Screenwriting : Final Draft vs other software by Lynette Willoughby

Never used Arc Studio, but Final Draft is the most well-rounded software that I’ve ever used. The beat board is just about the most useful tool I’ve seen in any screenwriting software. It is a bit pricy, but I believe it’s worth every penny. I have used it for over 10 years and I'm pretty sure you can activate on two computers you own as well. At the end of the day, FD is the industry standard program used by 95% of Hollywood screenwriters and most people can tell if the script is not formatted in FD just by looking at it. Page counts can vary in other software which will annoy the line producer, 1st AD or production manager who is doing a schedule (Problems for another day but still). Arc Studio Pro is getting bigger and bigger everyday from what I've heard. FD is still the preferred file format and the only screenwriting software with an authorized agreement with the WGA online registry service. Having said that if you just love the cloud based format, Writer Duet is a free cloud based software that I like to use for writing on the go or collaborating with others online. I've also used Highland II and Fade In before. They are good options too

One extra step: save to HD, backup to Cloud, access anywhere. Then reverse as needed.

FD is worth it.

Thanks for your contribution Pat. I have never had any negative feedback from judges regarding my formatting, so I think Arc is comparable to FD on that basis. I just don’t want to muck around with remembering backups. Strange that FD doesn’t have a cloud auto backup …?

All my files are on my OneDrive, so in the cloud.

Never use it so didn't know it was possible to save to Cloud from FD.

https://kb.finaldraft.com/hc/en-us/articles/15575159007508-Can-Final-Dra...

And how to sync between devices:

https://kb.finaldraft.com/hc/en-us/articles/16118254826004-How-do-I-sync...

Lynette Willoughby yeah, i feel you. you would think by this point they would realize how absolutely necessary a cloud based system is for fast collaboration and storage in the modern age. Especially given how they constantly release a new version every year without really any new, useful feature updates outside of little tricks and gadgets. it's a stalwart though, which is why so many use it. might be fun to launch our own little campaign at them to push for better cloud based features like this. i'm sure the folks at FD would be amenable to hearing it. think you can contact them here to let them know: https://www.finaldraft.com/contact/contact-final-draft/

It does work on the Cloud. Links in post just before yours.

There are two things here:

You can store your files in the cloud or your hard drive with FD. I store all of my work in my OneDrive (there are other cloud storage solutions), so there are no issues with syncing. And FD has auto-save, so I don't lose my work.

For sharing work, PDFs are always preferred, so which software brand doesn't matter for that. Where it matters is for collaboration and production scheduling. However, there are ways to export and import from the software to deal with files from other brands.

Thanks for all comments. I realize that you can save FD to OneDrive etc. but my point is that I may be at work (with work computer) and have a lunch break or travelling and using hotel Wifi etc. and I don't wish to access my OneDrive on a public computer /public wifi. Nor do I wish to lug an external drive with me. With Arc Studio I log in via the browser and immediately begin work on my draft where it is saved. It is safe and simple. And it does not seem that I can do this with Final Draft.

That makes sense, but some people don’t want to be locked into an annual subscription. Are you using a VPN when on a public Wi-Fi?

Welcome

I just posted a similar post today (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Final-Draft-vs-Celtx-vs-Arc...) and I have similar questions. FD is more expensive and seems rather old fashioned in terms of where application software has been going for a few years, even though it's still supposedly the industry standard. But I wonder how much of that is because people tend to perpetuate what has come before and change is hard vs it really being better.

I think what we need to understand what this is. Who are you writing for? If you plan on working on a production and typing a screenplay while you’re actually on the physical production and final draft is the only way to go if it is a high-quality production .

It depends on what your goal is and it’s based off of industry standard. I’ll put it like this for the people that I know that didn’t get final draft. Eventually, when they sold their script, the Director literally threw them into the scenario where they have to get it anyways. So whether you foot the bill now or whether you foot the bill later, you’re going to get final draft at some point. We need a final draft version. That’s what they were told. So maybe times have changed maybe maybe not.

I love your optimism Mario. If I sell my script I will happily buy Final Draft ! Meanwhile for my work in progress, it is way more efficient to have a cloud-based program. Fingers crossed FD will catch up and I can make the transition :)

If you land a Production job soon where you’re working on large scale productions, that would be the time.

I personally am a Celtx fan. And I own FD. Also, like Slugline. All preference. I've had scripts I've written in google docs, then go back and re-format properly and that's my opportunity to do a bit of rewrites at the same time.

Something people seem to miss with the "Final Draft is the industry standard" argument is that industry members are saying that in reference to the file format, not the interface as such. There's lots of other pieces of filmmaking software that accepts the .fdx format for things such as budgeting and scheduling. It's a bit like saying Adobe Acrobat is the industry standard for document creation, when really it's the pdf file format it uses that's become ubiquitous.

From the point of going into production, at least, the project will effectively be centered around a Final Draft document. How you get there is up to you and your team. It's just words on a page. There's nothing magical about them just because they've been inputted into Final Draft.

I got my copy during my first assignment. I didn't even pay for it. Personally, I loath even having to open it as it feels like something from the 90's. But then, some people like that. Arc Studio Pro, Scrivener, WriterDuet, and Highland 2 are all very interesting alternatives for when it comes to actually writing.

When it comes to cloud storage, pick your poison. Personally, I like to have the files on my machine and then have that backed up in a cloud I know I can rely on. I use iCloud, but have found Dropbox good too.

Great comment CJ

Hello, Lynette! I've been using Final Draft for years and am always pleased with the results. But recently I started checking other programs that can help with writing scripts and running business processes. I came across such a cool thing as asset accountant software. It has some unique features and a user-friendly interface. Has anyone else tried it? Also open to suggestions for alternatives. I need something fresh in my toolbox.

Final Draft is great for production purposes because it allows for a lot of integration on that end. A lot of folks use it because it makes that impossibly easier.

One thing I will say is any screenwriting program worth it's salt will allow you to export in Fountain, which is FD's file type... i use writerduet because it has an app i can write on my tablet with as well as my laptop (and it's cloud based).