Final Draft Blog

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Read interviews with the pros, catch up with industry news, and listen to Write On: A Screenwriting Podcast by Final Draft.

Rising Through the Ranks: Raul Martin of VIDA

August 1, 2019

Raul Martin never saw himself in the characters he watched in film and television. As a nearly seven-foot-tall LGBTQ Spanish man in his late thirties, Martin yearned to see himself—along with other minorities—represented in entertainment. Since findi...

Writer-Director Julius Onah on Adapting 'Luce' for the Big Screen

August 1, 2019

A provocative character drama centered around pertinent notions of race in modern America, Julius Onah's new film Luce generates a lot of questions, but stops well short of ever telling the audience what to think.

Write On with Graphic Novelist Debbie Lynn Smith of Kymera Press

July 31, 2019

Graphic novelist and founder of Kymera Press Debbie Lynn Smith discusses her transition from novelist to television writer to graphic novelist, how she manages the global team at Kymera, her recent deal with The Smithsonian and more.

How Shabnam Rezaei Is Working Towards Diversifying Children’s Shows For the Next Gen

July 28, 2019

Shabnam “Boo” Rezaei is out to change the landscape of children’s programming. As the mother of two daughters, inclusive entertainment is of paramount importance to her; something she’s able to spearhead as the head of the mini animation studio Big B...

Acclaimed Writer-Director Lulu Wang's 'The Farewell' Expounds on "In-Betweenness"

July 28, 2019

There's already Oscar® buzz for writer-director Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, starring Awkwafina. If they do get nominations, the pair will make history. We are now in a post-Crazy Rich Asians world. Though the film made a big splash and did well with th...

Spec Spotlight: Jeff Bushell Sells 'Bad Dog' to Lionsgate

July 25, 2019

Screenwriter Jeff Bushell’s latest spec has gone to the dogs. But in his case, that’s actually a good thing. Bushell’s comedy spec script Bad Dog is about an adorable mutt who’s also Satan’s favorite hellhound, and it was recently purchased by Lionsg...

#BeTheChange - Write On with Screenwriter Teresa Huang

July 23, 2019

Writer-Producer-Actress Teresa Huang discusses her early start in activism, the role she sees People of Color playing in the current WGA negotiations, The Breakthrough Reading Series she co-founded and much more.

Rising Through the Ranks: Michele Giannusa

July 17, 2019

Just five years ago, if you told Michele Giannusa that she’d be living in Los Angeles and pursuing a writing career, she’d say you were crazy. She was working a great job and living a comfortable life in New Jersey, near where she grew up in Brooklyn...