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.

The Weekend Movie Takeaway: January 22, 2019

January 23, 2019

Although early tracking suggested it would earn close to $60 million, M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass took in around $47 million over the long weekend; an impressive haul for a film that cost less than half of that to make, but not quite a triumphant retu...

All the Write Moves: If Beale Street Could Talk

January 21, 2019

Like his previous film, the Oscar-winning drama Moonlight (2016), Barry Jenkins’ new picture, If Beale Street Could Talk, might seem like a difficult artifact from which to extract screenwriting lessons. While both films have received considerable ac...

The Weekend Movie Takeaway: January 15, 2019

January 15, 2019

STXfilms' The Upside dominated the box office over the weekend, earning almost $20 million — an extremely healthy result for a film whose release had been delayed for so long it was on the verge of being called “troubled.”

All the Write Moves: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

January 14, 2019

Given the sheer number of Spider-Man movies that have been released since Tobey Maguire gave Kirsten Dunst that upside-down kiss back in 2002, it’s reasonable to wonder whether there’s anything left to say about the iconic Marvel Comics character. Th...

Weekend Writing Inspiration: Use SMART-R Goals to Guide You as a Screenwriter

January 12, 2019

Goal Setting for Screenwriters, Part III

Write On with Mimi Leder

January 11, 2019

In this episode of Write On, director Mimi Leder discusses her latest film 'On the Basis of Sex' and her connection to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s story.

Write On with Paul Schrader

January 8, 2019

Legendary writer-director and Final Draft Hall of Famer Paul Schrader discusses his acclaimed film First Reformed and offers insights into his creative drive throughout his career. Starring Ethan Hawke, First Reformed tells the story of a Protestant ...

All the Write Moves: Aquaman

January 8, 2019

Given how deeply superhero cinema permeates pop culture nowadays, it’s borderline pointless to complain when a film in this genre defies normal expectations of narrative credibility. Nonetheless, the cheerful outrageousness of Aquaman is quite someth...

The Weekend Movie Takeaway: January 8, 2019

January 8, 2019

After three weekends in theaters, Warner Bros.' colorful comic book adaptation Aquaman has earned $260 million at the domestic box office. Coupled with its $681 million in grosses overseas (it first opened in foreign markets), the film is all but gua...