Final Draft Blog
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Read interviews with the pros, catch up with industry news, and listen to Write On: A Screenwriting Podcast by Final Draft.
Protecting Your Screenplay: A Guide to Copyright Registration
In my last article, “Demystifying Copyright”, I broke down some basics of Copyright Law with David Newhoff and Steven Tepp: copyright experts and cofounders of RightsClick (an online service that facilitates copyright registration for writers).
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5 Lessons on Writing a Biopic from Ridley Scott’s 'Napoleon'
Who is Napoleon Bonaparte? Considering how significant he was in 19th-century Europe, it’s surprising that 2023's Napoleon seems to be the biggest and most comprehensive biopic of the French emperor's life over 200 years later. The film, directed by ...
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Write On: 'The Continental: From The World Of John Wick' Writer Kirk Ward and Director Albert Hughes
“I'm now at a place where I say to myself, ‘What haven't we seen?’ And then we take it to a place that’s completely, absolutely bonkers,” says writer Kirk Ward about his new show The Continental: From The World Of John Wick. “You take the audience do...
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Write On: 'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' Showrunner Chris Black
Final Draft's Write On podcast sits down with Showrunner Chris Black to talk about his new show, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. “For it to be successful as a TV series, it couldn't be a show about monsters. It had to be a show about people who happen t...
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Spec Spotlight: Ben Ketai on Selling His First Spec 'Undying'
Screenwriter/director Ben Ketai was about 12 years old – too young, he admits – when he first saw the Adrian Lyne thriller Fatal Attraction. It left an indelible impression that has lasted well into his career in Hollywood.
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The Rise of Web-Based Content: Why You Should Consider Writing Web Series
Drunk History. Portlandia. Insecure. Broad City. What do these hit TV shows have in common? They all initially started on the internet as a web series that eventually caught the attention of execs in Hollywood. which has proven to be a great tool for...
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Demystifying Copyright: What Every Screenwriter Needs to Know
You’ve finished your screenplay and you want to start submitting it to industry professionals, but should you get it copyrighted beforehand to keep someone from stealing what you’ve written?
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What David Fincher’s ‘The Killer’ Can Teach You About Screenwriting
If you've ever wanted to write a thriller, David Fincher's film The Killer is a great example to learn from. Audiences are given a glimpse into the world of an assassin-for-hire and the problems an expert faces when things don’t quite go according to...
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Write On: 'Rustin' Writer Julian Breece
“Be sneaky and read every script that you can get your hands on. If you can work in a studio, read the original draft, read the revisions, see how the script got to the final script. That's what I was doing. I would use the opportunities of working i...
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