I feel like Christopher Moltisanti. Frustrated AF with screenwriting software that is supposed to write itself. The video tutorials are not working for me. Not a beginner, toddler-level skill. Imported two old PDF scripts, meticulously went through them to fix formatting issues, sent them off and got dinged for formatting. Want to learn things such as: 1. Simple stuff like overriding a misspelling in the smart CHARACTER tab that is misspelled. 2. How to use a beat board (need to edit my precious words to confirm to precious structure beats). 3. Where I went wrong with formatting to be so offensively called out by judging panels. I just came back from a long, long hiatus. My how things change. I will pay. Anyone out there? Or, can anyone recommend a specific class? Thank you, signed, Slow Learner.
Screenwriting : Final Draft 12 HELP by Denise Kohnke
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What software are you using?
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Screenwriting software is designed to be frustrating .Denise Kohnke It forces what it wants on us. And it teaches us what we should do. I've been using Trelby - an open source version of First Draft. The discipline it has imposed on me has been so frustrating and so very Awesome!
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When I worked in Hollywood in the mid-1980s, I used a Smith-Corona typewriter. Remember typewriters? Software? What the hell was that? Working with First Draft now is an ease and distinct pleasure...not to mention time saver. Now...where's the Wite Out??
FD is still the most popular screenwriting software in America, and if you can master the tools like revision modes, that knowledge can get you hired as a television PA/Script Coordinator/Writer's assistant.
plenty of "how to use FD" videos on Youtube. The software comes out of the "box" ready; you shouldn't need to think about formatting page or change margins. Just type.
Yes, I have Final Draft 12. And I am functional on Apple products, the Google suite, and many other work-specific platforms. I learn by words and static pictures. I exported two PDFs to FD12, even rewrote sections, added title pages, fixed import issues. Where I fail is at the little stuff that is simple. Like, "How did I open that again?" It's a glitch in my brain. Short-term, immediate memory. I lose everything – passwords, physical instructions at the gym, names of people I just meet – immediately. Need words and pictures. Hate video tutorials.
When Final Draft is open, there's the iconic "f" in the upper left corner. That's a drop down menu that lists all your recent FD items. If it's an older FD file, you need to exit FD, go to where you saved that file originally and click on it. That will open FD and give you access to that particular file.