What does the Industry actually require?

O

OceanZen

Active member
I'm writing my screenplay in Word, with a template called Script Smart Gold.

It's easy to use and I've written half now, so I don't want to switch to Celtx(free) or Final Draft, but anyway, my question is...

Other than a hard copy to read, when it comes to rewrites, production drafts etc.
Will it be enough to export as a pdf, or .doc, or txt file?

Can those then be imported into Final Draft if need be?
 
There was actually a big debate over this about a week ago here. I said that it shouldn't matter what format one uses, but their actual story-telling talent. That being said, I guess what SHOULD matter and what ACTUALLY matters can sometimes be two different things. Personally I like PDF just fine, but some others will want it in FD or even Movie Magic.

As far as imports, I am not familiar with the formats enough to answer that question, sorry.
 
You can import .doc and .txt files into FD. I'm not sure if you can import PDF files.

Keep in mind, it's imperative that you have the formatting correct, such as across page breaks, etc. Just make sure your template will accommodate for that.

If Word provides the correct formatting, then exporting as a PDF should be just fine.
 
J R Hudson are you referring to me?
adamant? - I think you're using it in the wrong context.

If I was adamant about celtx then I would love it.

I'm just saying I'm happy using Word as that's what I've started with.
 
I wasn't using it in the wrong context, but I assumed that you were being adamant regarding the other two NLE's.

-

But I get ya. If it makes you happy, cool.
 
You can certainly submit a print copy of your script. Nothing wrong with that. The problems usually crop up when and if you sell the script. The producers may want an FD or Screenwriter version. That should be no big deal, though, if they're going to buy the script. The other area where you will have a problem is when you want to collaborate with a professional writer. In that case, you're going to need to have FD or Screenwriter. If you're writing for yourself or on spec, it doesn't matter a whole lot what you're using as long as it's formatted correctly because you're going to be whoring it around in paper form anyway.
 
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What Blaine said plus if it actually gets in production, you'll need to add scene numbers, delete scenes, etc.

If you're serious about screenwriting get serious tools.
 
OceanZen said:
I'm writing my screenplay in Word, with a template called Script Smart Gold.

It's easy to use and I've written half now, so I don't want to switch to Celtx(free) or Final Draft, but anyway, my question is...

Other than a hard copy to read, when it comes to rewrites, production drafts etc.
Will it be enough to export as a pdf, or .doc, or txt file?

Can those then be imported into Final Draft if need be?
Click to expand...

Execs will most likely come to your material via a pdf sent through your agent/manager/lawyer/another exec/yourself.

Hardcopies IMO are often printed from pdf's sent to companies/agencies/mangement companies, etc.

I would worry about more the concept & story than what software you're using.

And for a studio/prodco, the scene numbers will be entered by the office production staff, not you.

EJ
 
EJ Pennypacker said:
Execs will most likely come to your material via a pdf sent through your agent/manager/lawyer/another exec/yourself.

Hardcopies IMO are often printed from pdf's sent to companies/agencies/mangement companies, etc.

I would worry about more the concept & story than what software you're using.

And for a studio/prodco, the scene numbers will be entered by the office production staff, not you.

EJ
Click to expand...

Thank you! This is what I've been saying for weeks. It doesn't matter if you write your script in FD or on a bloody rock, what does matter is what you actually write.
 
The problem enters when you want to collaborate with other writers.

Also when you submit a film to get broken down. My company any way charges a small fee to transcribe screenplays into final draft so that we can tag everything and bring it into EP scheduling.

I've never used Celtx, so I can't make comment on the program itself. But those are some issues that you may run into.
 
ConspiracyPenguin said:
Thank you! This is what I've been saying for weeks. It doesn't matter if you write your script in FD or on a bloody rock, what does matter is what you actually write.
Click to expand...

Exactly! However - I liked the quote here "If you're serious about screenwriting get serious tools" However if you cannot afford or etc. don't sweat it. I started years ago w/o the fancy programs to learn the format/rules better. That really was an excuse to being ignorant actually =D

Either format/program - you MUST have correct screenplay format. You can do it manually heck before computers many got by fine with those things called typewriters and even by pen, Lawrence Kasdan started Raiders that way. Long as you get the rest right, you'll be fine. Read "The Hollywood Standard" a nice book on SP format.
 
OceanZen said:
Other than a hard copy to read, when it comes to rewrites, production drafts etc.
Will it be enough to export as a pdf, or .doc, or txt file?

Can those then be imported into Final Draft if need be?
Click to expand...

Of all the things a writer should thing about, this is by far the LEAST important thing. Anyone that says otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about.
 
Mattykins said:
Also when you submit a film to get broken down. My company any way charges a small fee to transcribe screenplays into final draft so that we can tag everything and bring it into EP scheduling.
Click to expand...

I am making a massive leap in judgement as assuming that this OP was talking about selling his specs to studios and first-look prodco's and straight out buyers, in which case the above is non-point.

EJ
 
Ideally, the screenplay should be in a format that allows for a quick and (mostly) automated breakdown by the producer so they can easily see how much it'll cost to develop.

Unfortunately this goes against what the Format Nazi Gurus say (most of whom have never had a screenplay in production).

Of course all of this depends on the producers liking the story in the first place, so I agree on sticking to the basics and let the development execs worry about production.

When you get to the point where someone wants to develop your script, Final Draft is used by most pros, and it does a very good job of importing from other formats (and you should get them to buy you a copy of FD!)
 
I have used OpenOffice to write mine. I can make all the print copies from it I want and I can export it to PDF and it will look nice. Yes, there may be a problem when I go to sell it and they want it in some paticular format. If that happens, if someone is getting ready to write me a check with several figures to the left of decimal point, I'll buy whatever software they want and retype the whole darn thing if I have to. So I am not really that worried about it.

I don't collaborate with others except for editing, in which I mail a printed copy, have it marked up, get it back, make the changes one by one, print a new copy, etc. If I need to show someone something I'll pull those page(s) out of the PDF and e-mail them. If I collaborate after the sale, well, that will be a moot point per the above.

The above said, I will probably use Final Draft simply because it seems to be what the majority of the people who are actually selling things use. But I am in no hurry to get there. Maybe I'll buy it for myself for Christmas and then I wont have to do the import process later on. Or maybe I wont. Either way, it wont really matter until I get someone who wants to buy something, then I'll seriously worry about it.

I would worry about writing marketable work, rather than worrying about what you writing your work with.
 
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