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.

Write On: 'The Holdovers' Writer David Hemingson

November 10, 2023

Director Alexander Payne’s new film The Holdovers, is set in the 1970s and tells the story of a grumpy ancient history instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who’s forced to remain on campus during the Christmas break to babysit the ...

Write On: 'It's a Wonderful Knife' Writer Michael Kennedy

November 8, 2023

One year after saving the town of Angel Falls from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers (Jane Widdop) can’t let the fear and guilt of the event go. Struggling to make sense if her life, she wishes she’d never been born – only to fin...

Lessons from Coppola’s Character-Driven 'Priscilla'

November 7, 2023

From Muhammed Ali to Napoleon to Elvis Presley, most movies about historical or culturally significant people have that particular person at the center of the story. In Sofia Coppola’s latest film, Priscilla, the focus of the story is not on one of t...

Write On: 'Nyad' Writer Julia Cox

November 6, 2023

The new film Nyad tells the true story of athlete Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) who, at the age of 60 and with the help of her best friend and coach Bonnie (Jody Foster), commits to achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to...

10 Direct Questions to Ask Yourself About That Script You're Writing

November 3, 2023

It was tough to finish that mammoth of a spec script, but you did it – congrats! And now that you have a completed draft of a screenplay, what do you do next? We sat down with UCLA Extension screenwriting instructor Beverly Gray, who focuses on guidi...

Write On: 'Anatomy of a Fall' Writer/Director Justine Triet

November 2, 2023

“Starting to write a project like this, we always begin with a set of very strong personal desires,” says Anatomy of a Fall writer/director Justine Triet, adding, “I’m quite reticent of scripts that are too clever or that clearly have the intention o...

How to Develop Your Unique Voice for YouTube

October 17, 2023

If you think YouTube has passed its peak as a social media platform, think again. It is the second most visited website in the world, just behind Google and way ahead of Facebook. Part of the appeal of YouTube is that it has such a wide variety of co...

'In The Fire' Writer/Director Conor Allyn on Writing for Amber Heard

October 13, 2023

Set in the late 19th century, the new film In the Fire puts a young boy at the center of a battle between science and religion. Directed by Conor Allyn (No Man’s Land), and written by Allyn, Pascal Borno and Silvio Muraglia, the film explores themes ...

Write On: Appendage Writer/Director Anna Zlokovic

October 10, 2023

“The Fly was our biggest reference," first time feature writer/director Anna Zlokovic tells Final Draft's Write On podcast about her inspiration for her horror film Appendage. The spooky thriller is about a young fashion designer who sprouts a myster...