Script Drafting Done Easy

A while back I did a review on a book called Get A Reel Job. It was written by Philip Nemy, a Disney exec and dealt with getting a job in the film industry. One of the things he encouraged writers to do is get a software program that helps out script development. One of the recommended programs was Final Draft . I decided that this program might well be worth checking out. It turns out that I was right. Final Draft is a great program for putting out a professional looking script. This software program is from Final Draft, Inc . It is now in its 6th version.

Now, some of you might be pooh poohing my claim. I know my son did. He is a Freshman in high school and has an Intro to Theater class. Josh informed me that any old word processing program would do to write a script. And he is right. Up to a point. Any word processing program will do for you if all you want is to write down things. But in order to set plot elements, dialog and stage directions, a whole bunch of text formatting will be needed. That wastes a lot of time and energy, not to mention raising the frustration level to the nth degree. That is where Final Draft comes in. It takes the worry and strain off of the writer in matters of formatting a script.

The program has a user friendly interface. You have pulldown menus, toolbars, rulers, a status bar and an automatic insertion point on your document page. It has a bunch of macros and shortcuts that can be accessed using the Ctrl key along with a letter key in the Windows version and with the Cmd key in the Mac version. Oh, did I mention that this program can be used on both Macintosh’s and PC’s? It’s the best of both worlds, although I have yet to become a Mac fan.

There is a program feature called SmartType that will prove invaluable. This is a popup list that provides script elements. Type a letter on the screen and a SmartType window will appear. If the word that you are looking for is in the list, then click on the word and it will be inserted into the script at the insertion point. The SmartType lists can be modified and added to. Character names and physical locations can be added to a SmartType list. Other elements like extensions, times and transitions can be accessed via the SmartType lists.

The program uses a special 12-point Courier font. This font is in line of what is normally expected of a finished script. The manual explains the font and why the Final Draft folks feel that it is important to use it. The font looks the same on both the PC and Mac.

Some of the macros that are available include inserting scene headings, adding transitions and setting parentheses. If you can’t remember the right number that corresponds with the Ctrl or Cmd key, simply press either one of them and a list of the element shortcuts will appear in the Status Bar at the bottom of the interface.

The program will automatically paginate the script for you. That way, if the fingers are blazing fast and furious, the program will help you keep the pages straight and the formatting correct.

Other features that the program has include a 90,000 entry Names Database and a great spell checker. There is also a good Header and Footer setup.

One of the best extra features of the program is Ask the Expert. This is an online help feature that was developed by Syd Field, one of the top people of scriptwriting. Just about any major or minor question on scripts and screenwriting is listed in Ask the Expert. Just click on the item in the list and an informational box will appear on the screen. It will have a ton of information about the specific item in question.

For those of you who still might not be convinced this is a good program for script and screenwriting, I offer up some of the people who have used the program. Tom Hanks is quoted on the box cover and Steven Bochco says that “Final Draft is a pleasure to use.” James L. Brooks compared the program to an imaginary friend and the producer of The English Patient calls the program “the writer’s secret weapon.” With endorsements like that, how can you go wrong?