Final Draft Blog

All the tips, tricks and information you need to inspire your writing!
Read interviews with the pros, catch up with industry news, and listen to Write On: A Screenwriting Podcast by Final Draft.

Unscripted: This Week in Screenwriting News

May 20, 2020

Screenwriting career consultant Lee Jessup discusses this week's success stories, industry news, online events, and more.

Writer-Actress Nia Fairweather's 'Four Seasons' Bears Hope for the Indy Filmmaker

May 20, 2020

Back in February, before the novel coronavirus hit and temporarily upended the industry, writer and actress Nia Fairweather’s Four Seasons premiered at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles. Reception to the film, which follows Charisse...

Write On with 'GLOW' Co-Creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch

May 19, 2020

GLOW co-creators Carly Mensch and Liz Flahive discuss the way they approach character, their choice to take the show to Las Vegas in Season 3, how they got their starts as writers, and more.

Weekend Movie Takeaway: Lack of Content Affecting What Gets 'Platformed'

May 18, 2020

Last week we discussed the decision ongoing narratives that take place in the “real world” have to make about factoring the quarantine period into their storyline, but that was based on the presumption that production will be up and running sometime ...

Fast Five: ‘Hamilton’ Goes Streaming, Studios Stock Fall Schedules With Foreign Content, & All Eyes Are On ‘Tenet’

May 18, 2020

As our new normal slowly returns to the old normal, the networks and studios have started to announce their plans for the rest of the year. Major films are moving over to streaming services, all eyes are on one high profile release to set the tone fo...

Weekend Writing Inspiration: GMC — Your Secret Weapon for Story Conflict and Character Development

May 15, 2020

A few weeks ago, we covered methods to try when your plot rocks, but your characters fall flat. Today, we delve into another useful tool for getting clear on your characters and their motivation with GMC: Goals, Motivation, and Conflict. I was first ...

Fellowship Season Prep Part 5: The Interview, Continued

May 14, 2020

With fellowship applications submitted but fellowship interviews still on the horizon, we are currently digging into exercises and other ways to prep for an in-person or Zoom interview. And while only a fraction of applicants will make it to the inte...

Spec Spotlight: Zack Ford Sells 'The Watcher' to Spooky Pictures

May 14, 2020

Zack Ford is hoping to scare audiences with his spec script The Watcher, which recently sold. The psychological thriller is about a newly engaged couple who move to an apartment in New York City, however the fiancée soon feels that she is being watch...

Write On with Hulu's 'The Great' Creator Tony McNamara

May 13, 2020

Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and creator of Hulu's The Great Tony McNamara discusses his approach to writing period pieces, the shifting tones of the show, and more!