My last two feature screenplays I wrote using Arc Studio, which I like a lot. Before that I used Celtx, which I also like a lot. I know that Final Draft is considered the so-called "industry standard," and that makes sense, at least for historical reasons. However, the OS for my laptop is Linux (Ubuntu to be more precise), and Final Draft doesn't offer a Linux version. Btw, having to install a software program to one's own computer seems like ten years behind the times. Both Arc Studio and Celtx are cloud-based and work on any operating system. Both are SaaS (software as a service) and thus updates are just handled automatically, so no having to download an update and install it, etc. Both handle importing and exporting in Final Draft format, so there's that. And both are also a lot cheaper than Final Draft. Am I missing something here?
Anyway... here are my QUESTIONS:
a) What screenwriting software do you use and do you like it?
b) Does one need to get Final Draft if they want to be a professional screenwriter? (I'm assuming not but I welcome your thoughts.)
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Writer Duet: It's free. You can share you work with other people for comments and modifications. You can easily extract your script in PDF.
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Final Draft has remained fully loaded in my writing holster since I started in 2014. Eight features later, she's still with me. A match made in Heaven.
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I use Final Draft 12, Tucker Teague. Final Draft is the best screenwriting program in my opinion. I use WriterDuet as backup (in case anything happens to my Final Draft program).
You don't have to get Final Draft to be a professional screenwriter, but sometimes I see job ads where producers and directors want screenwriters to have Final Draft when the screenwriters work on the jobs.
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Yes fully agree Tucker - cloud based is the way to go. Like you say, Arc Studio can export a script to FD if needed.
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I use Scrivener and then export to Final Draft. I only do the latter so I can collaborate with my producer and they can run it through all the scheduling/budgeting software.
I tend to find people who rave about Final Draft haven't actually tried anything else, other than maybe Word. It's very poor writing software by today's standards, in my opinion, especially given its popularity.
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I started with Arc Studio, and really like it. I'm a lifelong Mac user, so the intuitive interface works well for me.
Then I had to produce a short script in Greek, and discovered that Arc doesn't have an option for other alphabets. After asking Greek friends, I discovered that only Final Draft can handle Greek. I found Final Draft super-annoying compared to Arc, and thankfully was able to write up the script on the free trial. FD seemed very PC/Microsoft somehow, with all that brings. But if I have to write more Greek stuff in future, I will have to invest in it, or hope that Arc has upgraded by then.
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I started with FD through an educational, lower cost version. I have since ungraded to the full version, but I haven’t tried the very latest yet.
I have used Celtx - a writer on a project I collaborated with was using it. It was okay, but it wasn’t exactly maintaining proper margins, which I only noticed after importing it into FD and the page count was different.
I even used Microsoft Word that had a template for screenwriting. Got messy as the page count grew.
When working with independent film projects, you go with what’s makes life easier when collaborating.
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I use Final Draft and Writer Duet! Both are great!
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Has anyone tried StudioBinder? I normally go there to grab copies of screenplays. Seems pricing, but they seem to offer everything from screenwriting to shot lists, calls sheets, and film crew management.