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A filmmaker friend has asked me to write a seven-minute script. He's won several local festivals and once worked for me so I know he's making a valid offer. I've often thought about trying a script.
1.) Can anyone suggest a good inexpensive software for scripts?
2.) Can anyone suggest a good book on script-writing?
3.) Does anyone have any advice?
Jill
Comments
Jill did you search or was you seeking experience?
https://www.google.com/search?q=script+writing+software&ie=u...
A lot of that listed is freebies besides some four or five hundred dollar programs. You'll also see aps in there.
Lost of luck girl
Only those who never try are failures.
always
Barb
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
Good Luck!
I use Scrivener for writing comic book scripts. It also has templates for other sorts of scripts.
Other than that, I don't have much advice to give.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
I'm surprised.
With your professionalism, and the quality of your stories, I am surprised that you don't just sit down and do it yourself?
I imagine
that the software is more about formatting than it is content. I know that many agents/publishers will throw a manuscript away without reading a single word just because of the font or structure.
Be kind to those who are unkind, tolerant toward those who treat you with intolerance, loving to those who withhold their love, and always smile through the pains of life.
Script
I have only worked for a movie once, but not as a writer but technicienne.
What I have seen of the script (this was in Germany) looked very much like what you'd find in a play. Apart from the dialogues there are descriptions of scenery/rooms and how and where to move, what to do and what expresssions to show.
I have worked quite a bit in theatre and the plays by Moliere or Marivaux met those criteria.
I hope this helps.
Hugs,
Monique.
Monique S
Unless you intend to seriously write film scripts
Unless you intend to seriously write film scripts and not just your friends seven minute script, YOU DO NOT NEED A PROFESSIONAL SCRIPT WRITING PROGRAM.
Ok, sorry for the caps, but you really do not need to spend any money on buying script writing programs. All you need to do is set the tabs on your word writing program of choice for names, dialogue etc etc.
The program of choice for professionals is Final Draft at $250, less if you are a student. This is because it will interact with other programs used by other members of the crew.
However if you go to this web page,
https://www.finaldraft.com/learn/how-to-format-a-screenplay/
it will tell you how to set the margins for Action, names and dialogue etc. You really do not need anything else.
Scriptware ($199.99 offer price) use to be used (and still can be), but does not interact with other programs the way Final Draft does, and has not been updated for years (but still works). You can download a demo from their website to play on if you want.
https://www.scriptware.com/
Both programs make script writing a doddle, but you only need one if you are writing full length film scripts for the different things they also do, such as moving scenes around, character dialogue lists etc, that make the writing process easier and less time consuming. But for a seven minute film, you do not need.
Hope this helps
Sophie
You are an accomplished writer
All you need to do is familiarize yourself with script writing techniques. You can do that by looking at scripts. Buried in this article is a scene from "Same Time Next Year". The full script is available at Amazon as well as a DVD of the movie.
I think just looking at the script excerpt in the article will give you enough to go on. Note that there is a paragraph or two setting the scene and that stage direction is included in [brackets] within the dialog.
Should be easy peasy to pick up for a talent like yours.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
The links are for the stage play
The article and script links Patricia has given are for the stage play, not the film script. Stage and film script formats are quite different.
This link will take you to a list of free script sites where you can download scripts to read.
https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/10-great-websites-dow...
What a Great Community
Based on your help I was able to find a free software program. I produced three pages of script yesterday.
You also led me to a source for screenplay samples. I reviewed two yesterday, which helped a lot.
Thanks to everyone for caring.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Advice from a friend of mine.
A producer / director friend of mine also writes scripts. Here is her ten cents worth of advice.
Scripts are 1 page = 1 minute.
The cheapest software may be Scrivenor, just check that the new version still does scripts.
Amazon has a lot of books on format. The main difference is keeping description to a minimum.