Final Draft Script Writing Software Review

by Vinson Watson
Published on Feb 4, 2003 12:00 AM



I’ve got something special for all of you Camheads out there who are doing productions and looking for screenplay software. For you, I have my review of Final Draft 6. Trust me whether you’re a hotshot with a couple of Sony HD cams, an indie with a DVX100, or a newcomer with two JVC JY-VS200s, almost every great production starts with a good script.

Final Draft is the first name in scriptwriting programs. Though there are others that may be less expensive or packed with more goodies, when you talk about these programs, Final Draft always comes to the forefront. Final Draft is endorsed by the likes of Tom Hanks, Alan Ball, Steven Bochco, James L. Brooks, and many others award winning professionals. What does this mean to you? Nothing really. In theory, Tom Hanks could write a script on tissue paper and get serious consideration, whereas you, a no-name, could get your best work chucked in the trash. Is it because Tom Hanks is that good? What’s he got that you don’t have? Nothing, besides a reputation built on the strength of his past projects. Here’s where you’ll need to work up to the level where Hanks is. Final Draft can help.

You can have an Oscar winning story, but if your script isn’t formatted correctly, then you’ve opened the door for destruction. Why? Hollywood doesn’t trust scripts not written in the format they’ve set forth. There’s some variation, but not by much.

Every screenwriting teacher I’ve had has broken down how a big production company views a script. (They get a ton them.) They look first and foremost at the format, and then began to scan the first few pages for something that catches their eyes. If it’s interesting, they’ll keep reading, then jump for a few more pages randomly within the script. If they aren’t grabbed almost immediately, they will give it a Michael Jordan move and shoot it into the circular file. These guys aren’t out to baby-sit screenwriters ¾ they’re out to make money. That’s where Final Draft comes in. It can’t help you create a million dollar concept, but it can help you format your screenplay properly.

One of the big arguments I get into is over the use of technology versus skill. There was a time when there was no DVX100 or Sony HD, so if you wanted a film look, you had to learn how to use certain filters and lighting tricks to get that look. This was the sign of a pro, who really knows their stuff. Nowadays, you can get a DVX or one of Sony’s HD cams, and with less knowledge than the pros, pull off a convincing film look. The argument is truly over automation. A lot of people think that people who use this as a way out are somehow looking for technology to fix what they lack in skill. That may be true for some, but certainly not for all. Final Draft is one in a group of powerful scripting packages that takes a lot of the guesswork out of scriptwriting. As an indie guy, I can get away with a lot, because I write my scripts to shoot so that I have a format, meant for my production (it’s roughly the same as the new-wave Hollywood format, only not as clean).

Scriptwriting isn’t just about storywriting, but spacing, and fonts, and formatting, and a lot of technical stuff. It’s stuff you have to know because it means something. Sure, my format could be used and would come out pretty much the same as any other screenplay, but a big production company looking at my script would rip it up like a 5 year old rips into the wrapping paper on his GI Joe’s he got for Christmas. It’s not good script form.

Good story is not enough. My English teachers swore to me that content, not style is what I would be graded on. I passed every writing class I’ve ever had with decent content and more flash than any other student would dare try. From writing 10 page reports on glossy paper with a table of contents (instead of an outline) to speaking directly to the teacher (saying their name in the report, etc.) I know that content may be king, but style is definitely queen. The thing about Hollywood is they have a style, so you can’t be as stylish starting out as you could if you were writing a novel or some type of prose. You need to follow their format if you want them to get past your first page. Final Draft 6 handles the format and lets you worry about the writing. The program takes care of almost everything measurements, paper, margins, spacing, font, and other Hollywood-type characteristics

Final Draft also has templates. It has 12 script styles including BBC styles, ''Broadway Musical,'' and the ''Cole and Haag'' script style (not to mention the WB screenplay style which I use). Six document styles are also included for writing treatments, query letters, manuscripts, outlines, text documents, and, there’s even a format for novels, which could be a separate program in itself. There are over 50 styles of television scripts to choose from based on your favorite shows, such as ''West Wing'' my favorite chick vamp hunter ''Buffy: The Vampire Slayer'' and even UK shows like ''Coronation Street.''

Another cool thing is that the program can read the script to you. You can assign a voice to each character and have your computer read the script. It’s not like having real actors to read your script, but you get an idea of how it will flow, not to mention that having a computer perform your scripts is totally hilarious and somewhat on the cool side. (This is almost like having a new toy. I’ll be having a ton of fun with this.)

There’s a function called ''The Scene Navigator'' that breaks your scenes down into index cards. This is truly useful for the planning stage and for making sure all of your scenes come together right, because sometimes during tightening your script, you’ll have to delete and add scenes. It’s easy to forget to add a scene or delete one that didn’t exactly flow as it should. There is also a function for making clickable Scriptnotes called, appropriately, ''Scriptnotes.'' Now this what makes Final Draft hot: Final Draft has Syd Field.

Final Draft’s ''Ask the Expert'' (I’ve nicknamed it ''Ask Syd'') breaks your script down and helps you maintain a good rise and fall, whereas action and plot points are concerned. It’s basically like having a Syd Field book next to you as you write, but it’s a lot nicer and very straightforward.

Is Final Draft that different from other screenwriting programs? When it comes down to it, not really. But Final Draft’s ''Ask the Expert'' and options like Collabowriter, which allows you to collaborate on your screenplay with people on the Internet, along with its clean work area, warm interface, and intuitive features makes Final Draft shine through above some others..

Isn’t Final Draft just a glorified word processor? No, it’s more than that. It’s a no-hassle way to automate not just scriptwriting, but creative writing. This is a professional tool but comes with a decent price tag. It comes in just under $200 (I’ve seen it for more in some places, but you can get usually find it for under $200). There are some that are less expensive, but I like Final Draft and I am very impressed with all it’s features.