Volume 6, Number 7
July 11, 2006

1. Big Break! International Screenwriting Contest a Success

Stay tuned for finalists and winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered the 2006 International Big Break! Contest.  We know how much effort goes into creating a screenplay and we applaud you for bringing your vision to the page. We are dedicated to bringing recognition to promising screenwriters around the globe. 

The screenplays are being carefully reviewed by script analysts and the finalists will be announced in September. The industry judges will then review the top ten finalists and announce the winner in October.

Best of luck to everyone!

Liz Alani
Contest Director
Email: bigbreak@finaldraft.com

2. Final Draft AV 2.5.2 Update Available

Provides Universal Support for Macs® with Intel-based Processors

FREE UPDATE for registered owners of version 2.5.
(Windows users already running 2.5.1 do not need to update)
Visit our Updates & Downloads section to get the 2.5.2 download:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

$49 UPGRADE SPECIAL for registered owners of version 2.0 or below
www.finaldraft.com/orders/upgrades-av.php4

3. Free Chat Support

Final Draft offers FREE real-time online chat support, Monday through Friday from 9:30am - 4:30pm Pacific Time.  We’re excited to offer our users yet another support resource and we invite you to give it a try if you need help. The link for free chat support is on the right-hand side of our Technical Support section of our website.  

We also recommend that you look through the extensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on our website. Our research shows that about 95% of the people who use this comprehensive resource find what they need immediately.  You can also email us by clicking on the Ask a Question tab at the top of the FAQ pages.

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

4. On The Road

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

5. Ask The Pros Monthly Excerpt

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

Question:
Have you ever written with a partner? What are the advantages or disadvantages to writing solo?

For the answer and an archive of previously featured excerpts, visit:
www.finaldraft.com/products/book-answers.php4?answer=0607

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

6. Customer Support / Tech Tip

Final Draft version 7 users:
The most recent update is 7.1.2

To find out if your version 7 is up to date, go to Help > Program Updates. If your Final Draft needs to be updated, you will automatically be forwarded to the downloads section of our website. If you have are not online, open the program and go to the Help > Customer Support menu option and make sure it shows the most recent update. To visit the Updates & Downloads section of our website:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

IMPORTANT: The 7.1.2 update requires Mac OS X v10.3.9 or better or Windows XP/2000.

Tech Tip -- Need to view two parts of your script at the same time?  Now you can in Final Draft 7! 
Use the Panels buttons on your toolbar, or click on View > Split Vertically to see your single script file in two windows, side-by-side. Now you can skip down to the start of the third act in one panel while your first act break stays onscreen in the other.

For more information about the benefits of registration or to complete the online form:
Visit: www.finaldraft.com/support/productregistration.php4

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:  
www.finaldraft.com/help

Final Draft version 6 users:
The most recent update is 6.0.6.0

To find out if your version 6 is up to date, go to Help > Technical Support. If you do not have the most recent update, you should download and then install the free update from our website:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

Please note that you must have version 6 already installed on your hard drive to install the 6.0.6.0 update. The 6.0.6.0 update will not update any version other than 6.

Registered owners of version 6 can upgrade to version 7 for $89.
www.finaldraft.com/orders/upgrades-fd.php4

Final Draft AV version 2.5 users:
The most recent update is 2.5.2

Final Draft AV includes the revolutionary new Rearrange Guide Line as well as expanded importing and exporting capabilities. For more information, visit the product information page on our website:
www.finaldraft.com/products/av-features.php4

7. 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.

8. 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. Final Draft, Inc. does not endorse all of the following activities.

51 Tips For Winning Screenplay Contests

Want to know what contest winners do to win?

ScriptForSale.com interviewed contest winners, readers, and contest
directors from Nicholl, Austin, Final Draft and others.

The players gave us 51 must-know tips that will increase your
chance of winning a contest.


The 51 Tips include:

- The Basics That You Must Not Blow
- 7 Winning Story Tips
- 5 Ways to Create Unforgettable Characters
- 6 Tips on Writing Outstanding Dialogue
- 5 Steps to Building Entertaining Scenes
- 7 Methods for Turning a Win into a Career
- And others

It's yours FREE as a gift from Final Draft and ScriptForSale.com.

Visit: www.scriptforsale.com/listmail/link.php?id=82dbb1efd

In-Depth Interviews With Hollywood’s Hottest Screenwriters! Now Available on DVD!

Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby)

David Goyer (Batman Begins, Blade)

Jim Uhls (Fight Club)

Stuart Beattie (Collateral, Derailed)

Ted Griffin (Ocean's 11, Matchstick Men)

Sheldon Turner (The Longest Yard)

TOPICS DISCUSSED: inspiration, breaking in, writer's block, pitching, structure, story beats, outlines, character development, rewriting, work space, studio notes, studio politics, agents, etc.

HOSTED BY INDUSTRY VETERAN MIKE DE LUCA: former president, New Line Cinema and DreamWorks SKG, and producer of Zathura and Ghost Rider.

Powerful knowledge, straight from the source, delivered to your living room or laptop. Order by 8/31/06 and SAVE 10% BY USING CODE FD83106

To purchase these DVDs:

Visit: www.thedialogueseries.com

The Writers Guild Foundation presents its 2006 Craft Day

DYING IS EASY...REWRITING IS HARD OR SO YOU'VE WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY - NOW WHAT?

Saturday July 22

2nd Floor, Writers Guild of America west

Over 20 A-list screenwriters lead panels and break-out sessions designed to take your screenplay to the next level. Continental breakfast, sandwich lunch and wine & cheese reception are included.

Your ticket purchase automatically enters you in a raffle for 2 copies of the latest Final Draft software.

Get tickets and more info:
Visit: www.wgfoundation.org

Screenwriting Expo 5 will be held October 19-22, 2006 in Los Angeles

This year the Expo is proud to present Pixar Animation Studios: a full day of seminars and panels on storytelling with Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) and Brad Bird (The Incredibles). Also this year: a fourth day on Taking Back Your Career and Masters Classes taught by working screenwriters and directors. Download the 48-page catalog for information on more than 300 events at Expo 5.

Special Final Draft demonstration. Sunday, October 22 - 10:00 am.

Still only $74.95 to register.
Visit: www.screenwritingexpo.com

Film Independent's 2006 Producers Lab Deadline: August 14

Film Independent's Producers Lab is an intensive seven-week program designed to help filmmakers develop skills as creative independent producers. Lab fellows develop a strategy and formal action plan for bringing their projects to fruition--including a budget, schedule, and business plan. Fellows have one-on-one meetings with established producers, directors and other industry professionals who act as advisors to them on their specific projects.

For more information contact Soo Hugh:
Visit: www.filmindependent.org/index.php/talent_development/producers_labs

Phone: 310-432-1275

Email: shugh@filmindependent.org

The Second City Summer Programs

The Second City has launched the careers of countless actors, writers, directors and producers, and has influenced American comedy like no other theater. Spend part of your summer at The Second City where you can work out your creative juices in our improvisation and comedy writing boot camps. Our summer programs are held in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, Las Vegas and Toronto and attract students from all over the country and abroad.

Visit: www.secondcitysummers.com

Seeking financing or distribution for your film or TV project?

The annual Hollywood Distribution Directory, 17th Edition is new and improved! This guide to finance and distribution gives you the contacts you need to get your project seen.

• More than 2,000 companies
• International & Domestic Distributors – Over 300 NEW companies added!
• Mobile & Internet Distributors – New!
• Entertainment Financing Companies – Expanded!
• Direct-to-DVD Companies – Expanded!

Use code FD0706 when ordering.

Visit: www.hcdonline.com

Phone: 800-815-0503

Zoetrope Writers’ Workshop at Francis Coppola's Lodge in Belize

September 16 - 23. Write, learn, and relax in luxury at Francis Ford Coppola’s beautiful Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize for the Tenth Annual Zoetrope Short Story Writers’ Workshop. Join Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Olen Butler, Frank O’Connor International Story Award-finalist David Bezmozgis, and Zoetrope: All-Story editor Michael Ray. Each day features small group workshops led by the instructors, guided writing exercises, and private writing time. Also included are four-star meals, spectacular bungalow accommodations, and trips to the Mayan ruins at Caracol, the Barton Creek Cave, and the Rio on Pools.

The workshop is limited to twenty-five attendees. Admissions are rolling, so apply today!

For complete information and an application:
Visit: www.all-story.com

WRITERS STORE PRESENTS - Summer Speaker Series

Writer’s Discussion of Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest with Dan Decker.

Saturday, July 22 - 11:00 am.

The Writers Store's Summer Speaker Series continues with a roster of in-the-know professionals who will inspire you to get your writing or filmmaking career on the right track for success!

Join in this engaging discussion from a writer's perspective. Dan Decker, author of Anatomy of a Screenplay, leads a discussion on topics ranging from story structure to character development, and about what does, what doesn’t and what could be working in each film.

Call and reserve your seat today for this FREE event.

Phone: 800-272-8927

Also Available from the Writers Store

Superman Returns: The Shooting Script by Bryan Singer and Michael Doughty & Dan Harris Retail Price: $14.95
Final Draft Newsletter Price: $11.96 (Save $2.99)
Visit: www.writersstore.com/?e=1028

MILLIONDOLLARSCREENWRITING.COM

Produced Screenwriter Tells All!

FREE! FREE! FREE!

Selling a spec? Selling a pitch? Becoming a WGA member? Getting produced? Do you have questions on becoming a screenwriter and filmmaker? On format? Story? Character? Dialogue? Theme? Join an ongoing dialogue with a working professional screenwriter!

Free Screenwriting Newsletter in your email every week. It's been one year since the first MillionDollarScreenwriting.com Seminar, and we want to give something back!

Go to MILLIONDOLLARSCREENWRITING.COM, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your email -- you'll get a confirmation email, click "confirm" or respond and you'll be signed up for your free newsletter!

Thanks "A Million"
Visit: www.milliondollarscreenwriting.com

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