And I hate it.What do I love? Its ubiquity: Everybody uses it. (And if you’re running a like me, you need to be able to open whatever file the client sends in. And 95% of the time, that’s either a PDF or, you guessed it, a Final Draft file.)What do I hate? Well, “hate” is a strong word. I reserve that for folks like the Westboro Baptist Church, Monsanto, and shows like The Bachelor.But what do I strongly dislike about Final Draft?Three major things:Dislike 1) Its penchant for crashing in the most inopportune moments, no matter what version I have, and no matter whether I run it on my PC or my Mac.
(Of course, maybe this is just me. Someone who’s worked in IT, designed networks, and built and repaired pc’s and macs for 30 years, AKA “a total computer dummy.”)Dislike 2) The interface/user experience.
It feels so, well, 1994. The game has changed when it comes to simplicity and elegance.
That “1990’s desktop” feeling permeates Final Draft, and its cousin, Movie Magic Screenwriter.To strain a metaphor, it feels like I’m driving a 1994 Ford Taurus in the age of the Smart Car and the Mini-Cooper.Dislike 3) The price. $250 is a big chunk of change for most screenwriters.
But I don’t blame Final Draft – they’ve created and marketed a great product that basically came to dominate the screenwriting space.And that wasn’t just through great marketing. There are tons of great things about Final Draft, and most folks wouldn’t dream of trading their Final Draft for another screenwriting app.But remember 1992?
That was the year Microsoft released their first Microsoft Office package. It had Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and a precursor to Outlook called Mail. All for the low, low price of $799. $799.Yet there’s something to be said about keeping your flagship product at a premium price. Dear Brian.I really enjoyed reading your post and found the recommendation very usefull.Not unlike you, after some 25 years in IT, I switched to screenwriting and then producing feature films. When I started, some 15 years ago, I tried out Final Draft and found it cumbersome, so I made my own version based on Word styles and macros, which I used happily ever after, imposing it successfully on practically all the screenwriters I work with, who were happy to find something very much FD but without the constraints. And of course, free.
When I switched to Open Office some 5 years ago, I adapted my styles, and now I’m really free (although I must admit I’ve lost some minor features, mainly because I wasn’t patient enough to trial and error my way through undocumented OO stuff).Only recently have I stumbled upon a particularly tough cookie screenwriter who won’t hear about anything but FD.So your recommendation for alternatives was a blessing.It’s not that I can’t spare $249, I simply find it high robbery to ask so much for so little. A trivial style sheet, which takes a couple of hours to taylor to your needs, will supply over 90% of your needs as an experienced screenwriter. So FD or eqiuvalent should not cost more than ten bucks or so.ANyway, this is just to thank you, when I read your post from 4 years ago, I felt like meeting a soul body.All the best,Elie, Producer from Paris. This is my main complaint with Trelby. I’ve been using it for a few months now, and this bit makes copying old scenes into new drafts a real hassle. You can copy blocks of text to the system clipboard, but they come back unformatted, or formatted poorly, which means you’re going to spend time formatting everything just to copy between drafts in the same program. Major drawback, but for someone who can’t afford Final Draft, just something we have to deal with for now.
Otherwise, this is a great program. Though I definitely agree that often times the Celtx screen to page placement issues do become annoying, I would only point out two things.Celtx is primarily for storyboarding. Or at least, that is the main function it performs well.And the second being that, ultimately it IS a GREAT option if you’re broke or a writer/storyboard guy with have the patience to learn ways around the placement issues, when printing.Its also a good alternative program, simply because if you have a non funded writing staff all using Celtx, there are no real issues.
Beyond that, every writer should learn to storyboard their ideas.And for those worried about having their ideas stolen. You have a far greater chance of that happening in an unrepresented studio meeting where they “pass” on your project, then it happening via Celtx.You dont have to connect with Celtx, if you chose not to do so.Cheers,keep writing. Hi, I’m new to scriptwriting. I’ve been writing my script in the final draft trial version, this has now ended and I need help! I can’t afford to buy Final Draft so I’m thinking of using Trelby, as recommended.All the features are locked in final draft and I can’t print it out. You mention importing in to Trelby. Does this mean I can import my saved script from the locked up trial version of Final Draft?Any help you can give would be brilliant as I’m at a loss as to how to progress with my script. Guitar guru files mgt technologies group.
Hi Everyone.Great little Article. Too bad that there is no Trelby Mac Version yet. But i have hope, some People working on it. It is one of the best Focuswriter under the Screenwriting Programs for me.@Jim PorterIts not necessary. Celtx will work on Mint and other Distribution – except on newest Linux Systems it will crash and nobody knows, why. Sometimes then it works fine, if you start it with sudo (gksudo on Gnome, ksudo on KDE) – but its not an all-time option.@AllI have some other Options too. If you like Markup Languages, than use Fountain ( – it’s like Markdown or reStructured).
Trelby can handle those too and for Mac you can use Writer( – Opensource)Atom can work with fountain and Markdown and runs on every System.Scrivener is also an not so much cost Option – it has a Screenplay Mode for writing and handles Final Draft and fountain (Mac Version only of the Moment) too. The Windows Version runs fine under Wine on Linux beside the free, but sometimes buggy Linux Beta Version.And another alternative: DramaQueen. They hold a free Version beside paid Plans.There are many other good alternatives out there. And fountain for Smartphone/Tablet Users are one of the best Options (DubScript for Anroid as an Example). 2016-07-25 NICE THREAD I am a novice screen writer and use Scrivener.
From memory it was about $50.Very versatile, slightly pedantic, but on a large script the spacing has changed (each line touches the line above it and is a pain to fix manually).There is a memory drop bar for each spacing action you do, (text format bar) but it is still very hard to navigate each time.There must be some global setting but I cant seem to fix. I don’t have time to waste on it, I’m just going to buy something else.For convenience it’ll probably be Final Draft Pro, but I’ll give Trelby a go (hopefully wont be a cut and paste nightmare). I’ve used Celtx before but a couple years ago they wanted payment – not sure if that changed (i think it has). Brian, answer to a question please? I have Movie Magic my friend on the Left Coast has Final Draft. We would like to write a script together. Are the two systems import/export compatible at all?
Will she be able to open what I send her and vice versa? It seems the answer is no but I wish to get the final word on this so I am asking you.
I have read your blog. You know what you are talking about. ( not a lot of that going around these days on any front) Anticipating a need for an alternative, I am considering trying to marry Trelby with her Final Draft with this particular script as I can not justify investing another $250 in Final Draft. I have always been happy with MMSW.Thanks.John T.
I am personally on the look for the oldest and most basic software there is.I’ve been using celtx since the beginning (just over two years now) and like it apart from the fact that it is online so I have to be connected to the internet to use it, and I dislike how little space there is to write at the bottom of the page because I like to have the whole page blank and move it so the cursor is always at the top. But I don’t see a reason why I should pay so much money when structuring a script is so easy. One of my teachers actually dislikes any software and makes us use Word because he thinks that the basics of a screenwriter’s ability is to know how to structure a page (again, very easy, seriously, we’re supposed to be intelligent).Also I like to work in a completely isolated environment and you can only get that if you’re not connected to the internet. When there’s nothing to distract you and your whole existence at that moment is focused on writing.
So I’m gonna try to find the most basic scriptwriting software and just use that. I am a newbe and am using the tryout version of FD9 but it is buggy as h.ll. Saving goes wrong frequently: it doesn’t save while it says it does (upon later re-opening the changes appear not to have been saved).
Or it says that it cannot save because the file already exists and then forces me to save under another file name?For that reason alone I’m looking for another program. The more after reading about the program crashing. What I like about Celtx is that it organizes the episodes, if one is writing episodes, which I am (two series of short instructional videos in my line of work). I really need that. Does anyone know of another program that does that? Because I find 10 bucks subscription fee every month that Celtx asks too expensive.
Hi there,I’ve been using Trelby for a couple of years. Glad to see it topped your list! I’ve never used anything else, or felt the need to, so I can’t compare it, but can say I find it to be fabulous. If I ever make any money from my writing I’ll be sure to make a decent contribution to the authorsthey deserve a reward for such a great effort!
I like the fact that I’ve been able to export files to FD, as I have a friend that uses that. And I’ve never had any problems with cut and paste.within the same draft it works fine. From another draft just load them both and away you go! One thing to note is you need to put in the proper margins.top, bottom and right – 1 inch and left 1.5, and then it will match FD page for page. Also make sure you set the paper size for U.S. Have just returned to screen writing after an annus horribilis ( don’t ask dear boy, the vicissitudes of life ) and reacquainted myself with Trelby. Still seems to me to work best on Windows and I do enjoy its speed and relative stability.
Did have a problem a while back remotely co-authoring a script. Partner was using FD8, yours truly on Trelby and he could not see my changes (I could see his).
After a month or two of bafflement and being called a lazy bugger resorted to exporting him PDFs and face to face run-throughs on Skype. Great fun.Do dislike FD like you for similar reasons.
There seems to be an FD mafia out there and, alas, many aspiring writers convinced that a script can only be any good if it is in FD. Free download video songs telugu 2012. FD will NOT write a good script for you. That takes application and talent. However not using FD can give agents and execs just another excuse not to look at your work.What non FD software works most seamlessly with it?. I agree Sir, most time wasting and disagreeable but the product of panic and deadlines. One can waste so much time saving time. Thank you for your suggestion of Fadein Pro.
I shall certainly put it to the test. Your comment on fire hazards puts me in mind of my younger years working an all nighter with a Moviola and fueled by coffee and cigars. Whole shebang went up including my eyebrows. Nitrate film stock in those days.Bye the bye, hate to be pedantic but one is addressed as Sir Limply, never Sir Stoke – but you were not to know. In Linux with any text editor (I use the Jstar variation of JOE because I like the WordStar keystrokes, but you can use any true text editor) you can type in Fountain syntax and use the offline version of Screenplain to convert to PDF, Final Draft (.fdx) or HTML formats.
With pdftotext (a common Linux utility) you can convert your PDF into formatted text. All done in the Terminal without any GUI. (I even use an Alphasmart Neo — dedicated word processor — to write scripts, then send them into Jstar. Fountain syntax is the key, see information at ).Or, alternately, you can use one of the free screenplay formatting applications (KIT Scenarist or Trelby) to read in the Fountain formatted file (or just type directly into the application).
I was a huge fan of SCRIPTWARE. I became friends with Ben Cahan and he gave me a free copy of Final Draft 8, the promo version at the time. It is the full version, not a trial. I found it to nowhere near as user-friendly as Scriptware. A do have two questions re Trelby, the one it sounds like I’ll switch to.1.
Even after writing 5 screenplays and two novels, I still consider myself computer illiterate. I’ve always had trouble converting things to PDF. Final Draft does make that easy. Does Trelby do the same?2. Though Final Draft does claim to let one put two different drafts of a screenplay side by side on the same screen, I can’t figure it out at all. The manual didn’t help. Even talking to a live FD person on the phone didn’t help.
Does Trebly have and easy way to do this?. I see this blog began 5 years ago. Would Trelby still be your number one alternative to Final Draft?I have FD in a older damaged computer and assume without the old receipt for FD or a customer number (which I lost over time) it would be impossible to just transfer it somehow to the new laptop?You wrote that Trelby can export into a FD readable version if required by a producer or script consultant or reader. Is that export an easy process? And, can I import the scripts I have in FD into Trelby so I can continue to work on them?.
For screenwriters on the move, creativity just became even more portable. With the Final Draft Writer® app for iPhone & iPad, screenwriters are able to write, edit and read Final Draft scripts on their iPhone or iPad, as well as create new scripts with easy-to-use features such as Tab and Enter navigation, ScriptNotes™, SmartType™ and more. Final Draft scripts can move from a desktop/laptop computer to an iPad or iPhone with ease via email or Dropbox, and will still appear perfectly paginated and formatted to industry standards every time.
The makers of Final Draft - the #1-selling screenwriting software in the world - now bring you the Final Draft Writer app for iPad and iPhone. Final Draft Writer lets you write, edit and read Final Draft scripts on your iPad or iPhone. Create new scripts or edit existing ones with easy-to-use features such as Tab and Enter navigation, ScriptNotes, SmartType, and more. Easily move your Final Draft 10 scripts from desktop to iPad or iPhone and back again via email or Dropbox. Your scripts will appear perfectly paginated and formatted to industry standards every time. Send or share your Final Draft FDX file between multiple platforms and always be on the same page with Dropbox sync. Easily change script elements with classic Tab and Enter functionality or through the Elements bar (iPad) or Menu (iPhone).
SmartType remembers your character names, scene headings and more. Character Highlighting allows you to keep track of your characters for table reads or character development. Shows Active or Collated Revisions with Colored Pages. Multi-page Title Pages are supported for TV production scripts. Go paperless and carry all your scripts with you everywhere you go. Perfectly paginates to US Letter and standard European (A4) page sizes. Search your entire script for characters, locations, or other script elements.
Saves the last page you're working on to get back to work quickly. Scripts written in 14 different languages appear exactly as they do in the desktop application. IPhone Page View shows 100% accurate Final Draft pagination, formatting, and line breaking.
Bluetooth keyboard support. IOS dictation support. Send feedback directly through the app. Add, color-code, label, and edit ScriptNotes or General Notes. Professionally formatted TV, Film and Stageplay templates to help get you started. Automatic More's and Continued's. Includes production features like Scene Numbering, Omit Scenes, Colored and Locked Pages.
Quickly switch from one revision set to another. Full syncing Dropbox integration. Export scripts to PDF via email or Dropbox. Easily add text and paragraph styles to your script. Track key information with Cast Reports, Scene Reports, Location Reports, and more. IPhone Scene Navigator allows you to easily jump to different scenes in your script.
Access all of the tools you need while maintaining context in your script in the iPhone Tools Menu. Header and Footer editor.
'Where has this been all my career? I put it through its paces doing a rewrite on the go-go-go. Does a great job. This is a real step forward.
Final Draft Writer Ipad Ipa
What more do you need on the road? (Maybe a chauffeur?)'. David Seidler - Writer / Academy Award winner. The King's Speech, By Dawn's Early Light, Tucker: The Man and His Dream.