Volume 6, Number 4
April 20, 2006

1. Scriptwriters Showcase a Smashing Success!

Over 150 speakers, panelists and industry executives joined more than 600 attendees for the first Final Draft / scr(i)pt magazine's Scriptwriters Showcase. Some of the highlights of the 3 day event are:

• The Keynote panel with Academy Award winners Bobby Moresco (Crash) and Diana Ossana
  (Brokeback Mountain) and Oscar nominee Josh Olson (A History of Violence).
• A surprise visit from actor Robert Downey following the screening of Shane Black's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
• Just one example of the A-List advice offered at the Showcase during "The Element of Surprise" panel:
  

  Stuart Beattie (Collateral) loudly slammed his hands onto the table and said, "That is surprise. But if I tell you that there's a bomb under this table, and it's going to go off sometime in the next 90 minutes but we don't know when, that is suspense."

Thank you to all those that participated and attended!

Visit: www.scriptwritersshowcase.com

2. 7th Annual Big Break! International Screenwriting Contest

3. Free Chat Support

We're pleased to announce that we're now offering free online chat support, Monday through Friday from 9:30AM - 4:30PM pacific time.  This is a whole new way for us to offer online help, and we're excited about what we believe will be an effective way to further support our users.

We still recommend that you look through the extensive Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ) pages on our website. We've found that about 95% of the people who use this comprehensive resource find what they need immediately.  But if you wish to contact us, there's the Ask a Question tab at the top of the FAQ pages or the link for the chat service on the right-hand side.

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

4. The Screenwriters Summit - NYC

The Screenwriters Summit is the premiere screenwriting event in the country. After making a big debut in Los Angeles last year, the event comes to New York City for the first time ever the weekend of April 29-30.

The NY Summit will feature a stellar lineup of the world's best screenwriting teachers: Syd Field, (who has had a long, successful working relationship with Final Draft), Linda Seger, John Truby and Michael Hauge, all teaching half day classes. This is followed by an amazing Pitchfest on Saturday night with famed Hollywood pitch man and producer Robert Kosberg. Kosberg has worked with everyone from Brad Pitt to Drew Barrymore and will be listening to your pitches - live on stage!

For Details:
Visit: www.ScreenwritersSummit.com
Phone: 800-814-0544

5. On The Road - Coming to New York and Chicago


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

Location	Date	Time
National Association of Broadcasters 2006 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Booth SL1376 – South Hall	Mon, Apr 24 - Thurs, Apr 27	10:00am - 6:00pm
website:   www.nabshow.com
Apple Store SoHo 103 Prince Street New York, NY 10012 212-226-3126 Works on a Mac presentation featuring Final Draft	Sat, Apr 29	7:00-9:00pm
map:   www.apple.com/retail/soho
Apple Store North Michigan Avenue 679 North Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 312-981-4104	Thurs, May 4	7:00 - 8:00pm
map:   www.apple.com/retail/northmichiganavenue/map/
Apple Store The Grove 189 The Grove Drive Los Angeles, CA 90036 323-965-8400	Sat, May 20	2:00-3:00pm
map:   www.apple.com/retail/thegrove
Apple Store Santa Monica 1248 Third Street Promenade Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-576-1011	Sat, May 20	5:00pm
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
Schedules are subject to change. Check with the location to verify dates and times.

6. 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.

Question:
How many scripts did you write before you got paid?

For the answer, and an archive of previously featured excerpts, visit:
www.finaldraft.com/products/book-answers.php4?answer=0604

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

7. 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.
To upgrade for $89:
Visit: www.finaldraft.com/orders/upgrades-fd.php4

Tech Tip
Need to print out just one character's dialogue?  Want to see how many lines each character has or how many locations are in your script?  Want to see an overview of all your scenes and their statistics?  Then check out the Reports feature in Final Draft!  Click on Tools > Reports.  You can customize each report to get just what you need! 

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. 
Visit:  www.finaldraft.com/help

8. 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.

9. 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.

Slamdance's 99K Feature Project*

April 22nd & 23rd
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about real independent filmmaking from industry experts. We'll cover low budget production from concept to alternative distribution. The weekend includes screenings of films from the 2005 Slamdance Film Festival. Panel discussions will include leading industry experts Jeremy Coon (Producer, Napoleon Dynamite), Paul Federbush (Warner Independent), Micah Green (CAA), Meredith Kadlec (Here!TV), Greg Laemmle (Laemmle Theaters), Linda Phillips Palo (Casting Director, The Virgin Suicides), Wash Westmoreland (Director, Quinceanera), Steven J. Wolfe (Producer, Twin Falls Idaho).

Use this printout to receive a $50 discount!

For more information, pricing, to attend:
Visit: www.slamdance.com/99k
Email: 99k@slamdance.com
Phone: 323-466-1786

Free Teleseminar: 21 Powerful Rewrite Strategies*

"It's the best rewrite class I've taken. I've taken three: one was two months, another two days and the third six weeks. I learned more high-quality tools in two hours with Hal than all of the other courses combined."
- Kymber Yung

In 2 hours, you'll learn:

• 7 professional rewrite processes.
• 3 mistakes that cause your writing to have an amateur feel.
• 6 ways to cut through the confusion and make sure your story works.
• 4 methods of intensifying the most important moments of your screenplay.

Overall, you'll get 21 ways to increase your chance of winning a contest,
getting an agent and selling your screenplays. Best of all, there's no charge.

For info or to sign up:
Visit: www.ScriptForSale.com/rewrite_conference2.htm

GET DISCOVERED!*

Fade In's 13th Annual Hollywood Filmmakers Conference & Power-Pitchfest
May 20 & 21, 2006
Sheraton Universal Hotel, N. Hollywood, CA

- LEARN: Pitch Class sessions with A-list filmmakers.
- SUBMIT: Agency Submissions (ICM, William Morris, UTA, Endeavor and others)
- PITCH: Over 70 prominent production companies, studios and agencies to meet with (including Paramount, Universal, New Line, William Morris, HBO and many many more)
- NETWORK: Catered Networking Reception

Fade In conferences are limited to 175 attendees and do sell out.  #1 Pitch event with the most sales and options and agency signings.

Mention Final Draft and receive $25 off!
Visit: www.fadeinonline.com
Phone: 310-275-0287 or 800-646-3896

Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope: All-Story*

The latest edition of Francis Coppola's award-winning story and art quarterly, Zoetrope: All-Story, is now available. The Spring 2006 issue features original short stories by Gus Van Sant and Daniel Handler (aka, Lemony Snicket), and an introductory essay by musician David Byrne. Also included is the story by Pulitzer Prize-winner Steven Millhauser that inspired Neil Burger's most recent film, The Illusionist, starring Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti. Burger introduces the story with an original essay.

Zoetrope is a current finalist for the 2006 National Magazine Award, the highest honor due an American periodical.

Final Draft registered users benefit from exclusive discounts. To capitalize, please enter the discount code 5FDH when subscribing.

To purchase an issue or to subscribe:
Visit: www.all-story.com/subscribe.cgi

Million Dollar Screenwriting Seminar -- Saturday and Sunday June 3rd and 4th Only!*

$100 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" - MovieMaker*

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 Final Draft registered 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 April and May, 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 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

UCLA's ArtsDayLA*

Join the UCLA Extension Department of the Arts on May 13 for the third annual ArtsDayLA – a free, festive, and unique educational event that brings together a vibrant community of artists, writers, designers, architects and landscape architects who share their insights, tips and artistic know-how on 32 arts-related topics.  Visit more than 30 community groups including museums, art collectives, non-profit organizations and professional societies.  Outdoor activities include drawing from a live model for adults, and mask-making, book decorating and storytelling for kids ages 3-7.  There's live music, book-signings, gift bags for the first 300 attendees, drawings for cool arts-related prizes, discounts on selected summer courses and so much more.  While there, stop by and say hi to the folks from Final Draft! 

Visit: www.uclaextension.edu/artsdayla
Phone: 310-267-4888

Calling All Writers!*

Have you checked out Shooting People?  We are an international community of independent filmmakers and screenwriters that started in the UK and now has over 10,000 members in the US.  You can subscribe to our US Screenwriters Network (partnered by Final Draft) and receive a daily email bulletin which allows you to:

• Connect with other writers across the US and in the UK.
• Pitch your scripts to producers and directors.
• Get daily information on competitions and other screenwriting news.
• Get answers to questions on all aspects of screenwriting.
• Find work on independent productions.

Find out more about us
Visit: www.shootingpeople.org

Get Representation Now!*

Just released with thousands of changes since last published – The HOLLYWOOD REPRESENTATION DIRECTORY, 31st EDITION – A one-stop shop for representation and getting work in Hollywood

• More than 2000 companies & 7000 individuals
• Literary & talent agencies and management companies
• Entertainment attorneys
• TV & Film Casting Directors
• Publicity Companies
• Includes addresses, phone & fax numbers, staff with titles and more…

Use code FD0406 when ordering
Visit: www.hcdonline.com
Phone: 800-815-0503

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

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