Screenwriting : Fellow screenwriters, which do you prefer? by Tommy Luca

Final Draft

I've been using Movie Magic for several years now and I've enjoyed it but I have several writer friends who swear by Final Draft.

The reason I picked movie magic is because it's less expensive.

I use writerduet and the iOS apps

FD

Final Draft all the way on PC. Couldn't have helped my scripts any better.

I use WriterDuet on a PC laptop. I've used Final Draft.

I started with FD version 1.0 installed on a Mac Laptop. Back then FD only worked with Mac and early FD versions were infamous for crashing, losing files. Now, I have FD12 installed on a HP windows laptop, with Fade In & Celtix. Also have Highland on an old Imac desktop.

Software is software. There are slight differences in all but most ppl use FD. They won the screenwriting software war of the 1990s. DUNE screenwriter Eric Roth writes with Movie Master on MS-DOS! It only has memory for about 30 pages at a time.

I use Fade In on my PC and my laptop. So far, I like it.

Who cares, what works best for you is best for you. I've never heard any producer ask or care what software you use.

I'm comfortable with anything if I'm getting paid LOL. Writing's writing and a keyboard is a keyboard. I'm not about to throw a hissy fit over a laptop brand of having to use Final Draft.

For over a decade used celtx but within the last year Final draft.

I've been using Fade In for years.

Can't really say I have a preference. I wrote my first script in Scrivener. Then I discovered I was eligible for a student discount on FD9 so I picked it up. Been using Final Draft ever since and have not had any cause to look elsewhere.

Honestly, though, I don't use half the features in FD because I don't need to, and I think a lot of newcomers waste far too much time worrying about what they should or shouldn't be using when they just need to find something that works for them until it's time to worry about what all the pros use.

As for laptop - I've got a Lenovo laptop, but I generally do most of my writing on my desktop PC where I have a more suitable keyboard and dual-monitor setup.

if you ask managers like John Zaozirny, he wants his roster of writers to know revision mode on FD. Thats how ppl keep track of drafts. Also, FD is a must skill for tv coordinators & assistants; thats their job to track & revise, print side pages.

Hello everyone. Now this is what I wanted to do, see everyone's preferences or opinions especially for the benefit of others that were probably wondering where to start, because I had a little extra time and because I'm not sure if there was a conversation such as this here on Stage 32? I've noticed the majority here prefer Final Draft. I personally like Movie Magic Screenwriter but I still do what I've done for years because it works and I like to stick with what works and that's write longhand on yellow lined paper perforated pads, or 8.5×11 letter size white, with a no. 2 pencil or a pen. Then either I or someone else type the drafts all the way through until the screenplay or teleplay, whatever it is at the time, is finally locked. Well, Thank you all for your time each giving your personal and professional preference and opinion.

Not sure if there's a conversation like this on Stage 32? It's a circular conversation that happens on pretty much every screenwriting forum on a weekly basis.

As ever, use what gets the best out of you, don't give in to peer pressure, and familiarise yourself with Final Draft and the locking/revision/format-assitant/collaboration tools if you hope to turn professional.

There's 3D artists out there having to learn Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, plus a host of plug ins and rendering engines while spending thousands on software and rigs that may be PC, Mac, or Unix just the same as editors often having to know Premier, Final Cut, DiVinci, etc

We have it so easy. $100 for software that will run on pretty much anything and can be learned in an afternoon. Yet people act like it's life or death.

CJ Walley It's because I do not spend the majority of my time here on Stage 32, as you probably do from the looks of it, or any forum or website for that matter when I've so much to do in the real world. I spend my precious valuable time working in my IP Story Idea Room-my office, in other offices, at meetings, on sets, in the IWS Art Department, at IWS, and other DreamFactory Studios Divisions and Departments getting work done. So before you point any fingers with snide remarks be sure to see the three that will be pointing back at you. And to anyone else who had nothing but miserably negative things to say about my question here? I just wanted to help those who had questions about these particular areas of Screenwriting. Because there's so much to learn about Screenwriting as a whole.

I was just joking about how often the topic is discussed. Sorry I upset you, my dude. Kudos to your work ethic.

I'm a reader just beginning to dabble in screenwriting, but I've Loved WriterDuet so far. I like that it's easy to collaborate. I know Final Draft is the industry standard. I also just purchased an Acer laptop that is being shipped, so I will try it out and let you know how it works for me.