Final Draft Blog

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'Jurassic World Rebirth' Writer David Koepp on the Screenwriting Mistake That Dooms Scripts

July 2, 2025

David Koepp is a Hollywood legend. One of the most successful screenwriters of all time, Koepp is the iconic voice behind works like Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Death Becomes Her, Mission: Impossible, and many more. Koepp is known for his versatil...

'Meandering Scars': How One Filmmaker Uses Storytelling as a Tool for Disability Advocacy

June 26, 2025

When Allison Norlian and her filmmaking partner, Kody Leibowitz, set out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, they knew they would need a lot more gear than good hiking boots, a sleeping bag and a map. They needed cameras, sound equipment and a protagonist give...

Screenwriting Wisdom from Liz Craft: Showrunner & ‘Happier in Hollywood’ Co-Host Breaks It Down

June 26, 2025

What makes a successful writer tick? How do they handle bad news? How have others changed their lives and how do they pay it forward? If you want to learn from the best, you’ve come to the right place. Read on below for a glorious dive into the mind ...

How the Writers of ‘I Don’t Understand You’ Are Rewriting Horror-Comedy Rules

June 25, 2025

Written and directed by David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano, I Don’t Understand You is a horror-comedy that unabashedly pushes the limits of both the horror and comedy genres. Starring Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells as a married couple on the verge of...

Dan Gilroy on Writing ‘Andor’s’ Most Tragic Character: “He Would’ve Joined the Rebellion”

June 18, 2025

Dan Gilroy has spent decades mastering the art of character-driven storytelling, from his gritty noir thriller Nightcrawler to his work on Andor, the Star Wars series that has redefined what science fiction television can accomplish. Gilroy wrote the...

How the Writer of ‘Whistle’ Crafts Stronger Horror Screenplays

June 17, 2025

Owen Egerton is hella inspiring. He is a writer and director who works across multiple mediums with equal skill. His films include Mercy Black, Follow, and Blood Fest. His most recent novel, Hollow, was named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR....

Peter Craig on Writing 'Dope Thief' and Blowing Up the Status Quo

June 10, 2025

Peter Craig is best known for writing some of the most successful blockbusters in recent memory, from The Town and Top Gun: Maverick to The Batman and Gladiator 2. But his latest project is a thrilling pivot into television with Dope Thief, a gritty,...

‘Clown in a Cornfield’ filmmaker tells how to write a movie that will get made

May 8, 2025

There’s nothing like a filmmaker who refuses to fit neatly into Hollywood’s boxes. Writer/director Eli Craig has made a career of blending horror and humor in ways that studios often struggle to categorize, creating memorable films that dance between...

Carole Kirschner, Entertainment Career Coach, on staying motivated

May 5, 2025

We’re in a time of change in the entertainment industry. It might feel slow and challenging right now, but things are opening up. Projects are being sold. Rooms are being filled. So what can writers do to grab onto that momentum? Remember these three...