Celtx - Final Draft format differences

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10s

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I took one of my screenplays from FD into Celtx and Celtx reduced the page count significanly. A 17 page short in FD became a 13 pager in Celtx.

I imagine FD is the correct standard because it's been around longer, but I actually like what the new Celtx version produces better. FD seems to really go through the pages quickly.

Final Draft is set to New Courier 12pt. Celtx looks a bit smaller font size when printed and I can't set it; it's fixed.

Anyone have this happen? ideas?
 
OK, here's an UP DATE:

FD: Final Draft needs the Final Draft Courier font to meet the 54 lines per page spec. otherwise you might be getting 48 or in my case 42! I'm using New Courier but it shouldn't make a 10 line difference! These little things can throw all sorts of things off. Especially later on with pre-pro, i.e., one page = one minute of screen time.

In the documents section, I tightened up the line spacing but still not much luck. I'll keep at it.


Celtx: I'm really liking the new version of this tool. I had a problem with the top page numbers printing out on the edge of the page. If you save as a PDF and then print everything works out beautifully. The PDF even makes the print more intense [even while setting the printer to everyday!] all in all, it looks good. ... now if I could get FD to format to industry spec.... :)

btw, any suggestion are appreciated.
 
That is odd. I thought Celtx is standard industry format in terms of font size, spacing, etc. If it is indeed smaller in the font dept. and it can't be customized by the user, then that is not good if a writer wants to use Celtx and submit a script to an agent, prod. company, studio, etc. I suppose they might not notice the smaller font size, but why risk it? No use in going through all the effort of writing a great script if Celtx is going to screw you on font size.

Darn it, I really like Celtx. I guess it is still fine for personal projects, but now I'm worried about using it for spec writing projects.

Is it possible to write something in Celtx, and then export it into Final Draft or Movie Magic? Also, I wonder if Final Draft and Movie Magic have differences in their final printed or PDF files?
 
Ha, we posted at exactly the same minute.

So is Celtx correct or is Final Draft more correct in their industry standard formatting? I'm more confused now.
 
That is weird. Check settings, I don't even know if Celtx has those. I use Celtx and have used it to submit to a production company which is currently producing a short I co-wrote. Everything was industry standard. 12 pt Courier, margins, spacing everything.

Odd...
 
Final Draft is basically the industry standard writing tool. I think my Final Draft is out of whack somehow! -- it's only giving me 42 lines instead of the 54 or 55 line standard.... I'm still working on this issue.

Celtx prints to industry standards when it's first saved as a PDF file.

Once it's a PDF file, it can be printed correctly to industry standard. (I found that when printing straight out of Celtx it doesn't format the 1/2 inch top margin and the bottom margin is too big. A PDF conversion straightens this out, Thank Goodness! )

Also, the Celtx files can be transferred to the other programs by saving them as a text file and then importing into FD or MM. I just ran a little test to make sure. I had to pull up my celtx screenplay and then select all. Hover over the highlighted area and copy. I dumped it into notepad (PCs) and saved it. Then I went into Final Draft and opened the text file. It came out with the proper format except some of the scene headings were in lower case. I just highlighted and switched the case. So one can move Celtx files into Final draft successfully. There might be even easier ways then this process!
 
Final Draft cheats the page count with their special font.

I wouldn't worry about it though. Nobody cares about format unless it looks wonky.
 
Thanks for clearing things up guys. I figured Celtx had to be correct, otherwise we would have heard about any formatting problems long ago.

I'll have to try out a demo of Final Draft sometime here soon. I've got an older version of Movie Magic for Windows, but I've always just preferred Celtx, and since I am almost always on my Mac when working or going online, it is a quick and painless download and install to get Celtx on there and on the PC too if I want.
 
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