capability, editors are now able to to synchronize virtually any kind of metadata with traditional video and audio content during the postproduction process. In the case of Final Draft, the metadata is specific text from a script. This will streamline and reduce the costs associated with the creation of closed captioning and subtitling. Final Draft 6.0.2 will be available May 1, 2002, at the retail price of US$249.00 from Final Draft as well as from VARS and resellers worldwide. Registered Final Draft 6 users will be able to download a free update from www.finaldraft.com. Final Draft comes with both Windows and Macintosh versions included.

“The purpose of our MetaSync program is to streamline traditionally time-consuming processes and create new revenue streams for our customers,” said Ray Gilmartin, senior product manager for Avid’s postproduction products. “Final Draft is the standard in scriptwriting software, so this technology integration will have a far-reaching impact on the productivity of our customers in the film and television industries.”

“We’re delighted to have Final Draft included in Avid’s MetaSync program,” said Marc Madnick, CEO and President of Final Draft, Inc. “The ability to integrate a character’s dialogue directly from a script into an editing project will help streamline closed captioning and subtitling tasks.”

About Final Draft Inc.

Writer Marc Madnick and software engineer Benjamin Cahan founded Final Draft, Inc. in 1991. They recognized the need for a scriptwriting software package, which would eventually re-create and revolutionize the way an entire industry writes and revises its scripts. Final Draft has become the best-selling screenwriting program worldwide, with more than 150,000 units sold since its introduction. Final Draft Inc. was named one of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in 1998 in Los Angeles by Deloitte & Touche. Final Draft won the 2000 Golden Satellite Award for Best Interactive CD-ROM.

Final Draft scriptwriting software is the leading scriptwriting program and is used worldwide by professional
film and TV writers to create such Oscar®-winning hits as American Beauty and The Usual Suspects. Final
Draft is endorsed by industry talents such as Oliver Stone (JFK, Any Given Sunday), James L. Brooks (As Good As It Gets, Jerry Maguire), Tom Hanks (That Thing You Do, Castaway) Alan Ball (American Beauty, Six Feet Under) and Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor, Armageddon).

Final Draft, Inc. also publishes Final Draft AV, the only dedicated multi-column word processor specifically designed for writing commercials, corporate videos, documentaries, DV shorts, etc.

Final Draft, Inc. has two locations:

USA
16000 Ventura Blvd., Suite 800
Encino, CA 91436
Phone: (818) 995-8995
Toll-Free Sales: (800) 231-4055
www.finaldraft.com

Europe
56 rue Dombasle
Paris, France 75015
Phone: 33-145-332525
www.finaldraft.com/fr

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) delivers the solutions that Make, Manage and Move Media™. As a recognized digital standard for professionals who Make the world's media—from video, audio and film to animation, special effects and streaming media—Avid's products are used to make more television and news shows, commercials, music videos and CDs, corporate/industrial productions and major motion pictures combined than any other nonlinear editing manufacturer in the world. Building on its award-winning heritage, which includes a Grammy® and several Emmy® awards as well as an Oscar® statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design and engineering of the Avid Film Composer system for motion picture editing, Avid is extending its reach by redefining how digital media is shared, stored and distributed. To Manage today's increasingly rich collection of dynamic media, Avid provides powerful servers, networks and media tools to help customers search files, share media and collaborate on new productions, both locally and globally. Avid's solutions also empower users to easily Move media, whether on air, over cable or satellite or through the Internet. Like no other media company today, Avid's end-to-end solutions span the continuum of media creation, management and distribution. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Tewksbury, MA. More information about the company is available at www.avid.com.

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Final Draft is a registered trademark of Final Draft, Inc.
Macintosh and Mac OS X are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL).
Windows and Windows XP are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT).

Avid, Avid Xpress, and Media Composer are registered trademarks and Avid Unity, Illusion FX and Make, Manage and Move Media are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) Oscar is a registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts, Inc. Grammy is a registered trademark of The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS.