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.

Madeline Zima Makes her Writing and Directorial Debut with "Warm Human Magic" at Dances With Films Festival

June 14, 2018

At the age of two, actress Madeline Zima performed in her first TV commercial. From there, she went on to roles in The Nanny, Californication and Heroes. Recently, Madeline stepped into a whole new type of role — that of writer-director.

Write On with 2017 Big Break Grand Prize TV Winners Charles and Hana Callaghan

June 13, 2018

Hana and Charles Callaghan are the mother/son writing team that won over our 2017 Big Break jury of agents & managers with their one-hour diversity TV pilot, Portia's Law.

Screenwriter Drew Pearce Talks his Directorial Debut, "Hotel Artemis"

June 7, 2018

Drew Pearce is a screenwriter who can now make the film he wants to make, his way. After all, he is the man behind Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation; which made $682.7 million worldwide, and, in collaboration with Shane Black, Iron Man 3, which brou...

"The Fast and the Furious" Director Rob Cohen Talks His New Film, "Hurricane Heist"

June 6, 2018

It isn’t a backhanded compliment to say that Rob Cohen has been in the business a long time.

Spec Spotlight: Adam Rose and Scott Shapiro Strike a Deal for "Pissed" with Warner Brothers

June 5, 2018

Considering they just sold a pilot script for a half-hour comedy about a man who enters a lucrative criminal enterprise, it’s fitting that Adam Rose and Scott Shapiro think big.

All the Write Moves: "Solo: A Star Wars Story"

June 4, 2018

Most quick-take analyses of Solo: A Star Wars Story focus on the movie’s disappointing opening-weekend haul, with some pundits going so far as to say Solo is the first flop of the Star Wars franchise. When trying to understand how cinematic storytell...

All the Write Moves: "Deadpool 2"

June 1, 2018

The makers of Deadpool (2016) endeared themselves to the screenwriting community with a gag in the film’s opening credits, referring to scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick as “the real heroes here.” Yet in the opening credits of Deadpool 2, those sa...

Tech Tip: Launching the Most Recent Document

June 1, 2018

You did it. You hit your writing quota for the day. Whether it’s 5, 10 or even 15 pages, you’ve successfully fulfilled your daily creative endeavor and have earned a well-deserved break, so go ahead and close Final Draft. Yes, you read that correctly...