For a free office suite try OpenOffice. I use this on all my computers. It's a good way to stay legal with your production computers. It's not as polished as MS office, but considering that it's free as opposed to $400 for MS Office, on 5 PCs you can save $2000. I have mine set to save files in Word or Excell format and I can exchange with Office seamlessly. Want more free software??? Try the GnuWin project.
Posts: 20 | Location: New Orleans | Registered: July 27, 2004
I too, use Final Draft. Hands down, an awesome application. But seriously, you don't need Final Draft or anything else to write a good script.
I think the story is more important, than the way it is formatted.
And plus, if you go to google, and type something in like "scriptwriting" or "screenwriting", I am sure you will find tons of information.
A good book to look at is from Syd Field, called "Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting". AWESOME BOOK, and goes into great detail on how to make a good script, great.
don't talk about downloading stuff. spend some money on your career/life.
final draft makes it easier, but Word will work just fine if you make the template for it. the only thing is that you have to make sure you have the right kind of font in your computer. some courier fonts aren't the standard courier font used. and for that you just need to print your font out and check it against a screenplay which shouldn't be too hard to find a .pdf somewhere of a screenplay that's properly formatted.
syd field is a good guide, but as standards and the way films are made change, so does the formatting, so try to find more recent stuff online, since a book takes a while to be published and all that.
Posts: 842 | Location: Oakland | Registered: January 13, 2004
Has anyone tried scriptbuddy.com? I just started using it and it's pretty easy and convenient (and free).
It lays out the format pretty easily and the biggest plus for me is that I jump around to different computers all the time, but I can always access the script via the Net, and don't have to worry about what software a particular PC has.
They also have a section where people post their scripts for comment, so you can check out what other people have written and/or comment on it. (Your script is private, your-eyes-only, though...until you choose to share it if you want, by clicking thru a few options.)
________________ "I didn't do it/That wasn't me/It won't hold up in court"
Posts: 107 | Location: California | Registered: June 13, 2003
A couple of years ago I downloaded a free program, SCRIPT MAGIC and it's accompanying program, STORYBOARD. Both were free and the script program is very easy and intuitive.
Sorry I can't remember where I got it - one of the free download sites.
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