Contents of This Issue:

Volume 6, Number 2
February 15, 2006

1. 7th Annual Big Break! International Screenwriting Contest

Begins February 15, 2006 Win $15,000 in Cash and Prizes! Since its inception in 2000, Big Break! has awarded screenwriters with nearly $100,000 in cash and prizes and provided exposure to the entertainment industry through meetings with industry professionals, studio executives and agents. Winning screenplays have been optioned and produced, finalists have garnered attention from recognizable production entities and literary agents.

For previous winners, judges, the writer's hall of fame and to enter for your Big Break!
Visit: www.bigbreakcontest.com

2. Robert McKee Announces 2006 Seminar Dates

Final Draft has long had a warm working relationship with Robert McKee. Author of the bestselling book Story, McKee is one of the most widely known and respected screenwriting teachers in the world. Portrayed in the Oscar™-nominated hit ADAPTATION, named Hollywood's "Most Wanted Screenwriting Teacher" by Movieline magazine and profiled by 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon on CBS News' "Sunday Morning 2005 Academy Awards Special."

From LA to NY, London to Singapore and 12 other film capitals around the world, more than 45,000 students have taken the course over the last 15 years. McKee's sold-out Story Seminars teach the essential principles of screenwriting and story design that studios, production companies and publishers demand from their writers.

"Insightful...Concise..." - Akiva Goldsman

"The clarity of McKee's words and the truth of his approach to storytelling was a revelation for Peter Jackson. He realized that the key to breaking out... would lie in his ability to tell a well constructed story...based on the principles [he] learned from McKee's lectures." - THE NEW ZEALAND EDGE (Bio on Peter Jackson)

Upcoming Seminars:
Los Angeles – March 10-12
New York – March 24-26
Paris – April 20-23
London – April 28-30

For Information and details:
Visit: www.McKeeStory.com
Phone: 888- 676-2533
In Europe: +44 (0)870-080-1833

3. A-List Advice -- A-List Talent

You asked for more access...we've delivered. Just announced, the Scriptwriters Showcase will now be expanding on the job fair with "Take A Meeting." More than a pitchfest, "Take A Meeting" is a professional meeting-like setting where writers will have the chance to take 15-MINUTE meetings with executives from some of the top companies in Los Angeles.
This will give you more than a chance to pitch an idea, it will give you the opportunity to discuss your career prospects, ambitions and prior experiences in a relaxed, more conducive setting.

Already on board is The William Morris Agency. Those who register by March 1st will be given the first chance to Take a Meeting.

Visit: www.scriptwritersshowcase.com

4. Boston University Makes the Scriptwriters Suite a Requirement

Boston University has officially made Final Draft's Scriptwriter's Suite a requirement for all students majoring in Broadcasting and Communication. They are developing a sitcom for MTVU, the new MTV internet channel:

Visit: www.mtvu.com/on_mtvu/bu_sitcom

If you are a teacher or professor and are interested in having your students use Final Draft software, we will be happy to show you the wide range of options we have available.
Please send inquiries to:
Email: academia@finaldraft.com

5. We're Here If You Need Us, 24/7

All Final Draft software is designed to install and run smoothly and easily. However, if you happen to have any trouble, we'd like to remind you about the many ways you can get technical support. 

• a detailed onboard Help section from within the product
• a comprehensive PDF User Guide installed onto your hard drive
• a free searchable online database of almost 800 frequently-asked questions
• free email support through the online database
• a free 24/7 automated activation telephone activation line
• a free live telephone activation line
• 20 free minutes on the regular 24/7 toll-free technical support phone lines for 90 days following product registration

We believe we have the most extensive support service of any scriptwriting software company anywhere, and we have plans in the near future to expand our support options even further.

If you have any non-technical questions, you're always welcome to call our office during business hours.

Visit: www.finaldraft.com/help
Phone: 800-231-4055

6. On The Road: Including New Zealand and Australia!

2006 sends Final Draft on the road to Auckland and Sydney.

Come see demonstrations of Final Draft and Final Draft AV and have your questions answered by our representatives.

Location	Date	Time
Apple Store Beverly Center 8500 Beverly Boulevard Suite #656 Los Angeles, CA 90048 310-289-7014	Sat, Feb 18	12:00 - 2:00pm
map:   www.apple.com/retail/beverlycenter
Apple Store Santa Monica 1248 Third Street Promenade Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-576-1011	Sat, Feb 18	4:00pm
4pm - Final Draft product demo
6pm - Final Draft Presents: Apple Store Movie Showcase The Movie Showcase is a monthly series designed to allow Apple Store customers showcase the movies they have made on their Mac. Whether it’s an independent avant-garde short film or a family slideshow, the Movie Showcase allows people to invite their friends and celebrate what they have made.
map:   www.apple.com/retail/thirdstreetpromenade
Auckland University of Technology New Zealand WB429 Level 4 Main Campus Wellesley St Auckland City New Zealand	Mon, Feb 27	7:00 - 9:00pm
Final Draft product demo. Special pricing will be available on all products at this presentation.
map:   www.aut.ac.nz/about/virtual_open_day/campus_locations_and_maps.htm
Apple Store The Grove 189 The Grove Drive Los Angeles, CA 90036 323-965-8400	Sat, Mar 4	2:00-3:00pm
map:   www.apple.com/retail/thegrove
Portside Centre Sydney, Australia Maritime Services Building Level 5, 207 Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia	Tues, Mar 7	2:00 - 7:00pm
Final Draft product demo. Special pricing will be available on all products at this presentation.
www.dawsons.com.au/Venue/AustraliaNewZealand/ Australia/NewSouthWales/SydneyCity/PortsideCentreThe/
Videomaker Expo West 2006 Burbank Hilton Burbank, CA Booth 404	Thurs, Mar 9 - Sat, Mar 11	10:00am - 4:00pm
website:   www.videomaker.com/scripts/expo.cfm
Scriptwriters Showcase Sheraton Universal Studios Universal City, CA	Fri, Apr 7 - Sun, Apr 9
website:   www.scriptwritersshowcase.com
Schedules are subject to change. Check with the location to verify dates and times.

7. Ask the Pros Monthly Excerpt

The Final Draft book, Ask the Pros: Screenwriting, is now available for sale through www.finaldraft.com. Click on the link below to view this month's featured excerpt from screenwriting professionals.

Topic:
Talk about your daily writing schedule.

For the answer, and an archive of previously featured excerpts, visit:
www.finaldraft.com/products/book-answers.php4?answer=0602

Visit: www.finaldraft.com/orders to purchase the book.

8. Customer Support / Tech Tip

The current version of Final Draft 7 is 7.1.1
The current version of Final Draft AV 2 is 2.5

Please log on to this web page for Final Draft 7 current version information:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

To determine which version of Final Draft 7 you have, open the program and go to Help > Customer Support. If you have an online connection, go to Help > Program Updates. If your Final Draft needs to be updated, you will automatically be forwarded to the appropriate download page.

IMPORTANT: If you have Mac OS9, the current version is 7.0.0.54. The 7.1.1 update is not supported on OS9.

Final Draft AV 2.5 includes the revolutionary new Rearrange Guide Line as well as expanded importing and exporting capabilities. Please log on to this web page for AV 2.5 information:
www.finaldraft.com/products/av-features.php4

The current version of Final Draft 6 is 6.0.6.0

To determine which version of Final Draft 6 you have, go to Help > Technical Support. If you do not have the current version you should download, then install, the free update. To download the update, go to:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

Please note that you must have Final Draft 6 already installed to your hard drive to install the 6.0.6.0 update. The 6.0.6.0 update will not update Final Draft 7, Final Draft 5 or earlier versions.

Tech Tip
Some writers like to split up their scripts into sections or acts and create new files for these pieces of the script. Since Final Draft paginates automatically, if you break up, for example, your mini-series into three files corresponding to the three nights it's going to be aired, the page numbers will start at 1 in each of the three files. But you don't want that, you want the Night 2 file to start at Page 60. To change the starting page number of a script, go to Document/Header and Footer/Options and put the page number you need in the First Page box.

For more information on Final Draft features, refer to the Final Draft User Guide PDF document found in the Final Draft folder on your hard drive or visit our online Knowledge Base. To access the Knowledge Base,
Visit:  www.finaldraft.com/help

9. Contact Us

To respond to this email, DO NOT CLICK REPLY; it will only bounce back to you. Comments and suggestions should be directed to newsletter@finaldraft.com.

NOTE: Support questions sent to the above address will not be answered. If you have a question you would like answered via email, visit www.finaldraft.com/help. You can search for an answer from our database of almost 900 sales and technical questions. If you still can't find the information you need, click the Ask a Question tab on any answer page.

If you want your name to be removed from the Final Draft mailing list, visit
www.finaldraft.com/media/newsletter-signup.php4 and follow the directions there.

10. Writers' Resources
The following listings are a compilation of events in the area. They are enumerated for you, the writer and may be to your benefit.



Firefox Flicks 30-second Ad Contest*

Got the vision and skills to create a tour-de-force ad for Firefox?
We're offering unequaled exposure and awesome prizes.

Global Exposure
Be featured in Firefox's worldwide marketing campaign.
Get on the shortlist for the NYf Ad competition.
Have your work screened at the Vail Film Festival.

Amazing Prizes
Win $5,000 to buy that next piece of gear.
Upgrade to a new 9X Media multi-screen display.
Get your media organized with an Alienware media PC.

Expert Judges
Jim Denault, Cinematographer for Maria Full of Grace
Scott Goodson, Founder, Chief Creative Officer, StrawberryFrog
McG, Director for Charlie's Angels 1 & 2, Producer for the OC
Freddy Rodriguez, Actor on Six Feet Under and Harsh Times
Geo Santini, Music Video Director for Arista, UMG, and Motown
Ben Younger, Writer & Director for Boiler Room and Prime
Warren Zide, Producer for the American Pie Franchise

Deadline is March 31, 2006
Visit: www.firefoxflicks.com

The #1 Pitch Event--Fade In's 12th Annual Pitchfest*

From Concept to Sale Conference & Power Pitchfest
February 25 & 26, 2006
Sheraton Universal, N. Hollywood, CA

SUBMIT: Agency Submissions ( ICM, William Morris, UTA, Endeavor and several others)
LEARN: Specialized craft sessions with this year's Oscar™-nominated filmmakers.
PITCH: Over 70 prominent production companies, studios, producers, agents and managers to pitch to/meet with (including Paramount, Universal, New Line, William Morris, HBO, and many many more) in 7-minute meetings. **No "per-pitch fee"!
NETWORK: Catered Networking Reception.

Limited to 175 attendees. Sells out in advance. Don't be fooled by copy-cat "pitchfests." The #1 event with the most sales, options and agency signings.

Sign up now!
Visit: www.fadeinonline.com
Phone: 310-275-0287 or 800-646-3896

Write Your Short Film - A Hollywood Calling Card!*

Spielberg & Scorsese launched their careers with short films...and you can too! Join Linda Cowgill, author of the bestselling book, Writing Short Films (now in its 2nd Edition), to learn how to master the structure and style of this unique medium. You'll learn the differences between feature and short films and how to format a short film that will put you on the map.

Linda Cowgill has taught at AFI, The Kennedy Center, the Boston Film Institute, and Loyola Marymount University. She currently teaches at the Los Angeles Film School and is the author of Secrets of Screenplay Structure and Writing Short Films, both used in college and university writing programs across the country and abroad.

The Learning Annex

Course 411ZLA, Section A
Thursday, February 16, 2006 from 7:00-9:30 PM
Location: Westside
US $ 49.99 / $ 44.99 VIP members

Visit: www.learningannex.com

2005 American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest Results*

From 2,400 entries, Judge Terry Zwigoff and the America Zoetrope staff selected Katharine Yee's Final Agent as the Grand Prize winner of the 2005 Screenplay Contest. The Top Ten Finalists were Vacationland by Andrew Badeker, HARVEY LOGAN: The Life & Death of Kid Curry by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Holy War by Jordan J. Jannone, Live Not on Evil by Timothy W. Kernc, High School Sweethearts by Adam Rodin, The Patagonia Incident by David Rothley, Magick by Jeffrey Spry, Rocketland by Christopher Walker, Slivers Oakley by Gene Wolande, and Northern Latitdude by Steven Zawacki.

The Grand prize winner receives $5,000, and along with the Top Ten Finalists, will be considered for film option and development by American Zoetrope, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Sony Pictures Classics, Alphaville, Fortis Films, Shangri-La Entertainment, GreeneStreet Films, FilmColony, The Schiff Company, Pretty Pictures, Hart Sharp Entertainment, This Is That, Phoenix Pictures, Number 9 Films, Matinee Pictures, Michael London Productions, and Bull's Eye Entertainment. The recognized writers will be considered for representation by ICM, UTA, Paradigm, William Morris, The Gersh Agency, CAA, and The Firm, and will receive screenwriting software from Final Draft.

For more information:
Visit: www.zoetrope.com/contests

10% Discount on Final Draft Software Training from The Digital Media Training Series™ (DMTS™)

Magnet Media, publishers of the award-wining DMTS™ - Digital Media Training Series - of self-paced training DVDs is now shipping its Inside Final Draft 7 training DVD.
This expert instruction provides insider tips, tricks and techniques to get you working quickly and confidently.

Use promotional code FD10 to get 10% off your entire order.

Visit: www.digitalmediatraining.com/products/finaldraft7

Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminar*

“Excellent”-MovieMaker  
“Essential”-scr(i)pt     
“Terrific”-Creative Screenwriting
Ignite your career with the most creative and visual filmmaking seminar in the film industry.

Boston: February 25 & 26
Los Angeles: March 11 & 12
Chicago: March 18 & 19               
Las Vegas: March 25 & 26
New York: April 1 & 2
Ft. Lauderdale: April 8 & 9

An essential seminar for filmmakers and screenwriters from networking to visual writing! 
In two days, gain first-hand career knowledge from a working director/writer/producer with an audio-visual scene studies workshop that teaches the skills to take your project from page to shoot to finished film. 
Seminar Director: Guy Magar - International film instructor & contracted to Miramax Films.
Professional credits include over 60 feature films and television network shows.

"Excellent…the complete process…don't miss this seminar!”-IndieVision

Home of the Action/Cut Short Film Competition: Call For Entries: January 15 to May 15.

For a brochure and registration
Visit: www.actioncut.com
Phone: 800-815-5545

WriteMovies.com Writing Contest*

Writemovies.com is in its eighth year of helping writers find representation to option or sell their screenplays, and helping novelists secure publishing deals and playwrights get produced. WriteMovies.com is one of only a handful of sites that has actually made a movie from a contest winning project.

The Grand prize winner will receive $3,000 and will be flown out to Los Angeles to meet with producers, executives, agents and/or managers. The finalist will also receive $1,000 in free consulting and development for the winning project. The top 3 winners will not only receive a copy of Final Draft software, but will also have their projects submitted to the top studios, production companies, agencies and/or publishing houses for consideration.

Deadline for registered Final Draft users is postmarked by Mar 17th.
Entry fee is $35 up till Feb. 17th. $45 after.
$5 discount if you print out and include this with your entry!

WriteMovies.com also offers consulting services by producers and former studio executives in charge of such films as Father of the Bride, Shakespeare in Love and Scarface.

For additional details, discounts and rules:
Visit: www.writemovies.com/writingcontest.html
Email: contact@writemovies.com

Learn to Write a Screenplay in Just Four Weeks*

If you have an amazing idea for a movie but don't know how to begin writing it, this self-paced online course is for you. Screenwriting Basics, the result of over 23 years of helping writers succeed, guides you from FADE IN to FADE OUT - for only $49. There's no easier way to learn the fundamentals of writing a page-turning script. Sign up before February 15th and receive a 20% discount!

Next sessions begins March 6th.

Visit: www.WritersUniversity.com
and sign up today.

Million Dollar Screenwriting Seminar -- Saturday and Sunday February 18th and 19th Only!*

$100 -- $350 off for Final Draft Registered Users!

Produced screenwriter Chris Soth will reveal the Mini-Movie Method of Story that made him over a million dollars in Hollywood. Breaking a two-hour movie into eight fifteen-minute films, Mini-Movies, or sequences -- an industry secret not taught in any other course, book, or seminar. Learn Mini-Movies, and conquer the Act Two Monster!

READ THE REVIEWS AT:
www.screentalk.biz/reviews/minimovie_review.php
www.slashfilm.com/article.php?story=2005110608111132&query=soth

Chris Soth, BA in Dramatic Literature, MFA Screenwriting, sold his screenplay Firestorm for $750,000 while still at USC Film School and wants you to do the same!

Visit: www.MillionDollarScreenwriting.com
Email: chris@milliondollarscreenwriting.com
Phone: 310-397-3124

"Best Classes for Screenwriters"*

According to the Winter 2006 issue of MovieMaker magazine, the "Best Classes for Screenwriters" in New York City are those offered by Gotham Writers' Workshop. The article notes that "students praise GWW's total immersion offerings that are also easy on the pocketbook." Earlier, Forbes selected Gotham's comprehensive online workshops as "Best of the Web."
Gotham is offering registered Final Draft users a $50 tuition discount when they sign up for a comprehensive 10-week screenwriting or TV writing workshop offered online at www.WritingClasses.com. Workshops begin in February and March, are taught by professional writers , and are offered at levels from basic to advanced. Class size is strictly limited, so enroll today.

To receive the $50 savings on the tuition on your first first 10-week class, you must provide promotion code FD50 when registering online or by phone. (This offer is valid only on 10-week class tuition for students new to Gotham and may not be combined with any other offer. Promotion code FD50 must be provided at time of registration to receive discount.)

Visit: www.WritingClasses.com
Phone: 877-974-8377

*These activities are not endorsed by Final Draft, Inc.