Instantly Transform Your Screenplay Into a Movie

Plotagon

Writing a screenplay is not easy. The writer has to transfer the scene from his or her imagination to paper. Once the screenplay is written, the only way to know if the scene was actually complete or needed to be rewritten was seeing the actors play the scene out. Or is it? Now, there is an app for that, and it is called Plotagon.

The creators of Plotagon refer to it as “the magic typewriter”. It is software for Mac and PC computers designed to make it easy to write a story, and immediately watch it as an animated film. Plotagon is still in beta testing, and it is free to download. It is designed to be simple. It allows you to choose from The Sims like characters and locations your story is set in. The characters actions and cues come directly from the screenplay you write in the program. The characters can only speak English, but the creators are working on French, Spanish, and German languages. According to their website, Plotagon will continue to be free even when it is out of beta testing. It is not available for any mobile device. The finished movies can only be uploaded to Plotagon’s website. However, the movies can be shared on Facebook and Twitter. It does not import any screenplays, but it will export them.

What does this mean for Hollywood and the filming industry? Despite its limitations, Plotagon will be a great way to be able to do a test run of a television series or movie. It will provide the writer the opportunity to “beta test” his or her screenplay before showing or pitching the final screenplay. It will be wonderful to know what was wrong with your scene or scenes beforehand. Plotagon will allow professionals and amateurs to create screenplays quickly and more efficiently.

The Software of Hollywood Screenwriters

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.