Final Draft Blog

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All the Write Moves: 'Official Secrets'

September 3, 2019

In 2003, Katharine Gun, a translator working for British intelligence agency Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), encountered an alarming memo sent from the United States intelligence community. The memo asked British spies to blackmail mem...

Tech Tips: Alternate Dialogue

August 30, 2019

You’re not sure whether the most hilarious comeback line to use is “So’s your mother!” or “I know you are but what am I?” You think the kid should say “I want my two dollars” but your writing partner believes “You owe me two dollars” is far better. Y...

5 Ways to Use Genre to Solve Story Problems

August 30, 2019

“I’m struggling to solve story problems in my screenplay, can you help?”

Brittany Runs a Marathon' And the New Type of Transformation Tale

August 29, 2019

Rising comedic talent Jillian Bell first garnered attention for repeatedly stealing scenes in the bro-tastic sitcom Workaholics (2011-2017), which led to starring roles in major comedies like 22 Jump Street (2014), Office Christmas Party (2016) and R...

Spec Spotlight: Gregg Hurwitz Sells 'Sweet Girl' to Netflix

August 28, 2019

According to New York Times best-selling thriller author and screenwriter Gregg Hurwitz, he and his writing partner, Philip Eisner, wanted to write a different kind of dark thriller.

Write On with Emmy®-Nominated Veep Showrunner David Mandel

August 27, 2019

Emmy-nominated showrunner David Mandel discusses crafting the final season of Veep, his experiences working on other shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, and Saturday Night Live, and much more.

Angel Has Fallen' Proves Franchise Installments Can Feel Fresh

August 26, 2019

In a year where the prevailing box office takeaways have indicated a worrying degree of consolidation in which stories are being told—and who gets to tell them—the past weekend’s box office offered some glimmers of hope. Or at the very least, nostalg...

The Fast Five: Professional Wrestling is Here to Stay

August 26, 2019

It was another full week of TV news with both streaming services and professional wrestling companies gearing up to go to war with one another. This kind of intense competition for viewers usually brings out the very best from writers and results in ...

All The Write Moves: The Loudest Voice

August 26, 2019

Creating mainstream entertainment centered around controversial political figures is a fraught process, not least because the choice of subject matter has the potential to alienate audiences. In the case of The Loudest Voice, Showtime’s recent minise...