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.
The Big Picture: How to Navigate Every Element of Your Script
You need to have a multi-dimensional view of your script when screenwriting. You should know how everything is connected: scenes, characters, locations, etc. I refer to this as “seeing the big picture in screenwriting.”
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What ‘Poor Things’ Can Teach Us About Embracing Uniqueness
Poor Things is unlike any movie in theaters. Directed by visionary filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Tony McNamara, this strange fantastical comedy tells the story of a woman who is brought back to life by a mad scientist using her own baby's...
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4 Elements of a Christmas Movie to Include in Your Script
When it comes to Christmas movies, there is a wide range of choices available depending on the mood you’re in. From the latest Lacey Chabert Hallmark premiere to David Harbour’s turn as a disgruntled John Wick-esque Santa Claus, the possibilities of ...
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How ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Creates a Fresh Take on a Familiar Story
As Godzilla turns 70 years old, the classic monster of mayhem is getting a series of films and TV shows dedicated to its destructive force. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters premiered on Apple TV in November, Godzilla Minus One, a Japanese language film, b...
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Write On: 'Napoleon' Writer David Scarpa
“We can’t make Lawrence of Arabia anymore – not that that’s not a good movie, but it’s kind of a thing of the past,” says screenwriter David Scarpa about writing the script for Napoleon.
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The Screenwriter's Guide to Fair Use
Fair use is a legal term you might have heard periodically throughout your life, but you don’t know what it means exactly or how it can impact your screenwriting.
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Write On: Writer Chris Hicks Talks Massive Sale of His Short Story 'I Am Not Alone'
“My cardinal rule – the rule that you cannot break is: don't be boring. Because you can have the perfect script that follows every screenplay formatting rule, but if you're boring, it doesn't matter. First and foremost, you’ve got to hook the reader,...
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5 Reasons Writers Should Take an Acting Class
Hollywood is filled with stereotypes. Here’s one: Writers are introverts who sweat when they’re nervous and hide behind the safety of their laptops and the precious characters they create. Actors, meanwhile, are extroverts who never sweat unless it’s...
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Protecting Your Screenplay: A Guide to Copyright Registration
In my last article, “Demystifying Copyright”, I broke down some basics of Copyright Law with David Newhoff and Steven Tepp: copyright experts and cofounders of RightsClick (an online service that facilitates copyright registration for writers).
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What’s new in Final Draft 13?
WRITING GOALS &
PRODUCTIVITY STATS
Set goals and get valuable insights to take your work to the next level
TYPEWRITER
A new typewriter-like view option improves your focus
EMOJI
Craft more realistic onscreen text exchanges and make your notes more emotive
And so much more, thoughtfully designed to help unleash your creativity.
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