Screenwriting : Need info on final draft by Georgette Skolnick

I use Final Draft 12, Georgette Skolnick. It's really easy to use. I bought Final Draft 12 from the Final Draft website, but I don't see it on the site anymore. I only see Final Draft 13 on the site. https://store.finaldraft.com/final-draft-13

Georgette Skolnick just get the latest version, which is 13.

Thank you, Maurice. Guess that means 12 is obsolete. Since I am also a teacher, wondering if the Teacher version is any different from the other version. Also, did you find the price on the website to be cheaper than anywhere else? Thanks again.

You're welcome, Georgette Skolnick. The Educational Edition/Teacher version of Final Draft 13 is the same as the regular version. It says the Educational Edition has the "Same functionality, discount for individual teachers and students" on the FD website. There are fake FD copies online. I bought Final Draft 12 from the FD website so I didn't buy a fake.

Did someone you are working with tell you that you need it?

I used Celtx (before the subscription era) and Trelby (which I found simple, very easy to use) I've tried Studiobinder (also subscription-based) All are great! Depends on what you want to do. Some screenwriters want to one-day self-produce and direct. If that's the case then Final Draft 12 or 13 is your go-to! For tight finances, subscription-based software is your go-to. I use Trelby which is FREE, when I'm in coffee shops to quickly get my story idea into a screenplay format, and then I import it to Final Draft 13 to polish and finish it. One feature of Final Draft is the outlining of your idea. It's great, but if you're not into the tedious approach, I advise you to use Google Docs to outline your story idea! So find what is comfortable for YOU!!

I used a free version of Celtx when I was getting started writing screenplays. I would not recommend it. I found it to be very buggy... too many glitches especially the copy & paste. If you use it, make sure you save your work often. I found Final Draft 12 to be excellent and worth the money. Not certain about version 13 yet.

I'm a BIG fan of WriterDuet, and use it religiously.

Nobody needs FD to write screenplays. They're just have the most users & been in the software game the longest, like Coca-Cola of soda drinks.

I too use the Trelby freeware. Can export both pdf and files for Final Draft. And import Final Draft files. I agree that it is easy to learn. But if you want to export Final Draft files with any other software than Final Draft itself, remember one detail. Different screenwriting software differs when it comes to the amount of empty space at the end of each scene. Final Draft has half a line more empty space than Trelby. So when I exported a script with many scenes, the file became one page longer. That should be no problem, but unless one knows it, it can be confusing to find out where that extra page originated.

I'd certainly question where this advice is coming from. Has someone told you you need to format a screenplay correctly and Final Draft can be used for that, or have they told you that you have to use Final Draft to be a screenwriter?

The latter is sadly very common and major red flag someone doesn't know what they're talking about.

Final Draft is fine, but there's better free alternatives such as WriterDuet. I keep a list of options here.

Shameless plug to my post on the blog here at Stage 32 last month. I cover this topic and provide alternatives and my analysis of them. https://www.stage32.com/blog/screenwriting-software-to-use-if-you-cant-a...

To Everyone: I tried the 30 free trial of Final Draft and I'm not very happy with it. It DOUBLE spaces slug and action lines and SINGLE spaces dialogue which stretched my script to 120 pages long. I also found it very frustrating to correct things like when the right margin, for some reason, kept moving in and shortened my sentences. It was very time consuming to correct. So... I prefer to just type my scripts as I've done. I'm wondering, though, why Final Draft DOUBLE spaced everything except dialogue.

Georgette Skolnick It sounds like you might have been working with the wrong template or formatting settings in Final Draft.

Try checking a few things:

Make sure you're using the 'Screenplay' template, not 'Stage Play' or another template, which might cause different spacing.

Paragraph Spacing Settings: In Final Draft, you can adjust paragraph spacing settings under Format > Element Settings. Here, make sure the spacing is set to 'Single' for scene headings and action lines.

If your right margin keeps shifting, make sure the 'Auto Line Break' feature is on under Document > Page Layout > Line Spacing, as this will prevent sentences from breaking oddly.

However it really sounds like you are using the wrong template.

While I have always used Final Draft ever since starting out back in the 20th century, and was even one of their ambassadors when it was a thing, I wouldn't ever insist writers need to use this particular software. I have found it crashes occasionally and it is rather overpriced.

I currently use FD12 but doubt I will be buying any future versions full price. I've heard a lot of positive things over the years re: Fade In Pro, though have never used it myself. I think if I had to buy a program right now, this would be my go-to. Hope that helps.

Agreed, Georgette Skolnick. BE VERY AWARE that Final Draft does screw up your script's page count. I wrote my script in Final Draft 10 and it was at 112 pages, but when I upgraded to Final Draft 12, I opened the same script and the page count was 124 pages. Final Draft Tech Support could not help me restore the page count to the previous 112 pages.

I think I can explain why Final Draft changes the number of pages in your screenplay.

Like most people in this world, I live in a country where A4 is the standard size for screenplays. But in USA, the slightly smaller Legal size is used. And you must deliver in the right paper size because as soon as the screenplay is printed on paper, an experienced reader will discover if you used the wrong paper size.

When the paper size is changed, the length of lines changes a little. And the number of lines per page changes even more. So when I translated my latest screenplay into English, the number of pages increased almost 10 per cent.

So if you suffer from a sudden change in the number of pages in your screenplay, change what paper size you have, and make sure that you have chosen the right size for your country.

I use in Fade In software when writing screenplays. I don't think I would like Final Draft, as I would personally find all the bells and whistles distracting. I guess it depends on your needs -- but you can export files from Fade In to different formats, including Final Draft. So unless there is a specific reason you need to be using Final Draft, it might be a good idea to try out trial versions of other softwares.

If you write spec screenplays you can use anything. The only bad thing about Final Draft is the price. The only reason I go t it is because I had to and I got it free.

One positive of mastering FD is the software skill could land you a script coordinator/writer's assistant jobs. Learn revision modes. Practice tracking multiple drafts & dates. Thats if writers here want to work for someone else.

I have FD but I do most of my writing on the go, so use WriterDuet, which is web based, so I can used it on any PC and laptop anywhere that I am.

To Everyone: Why is it unprofessional to just type it as long as I'm using the same formatting? And why does it matter if FADE IN is on the left or right? Same for other things like CLOSE ON, END CLOSE UP, MONTAGE, END MONTAGE. I have always typed them on the left side and not one judge complained. Why do these have to be on the right side? A judge did inform me that we don't write (CONT'D) when a character continues speaking any more, that the only time we use it now is when there is a page break and we put it at the top of the next page. So who decides to make the changes? Is it some creative person that decides to be different and everyone agrees to follow? Was it the Writers' Guild? Or...?

I have no idea who makes these decisions. I ran into the same thing with FADE OUT. and then was told that you add THE END. When I first started writing i was told not use THE END.

Georgette Skolnick, you're not using the same formatting if you are literally aligning certain elements on the other side of the page.

It's actually easier to just write in screenwriting software, a lot of which is free.

There's a lot of nonsense out there about the fine detail of formatting, but the basics do apply. A writer who hasn't managed to at least make their script look like a screenplay isn't worth dealing with for most. It's the bare minimum of expectations.

Hi, Georgette Skolnick. My opinion, I feel that this is the individual viewpoint of the judge/exec. You'll find various beliefs when it comes to formatting, left side vs right side of the page, adding begins & ends, etc., but there is a general fundamental format a writer should follow that doesn't change. Most screenwriting softwares will auto add CONT'D when it is necessary and I've been taught and instructed by pros in the industry to format things like MONTAGE BEGINS & ENDS on the right side of the page, giving the transition insert a line of its own for identifying purposes. Also, many execs have given me a piece of advice: Don't fill your script with directorial inserts. This might annoy a possible director for your project who knows his/her craft. I use FADE IN & OUT to identify a beginning and ending to my script. I don't feel that writing THE END is a deal-breaker by any means if the script is engaging & interesting as well as unique to you, the writer, and formatted properly throughout. These are simply my thoughts on the subject based on my own education and experiences in my writing.

To Everyone. Thank you for your sage advice. I found all your varied ideas and opinions interesting. Lots of pros and cons on different format programs. I'm going to continue my 30 day free trial of Final draft and play around with it. Thanks again.