Producing : Thoughts on FADE-IN software? by Donnalyn Vojta

What's fade in software?

It's well received by some and inexpensive. Final Draft is preferred by 60% of screenwriters. Fade In by 5%. What's the problem? It's not Final Draft.

Thanks, Tony. How does Final Draft cost? What’s the main difference between Fade In and Final Draft, if you know?

Patrick, it’s a script writing downloadable app.

Donnalyn - Fade-in, Movie magic, Celtx, Final Draft and all the rest of 'em out there are all first nothing but script formatting tools - I don't see a great difference between them in that aspect. Final Draft has sort of evolved into the industry-wide standard. It includes a Tagger Program that is very helpful for script breakdowns and a few other minor support applications. If you're serious about your screenwriting career, then I suggest going the FD route. It goes on sale every now & again, but last time I looked, it could be purchased for under $200. Basically, the growed-up script scribes tend to favor FD (for no apparent reason).

I use Fade In and think it's great, but, as above, Final Draft seems to be industry standard.

I've not had to use any in-depth features in Fade In but there are options such as a dialogue tuner that comes in real handy for me. Happy to talk about it more if there's anything in particular you'd like to know.

There is no Industry Standard screenwriting software. Final Draft is the most widely used because they've been around since the birth of Apple computers, 30++ years ago.

Dan's right. I shouldn't have said industry standard. FD is certainly the most popular.

Adam Harper I'm so old, I used FD 1.0 on floppy disks

You're right, Adam. Final Draft is considered the industry standard. When reading, it's obvious what's not FD. It's the FD font, the kerning, the unmistakable look.

Actually, Adam was right the first time, if you consider industry beyond the writer. FD integrates with the industry standard budgeting and scheduling, so it IS industry standard among Line Producers, etc and when you use other apps, you have to get it into FD format at some point... I understand Celtx now does that but I haven't checked it out.

I stand re-corrected then. Not to go on a tangent but I found a floppy disk in my attic recently. I'm scared and also unable to look at what is on it haha

Dan - you still writtin' on that Apple IIe?