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Final Draft ®v8
The Industry Standard
Mac OS X & Windows
compatible
View system requirements
macworld.com
(click to read review)
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Key Features of Final Draft:
The Industry Standard
For the last 20 years, nearly every film and television show has been scripted with Final Draft software.
Final Draft software is the #1-selling screenwriting program for screenwriters, TV writers, playwrights, and writers of new media and is also the industry standard for screenwriting. It seamlessly formats your script as you type. Tab and Enter keys make formatting your script a snap, and More’s and Continued’s automatically appear at page breaks where needed. [more...]
Join the ranks of Hollywood’s most notable writers and use your creative energy to focus on the content while Final Draft takes care of the style. [less...]
Panels System
Keep your script in sync with Index Cards and Scene View.
Like most writers, you probably need to keep a lot of ideas at the front of your mind while you're writing. With the Panels System, you can split your screen into separate panels and view your script pages in one panel while you view another section of the script, your Index Cards, or Scene View in the other panel. [more...]
With the Panels System you can compare two scenes' dialogue and pacing side by side even though they may be separated by a vast number of pages. If you want an overview of each scene, use the Index Cards or Scene View on one side and the script in the other. A double-click in any scene will keep the
panels in sync. [less...]
ScriptNotes™
Keep track of ideas and feedback about sections of your script
ScriptNotes are a handy way to collect ideas and feedback without displaying them in script view. ScriptNotes are effective pop-up windows that hold your ideas, suggestions, or scene fragments you've cut but don't want to toss. [more...]
These note are stored without taking up space onscreen. Use ScriptNotes to provide feedback on a particular scene when reviewing your partner's script or print your ScriptNotes as a report for easy reference when reviewing your script. [less...]
Final Draft Features:
Film
Academy Award®-winning screenwriters like James Cameron, James L. Brooks, and Callie Khouri use Final Draft software.
Its ease-of-use and ability to format to industry standards allows you to focus your creative energy on the story. Plus, with built-in, industry-approved screenplay templates, it's even easier to get started with your writing.
From the blank page to the finished film, Final Draft Professional Screenwriting Software is with you every step of the way.
Brainstorm story ideas with outlining and structure tools.
Format your script according to entertainment industry standards.
Use Revision Tools to polish that final draft for production.
Screenplay Templates
The Final Draft application includes hundreds of templates to help you start writing quickly, and many are specifically designed for screenplays. A few of the templates included are: the standard Screenplay template, the BBC Screenplay template, and the Warner Bros. Screenplay template used by Hollywood filmmakers.
Television
Emmy® Award-winning and nominated shows like Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock use Final Draft software.
Matter of fact, nearly every show you see on TV is scripted using Final Draft software. Our relationship with the studios has allowed us to provide you with built-in TV templates, so you can easily write an original sitcom, one-hour TV drama, or your very own spec script for your favorite TV show.
The screenplay format for a TV show is similar to that of a feature film. However, there are some differences based on structure, genre, and the length of the show. If you are looking to break into the business of TV writing, it is essential for you to use sample spec scripts written for current TV shows.
In addition to the standard Sitcom, BBC Sitcom, and TV Drama format, you will also find over 100 TV templates for current and classic TV shows.
View Our Most Popular TV Templates.
For a complete list of TV Templates, click here.
TV Reports
Final Draft offers several reports and features critical for all stages of production. These reports include:
- Separate Cast Reports and Pages
- Location Reports
- Character Reports
- Full Script Reports
Theater
Join the ranks of Tony® Award-winners Aaron Sorkin and Julie Taymor and use Final Draft software to script your next play or Broadway musical.
Final Draft screenwriting software is also used by some of the world's best playwrights. Join the ranks of Tony® Award-winners Aaron Sorkin and Julie Taymor and use Final Draft software to script your next play or Broadway musical.
With our built-in templates, you can script a Broadway musical, including the book and lyrics, a one-act play, or a full-length stageplay. Several of our theatrical templates, like Modern Stageplay, Traditional Stageplay, and Musical, have been Dramatists Guild approved.
Different than screenplays, stageplays do not adhere to strict formatting rules, so feel free to customize our Final Draft templates for theater or simply create your own from scratch.
Writing
From inspiration to Fade Out, Final Draft software helps you every step of the way.
More Templates
In addition to film, television, and theater templates, Final Draft includes templates for graphic novels, story structure, and even outlining, query letters, and treatments. You can also customize and save your own templates.
ScriptNotes 
ScriptNotes are pop-up windows designed to hold your ideas, suggestions, or scene fragments that you've cut but don't want to toss. These notes are stored without taking up space within your script.
ScriptNotes are also a great tool for providing feedback on a particular scene when reviewing your partner's, client's, or student’s script. You can print, or print to PDF your ScriptNotes Report and use it as easy reference as you review the script.
The Panels System
With the Panels System, you can split your screen into separate panels and view your script pages in one panel while you view another section of the script, your Index Cards, or Scene View in the other panel. A double-click in any scene will keep the panels in sync.
Scene Properties Inspector (SPI)
Add scene titles and colors to track your story lines, characters, and more.
Use this new floating pallet to track data specific to each scene, such as the story beats that will eventually make up the action, characters and dialogue of the scene. Add and edit your scene's title such as "Villain introduced," and add color to the scene to help you track elements like storylines, character arcs, and material you need to review later. Like the Navigator, the SPI will display the details of whatever scene you’re working on in your script so you have summary notes handy when you need them.
SmartType
SmartType remembers and automatically fills in character names, Scene Headings, Transitions, locations, and more. All you need to do is type the first few letters and SmartType will instantly fill in the rest.
Dictionary and Thesaurus
Don't worry about spelling or grammatical mistakes. Our built-in Spell-Checking and Thesaurus provide real-time auto-spell check, catch capitalization errors, and will assist you in finding synonyms. Plus they are available in English, UK English, Canadian English, Spanish, French, German, and several other languages.
Revision Mode
In Revision Mode, you can track and review all changes from your first draft all the way to your to final draft. From the ability to omit scenes, lock pages and "A" pages, as well as set your revision colors, Final Draft software provides all the tools you need to take your script through production.
Formatting
Use your creative energy to focus on the content; let Final Draft software take care of the style.
Pagination
Final Draft software automatically formats and paginates to industry standards such as using Character, "More's and Continued's," and Scene Continued's.
In Final Draft version 8, we've added new features to ensure that all script elements, including any Headers or Footers, are printed to industry standards.
Final Draft Courier Font
The Final Draft Courier font was created to be consistent with the typeface once used in Hollywood when scripts were written on typewriters. Today, studios and production companies still estimate their budgets according to the page count of a script, which, in part, is dictated by the Courier style font.
Having a consistent page count that production companies and studios can depend on to help them estimate their budgets is crucial when producing a script. Additionally, Final Draft software has its own Courier font so scripts are properly paginated on both Windows, Macintosh, and iOS platforms ensuring that the page count and estimated production budgets remain the same no matter where the script is made available.
Tab and Enter
Other less capable programs require you to learn complicated commands or count spaces between your lines. Simple keystrokes make learning to use Final Draft software a snap. You can just use the Tab and Enter keys to switch between script elements and easy keyboard shortcuts. You can also use the Command (MAC) or Control (Windows) key to display the numbered shortcut keys for the different script elements and chose to move quickly through your script that way.
Format Assistant
Format Assistant scans your script for any errors.
This useful tool is like having a proofreader right at your side. It checks your script for common formatting errors, such as missing dialogue, extra spaces, carriage returns, and blank elements. You can set it to run every time you print or only when you want it to.
Title Pages
All Final Draft templates come with industry standard Title Pages that are easy to modify, save, and print or save to PDF.
All of the Final Draft Television Templates come preset with easy-to-use information for each series, such as the specific cast list and typical sets/locations. Our Standard One-Hour and Half-Hour Templates will also help you get started on pilots by providing what information should appear in the finished product. The added bonus is the Title Page uses its own numbering for tracking the following pages and will not add to your overall page count.
Outlining
Easily outline your story and restructure your script by dragging and dropping multiple scenes at a time.
Index Cards
This feature has double-sided cards that display a scene from your script on one side and its summary on the other. The Summary View allows you to enter ideas directly into the Index Card such as your basic outline, notes, sequence or act markers, comments, locations, blocking... anything you need to build and organize your story. Simply select one or more individual Index Card Summaries and copy the content directly into the script and the text will appear at the end of any previously existing content in the scene.
You can also color your Index Cards to help organize themes, character arcs, A and B stories, etc. Select and rearrange multiple cards at once if you need to reorder your scenes or print your Index Cards directly on 3x5 or 4x6 cards for visualizing and organizing scenes outside of the application. Double-clicking on a card in Split Panel View will automatically sync the scene selected with your script.
Scene Properties Inspector
Add scene titles and colors to track your story lines, characters, and more.
Use this new floating pallet to track data specific to each scene, such as the story beats that will eventually make up the action, characters, and dialogue of the scene.
Add and edit your scene's title such as "Villain introduced," and add color to the scene to help you track elements like storylines, character arcs, and material you need to review later. Like the Scene Navigator, the SPI will display the details of whatever scene you're working on in your script so you have summary notes handy when you need them.
Scene Navigator
Manage and view the important details of your scene in this sortable floating pallet.
Manage the pace and flow of your story and keep track of up to nine categories of information related to your scenes. The Scene Navigator is a sortable, customizable floating pallet that displays details about your script including a scene's title, color, page number, length, and location. Best of all it syncs with the script with a single-click. As your script progresses, you can pick and choose the columns of information that are relevant for your current phase of writing.
Scene View
Outline your script ideas and reorder scenes in this high-level overview.
With Scene View you can see your script from a 5,000-foot view and select, drag and drop one or more scenes to reorganize your ideas as you outline. Insert new scenes easily, and hide or show information important to you such as a scene's action, title and summary. Scene View also displays a scene's color so you can quickly identify one scene from another. Print your Scene View or just view it alongside the script. With a double-click you can sync the script and instantly go to any scene you've selected in Scene View.
Send to Script
Send copy from the Index Card Summary directly to your script.
We've added a new feature that will allow you to select one or more individual Index Card Summaries and copy the content directly into the script. If there is only a Scene Heading, the content will appear directly below the Scene Heading as an Action element. Otherwise, the text will appear at the end of any previously existing content in the scene. You will be able to access this feature by toolbar button, menu option, keyboard shortcut, or contextual menu.
Production Features
Tagger 2
Break down your script and prepare it for scheduling applications.
Tagger 2 is an updated stand-alone application that reads any Final Draft script and enables you to tag elements within the script (cast, costumes, props, etc.) and export the results into most scheduling applications. Tagger allows you to select text from the script and add any element with a click of the mouse in any category for that scene or for any or all scenes where that element appears.
The element text is highlighted and color-coded, and can be customized to suit the way you like to work. Created with the help of veteran assistant directors, producers and unit production managers, Tagger means no more going over a paper script again and again with highlighters.
Revisions/Page Locking
Handle script changes once you go into production with these easy to use tools.
From the ability to omit scenes, lock pages and A-pages, as well as set your revision colors, Final Draft provides you all the tools you’ll need to take your script through production. You can even track the page header’s revision color so you can issue one set of revisions or all of them as needed. Merging pages that have been cut once a script is locked is a snap. Also included are standard revision colors in each film and television template.
Customizable Reporting
Get immediate statistics to help develop your script and
keep it on budget.
Within Final Draft there are seven different reports to give you quick facts about your script. The Scene Report, for example, provides a snapshot of the scene's length, cast, starting page number, and location. The Location Report will inform you how often a location is used and will group the scenes by INT/EXT. The Character Report includes an "appearance summary" so you know how frequently one character speaks versus the other characters, as well as the total word count for the character.
Use the ScriptNotes Report to get a quick scan of all the notes in your script based on each scene and page. The Statistics Report will allow you to track daily writing goals by displaying how many words you've written along with details on the types of elements you used and what percentage of the script they comprise. Need to cast your characters? You can instantly create then print or email Character Sides for any speaking parts in your script.
Support
Free Technical Support
With your Final Draft purchase, you get free chat support, access to hundreds of questions in our Knowledge Base and Interactive Troubleshooter, and email technical support from our sales specialists.
Whether you are a first-time screenwriter with a question about a certain element or a television show experiencing difficulties during production, we are here to help you.
Visit the Final Draft Support page if you need help now.
International
Final Draft is the #1-selling screenwriting software program in the world.
Dictionary, Spell-Check, and Thesaurus
While the Final Draft application is English-only, we have spell-checkers, thesauri and dedicated customer pages in several other languages. Additionally, our Knowledge Base has the ability to translate questions and answers in 20 different languages and/or dialects.
United Kingdom - UK-English Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our United Kingdom customer page.
Canada - Canadian-English Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our Canada customer page.
Australia - UK and US-English Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our Australia customer page.
Germany - German Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our Germany customer page.
France - French Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our France customer page.
Ireland - UK and US-English Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our Ireland customer page.
Italy - Italian Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our Italy customer page.
Mexico - Spanish Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our Latin America customer page.
Spain - Spanish Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our Spain customer page.
New Zealand - UK and US-English Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Visit our New Zealand customer page.
Brazil - Brazilian Portuguese Spell-Check. (No Thesaurus.)
Denmark - Danish Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Netherlands - Dutch Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Norway - Norwegian Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Portugal - Portuguese Spell-Check. (No Thesaurus.)
Sweden - Swedish Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
Switzerland - Swiss-German Spell-Check and Thesaurus.
More Features
Speech Control
Customize character voices and have your script read back to you with Speech Control. Choose to hear a particular line of dialogue, a select scene, or your entire script read back over your computer’s speakers.
Import scripts from another word-processing programs
Import a script written with another word-processing program directly into Final Draft and our software will attempt to format that script correctly. If an element is not formatted correctly, you can easily reformat it using the Final Draft keyboard or menu shortcuts.
Export Final Draft files to professional scheduling and budgeting programs
When you’ve finished your last rewrite, you can immediately export your Final Draft file to the industry-standard scheduling, storyboarding, and budgeting programs.
Dual Dialogue
Format dual dialogue to exacting industry standards with just a simple keyboard or menu shortcut.
And even more Final Draft features:
Customize:
- More and Continued element including dialogue and Scene breaks.
- SmartType by characters, extensions, scene introductions, locations, times, and transitions.
- Toolbars so the elements you use the most are right on your desktop.
- Spacing in your script.
- Any and all script elements including fonts, paragraph and page styles, shortcut keys, spacing, and indentation.
- Header and Footer including page #, date, scene #, active or collated revisions, and any other label you create
- Macros which are shortcut key combinations for text which is entered repeatedly throughout any script
- Automatic backup folder ensures you never lose your latest script.
- Type and Print your script with the exclusive Final Draft 12-point Courier font.
- Zoom your Script up to 300% for easier viewing and editing.
- Set Bookmarks in your script so you can always find a certain scene or line of dialogue.
- Check your spelling in U.S. English, U.K. English, Canadian English, and 10 other languages. Easily add custom words to Spell-Check.
- Save or Print in PDF.
- Register your script with The Writers Guild of America and other writing organizations.
- Backup your files automatically so you never lose a script.
- Print Script Sides by Character Name
- Print revisions in color.
- Email your Final Draft file from within the program
- Find and Replace words throughout the entire script or just by elements.
- Automatically generate a cast list.
View Script:
- Normal View: View your script with no spaces between pages.
- Page View: View your script with spaces between pages.
- Speed View: View your script with no breaks or spaces.
Reports:
- Scene - View Scenes by alphabetical order, longest scene, shortest scene, or script order.
- Location - View locations by time of day, most occurrences, lease occurrences, scene introduction, script order, or alphabetical order
- Character – Appearance Summary: Choose a character and view number of times character speaks, how many words character speaks, character she or he most interacts with.
- Character – Scenes and Dialogue: View all scenes and dialogue isolated by character.
- Cast – View how many total dialogues, speaking scenes, and total scenes separated and summarized by character.
- Script – Select and view just the chosen elements in your script such as Scene Headings, Action Lines, or Dialogue.
- ScriptNote – Print out all ScriptNotes marked in your script or view just those ScriptNotes you select.
- Statistic – General Statistics: View total number of words and paragraphs in your script.
- Statistic – Element Statistics: View number and percentage of elements in your script.
- Statistic – Character Statistics: View each character’s number of lines, words, and in which scenes he or she appears.
- Names Database – Find that perfect character name from our list of 90,000 names and add it to your SmartType list of character names.
- Format Assistant – Choose if you want to follow standard formatting rules or create your own such as requiring characters to have dialogue or not allowing a character to have two consecutive dialogues.
- Script Compare – Compare two versions of your script to see where changes have occurred. Final Draft will merge your two scripts into one and highlight changes from first to second draft.
- Scene Numbers – Easily add or delete scene numbers to your script and chose to show the scene numbers on the right or left side if desired.
- Omit Scenes – Mark a scene as omitted and it disappears from your script leaving just a little Omitted tagline. Click the tagline and reinsert your scene back into your script.
- Revision Sets:
- Color code or revise the text appearance of all revision sets.
- Toggle your revised sets on or off within your active script. View revised scenes and lines with a simple keyboard shortcut.
Locking Pages:
- Lock pages so any changes made in later revisions are easily tracked.
- Easily adjust or edit locked pages at anytime. Even edit page numbers after locking.
Final Draft Help – View a 372-page User’s Guide from within Final Draft. This useful guide covers all details of every Final Draft feature for Mac or Windows.
Testimonials
The best screenwriters, directors and producers in the world use Final Draft Professional Screenwriting Software.
Darren Aronofsky — Writer / Director/ Producer / Actor
Black Swan, The Wrestler, Requiem For A Dream, Pi...
Robert Zemeckis — Writer / Director / Producer/ Academy Award® winner
Forest Gump, Back to the Future
Callie Khouri — Writer / Director / Producer
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Something to Talk About, Thelma & Louise
Matthew Weiner — Writer / Producer / Director / Emmy® winner
Mad Men, The Sopranos, Becker
Oliver Stone — Writer / Director / Producer / Academy Award® winner
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, W, JFK, Scarface, Platoon
Also endorsed by...
JJ Abrams • Michael Bay • James L. Brooks • James Cameron
Sofia Coppola • Wes Craven • Guillermo del Toro • Geoffrey Fletcher
David Goyer • Tom Hanks • Nancy Myers • David Milch
Aaron Sorkin • Ben Stiller • Audrey Wells
To view more endorsements, click HERE
See what industry leaders say about Final Draft software:
Video Tutorials
Getting Started with Final Draft v8
Installing Final Draft v8 from a Download Purchase
Installing Final Draft v8 from a CD
How to Use and Create Templates
Customizing the Toolbar on Mac
Requirements
When you write with Final Draft Software, there are no compatibility problems.
Final Draft is a cross-platform program that works on both Macintosh and Windows.
Any Final Draft file can be saved and opened by either operating system with no loss of formatting.
Mac System Requirements:
- Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later
- G4 processor or better
- Minimum 512 MB of RAM
- 50 MB available hard drive space
- CD-ROM drive or Internet connection
Windows System Requirements:
- Microsoft® Windows 7, Windows Vista™, or Windows XP (32 and 64 bit versions)
- Intel® Pentium® III processor or later
- Minimum 512 MB of RAM
- 50 MB available hard drive space
- CD-ROM drive or Internet connection
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