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| Screenplay |
The actor Hugh Laurie said, “Screenwriting is the most
prized of all the cinematic arts. Actually, it isn’t, but it should be.” No
matter what genre, all films and television series need the one key ingredient
– the screenplay. After all, the screenplay is the blueprint, and without it,
there is no film or television episode.
Writing the screenplays for Western Heights, I’m thankful that we have computers instead of
typewriters. I can use a typewriter if I have too, but computers have word
processors. Unlike a typewriter, word processing software allows you to write a
scene, save it, and come back to it later.
These days, Hollywood screenwriters use screenwriting
software. Screenwriting software allows the writer the ability to focus on the
writing and not solely on the format. Most screenwriting software writes the
screenplay in the format that Hollywood requires. There are so many to choose
from. Which screenwriting software is the best one?
The Final Draft Pro is the screenwriting software many top
Hollywood studios and companies are using. With recommendations from Tom Hanks,
James Cameron, and J.J. Abrams, Final Draft is at the top of the list of
screenwriting software. The software allows the writer to write for films,
television, or theater. The feature panel system allows the writer to view his
or her script cards while writing the script. The ScriptNotes allows the writer
to keep track of feedback and ideas concerning sections of the script. The
production features allows the writer to break down the script, prepare it for
scheduling, and print out special reports like Scene and Location reports.
Entertainment universities like Full Sail University require Final Draft Pro.
Final Draft version 8 is available for Macintosh and Windows, and cost $249.95.
An alternative to Final Draft is Celtx. It offers both screenwriting
and pre-production processes. Celtx allows the writer to write screenplays for
film, television, theater, storyboards, comics, and novels. The writer has many
options that Final Draft has. There are two versions – the free version and
Celtx Plus. Celtx Plus offers a few more options for the writer like index
cards with full view of the timeline and plot. Both versions are available for
Macintosh, Windows, and Linux. Celtx Plus cost $14.99.
There are many more screenwriting software options. So which
one do you purchase? The answer is simple. You purchase the one that meets your
needs and the needs of your pocketbook. I am currently using Celtx, and I’m
happy with it. However, if I get the chance, I will purchase Final Draft. After
all, I want to use the software that most Hollywood screenwriters are using.
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