Final Draft

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Final Draft

Screenplay, teleplay and stageplay formatter.
Developer:	Final Draft, Inc.
Latest release:	7.1.3 / November 2006
OS:	Windows; Mac OS X
Use:	Screenwriting software
License:	Proprietary
Website:	http://www.finaldraft.com/

Final Draft is a screenwriting software program designed for writing screenplays, teleplays and Stageplays. It supports both Mac OS X and Windows, and is considered one of two industry standards for screenwriting. Final Draft has templates for standard film and television script formats, and provides shortcuts for writing slug lines, transitions, dialog, and action. It also keeps an in-memory list of characters and locations, allowing writers to use tab-completion to speed up their writing.

Due to its popularity, the program's file format has been accepted by the Writers Guild of America West (WGAw) as the preferred format for their registry.

There is also an International edition available.

1 Final Draft AV
2 Features
3 History
4 System requirements
5 Reviews / Usage
6 See Also
7 External links

[edit] Final Draft AV

Final Draft AV 2.5 running on Mac OS X

Final Draft AV is a program designed for writing and formatting two-column scripts. This format uses two columns, one on the left for video cues, and one on the right for audio cues. It is popular in live broadcasts as well as corporate and commercial work.

As with Final Draft, it is compatible with both Mac OS and Windows. The current version is 2.5 (as of August 3, 2006).

[edit] Features

Final Draft has many features that screenwriters and production staff find useful such as:

Cross Platform compatibility Scripts written in Final Draft on Windows and Mac OS X platforms are interchangeable.

Import/Export Files from any word processor can be imported with relative ease and can be exported in a variety of formats including PDF.

Format Assistant Checks your script for common formatting errors, such as missing dialogue, extra spaces, carriage returns and blank elements.

Tagger Exports parts of the script that you've chosen to tag to be used with Industry standard Scheduling tools like Entertainment Partners' Movie Magic Scheduling.

Index Card/Outline/Navigator Panels Besides editing the script in the standard page view, you can display the script as Index Cards or in an outline to more easily navigate.

Avid XML Export Script files can be exported to Avid editing tools for use with Script based editing and subtitling.

CollaboWriter Allows user to write, edit and discuss a script with other Final Draft users in real time, over the internet.

Voices Final Draft can read back your script to you using a variety of electronic voices that can be modified by the user.

Production Features Once the script goes into production, it can be locked and will create A pages to help keep the script in tact when script content is added or removed.

[edit] History

The company was founded in 1991. They developed a scriptwriting program that allowed writers to concentrate on writing rather than formatting rules. Since approx 2002, Final Draft has become the de facto standard in Hollywood.

In 2006, Final Draft acquired Script magazine as well as their other offerings including Scriptwriters Showcase, a screenwriting conference, Take A Meeting, an opportunity for would-be writers to take a 15-minute business meeting with industry professionals; and ScriptXpert, a script coverage and notes service. Final Draft also sponsors the Big Break, an annual screenwriting competition for emerging talent that offers three top prizes and exposure in the industry.