by Final Draft
Platform:
Windows 98 / 2000 / NT 4 / Me / XP, Mac, Mac OS X
(23)3 used & new from $136.95
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In a business that's all about buzz, the latest version of Final Draft should enjoy plenty of the good kind. Final Draft 6.0 has kept what works, and added new features that guarantee this scriptwriting software will retain its spot in the limelight. It still handles the myriad technical details of scriptwriting automatically--character names are indented properly, scene headings are capitalized, and the default font is the industry standard 12-point Courier, a holdover from typewriter days. The entertainment industry is surprisingly stuffy when it comes to screenplay formatting and, when properly used, Final Draft can at least ensure your script will look great.
The latest version of Final Draft is designed for Windows XP and carbonized for Mac OS X, but it worked fine on the Windows 98 system we tested it on. A new touch freelancers will appreciate is the ability to save in Adobe PDF format, so scripts can be sent to folks who don't own this software. New cosmetics include a more colorful toolbar, darker font that matches Mac and Windows systems and looks better in print, and bigger windows for the ScriptNotes feature. System enhancements include a smart drag and drop, which automatically adds formatting elements when you move bits of your script. Our favorite new addition is Ask the Expert, a blackboard that writers can visit to refresh themselves on basics like characterization and story arc. It's like a screenwriting class without the has-been teacher and the "I'm better than Spielberg" classmates.
A couple of annoyances: you must "authorize" your system to use Final Draft 6.0 without the CD-ROM. Fortunately there are two authorizations, so you can, for example, use the program on both a desktop and laptop. Also, the much-touted script templates are nearly impossible to find (go to "File," click "New"--we just saved you 15 minutes), and they are not copies of actual scripts but two- to three-page parodies of TV shows, done in what we assume is the specific format for the show. They're worth reading just for laughs, but since the X-Files template still had Mulder listed as a character, we don't think they're 100 percent up to date. --Anne Erickson
Designed for scriptwriting, Final Draft 6 software is favored by award-winning film, stage, and television writers alike. It combines word processing with industry-standard script formatting, a robust tools suite, and an improved interface.
Key among Final Draft 6's bevy of features is its complete cross-platform compatibility with Microsoft Windows and Mac, letting you work seamlessly on both platforms. Its industry-standard formatting automatically creates, edits, and inserts required script cues. The SmartType tool remembers and completes names, scene headings, transitions, and locations. Final Draft's Format Assistant identifies script-formatting errors and any inconsistencies, while a 120,000-word spell checker autocorrects spelling errors. And when it's time for rewrites, the Scene Navigator reformats your script as you write. Other tools include script suggestions that appear as pop-up windows, scene bookmarks, and outline or index-card scene views. You can even assign a voice to each character and your text turns to speech for a scene reading at your desktop.
Exclusive to Final Draft 6 is an online script registration process that lets you register and submit your screenplay directly to the Writers Guild of America. So, when your script makes it into production, use Final Draft 6 to revise and number scenes, generate reports, and export your script to other creative, editing, scheduling, and budgeting programs.