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.

John Zaozirny of Bellevue Productions Talks Selling Scripts

March 1, 2017

John Zaozirny, principal at Bellevue Productions, takes time out of his busy schedule to talk with us about selling scripts, scripts that top the Black List and what it means when a script is "set up".

12th Annual Final Draft Awards to Honor Robert McKee and Issa Rae

February 16, 2017

Final Draft, a unit of Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, now in its 26th year as the industry standard for screenwriting software, today announced the selection of Robert McKee as its Hall of Fame Award honoree for the 12th annual Final Draft A...

Get Yourself on Set: What Writers Can Learn From Actors

January 20, 2017

It’s often obvious from the script if a writer has never set foot on a production set. When an aspiring screenwriter asks me how to learn the craft, my go-to advice is always, “Get yourself on a set.”

Reader Profile: Get Your Scripts Ready for Big Break Screenwriting Contest

January 19, 2017

The Big Break Screenwriting Contest opening date is right around the corner! To help you get your scripts ready to submit we've asked our readers to go through their reading careers and give us their best advice on preparing for Big Break.

Billy Wilder: A Role Model For Screenwriters

January 13, 2017

In my opinion, the greatest success story in screenwriting belongs to Billy Wilder. The Austrian-born Wilder was a Jewish scribe in the prewar German film industry. When Hitler and the Nazi regime began their rise of power, Wilder, who was very stree...

Macworld: Final Draft 10 review - New ways to plot your next Oscar-worthy screenplay

December 29, 2016

by J.R. Bookwalter, Contributor, Macworld With more than 100 templates specifically tailored for stage and screen, Final Draft 10 is the leading screenwriting software used in film and television productions.

Spec Spotlight: David Hauslein from Big Break to Big Sale

November 29, 2016

Buck Run, a poignant script by David Hauslein, follows the tragic circumstances of rural Pennsylvania teen Shawn Templeton, as he grapples with hardships no one his tender age should have to face. He’s poor, his mom dies of cancer, and he receives pr...

Script Magazine: Final Draft 10 - Is It Worth It?

October 27, 2016

I had just arrived in Los Angeles. Not to live but to examine – examine whether I had the courage to try out this town, this industry. I knew I wanted to write television, but I didn’t know exactly what that meant. After graduating from a college tha...

Sticking the Landing: How to Follow Up with New Contacts After a Screenwriting Conference

October 24, 2016

Congratulations on surviving a screenwriting conference! Between the late night parties and early morning panels, you probably feel like chilling on your couch. But your conference experience isn't quite over yet. You made it rain business cards and ...