Which Screenwriting Program for: Celtx, Final Draft, Other?

[mistah_P]

I wanted to know from your experience what you thought about the various screenwriting programs? I've been using Celtx for a few years because 1. It was free 2. Production tools.

Now I am preparing my application for next year, and wanted to get some thoughts about what the weaknesses and/or strengths of both programs (or other ones) are. and to ask: is there any advantage in the final product in Final Draft? (i.e. does it look more "pro") or it is the same?

I'm a bit reluctant right now to learn a new program. Although if it's significantly better, why not?

 

[redroom29]

I used Celtx for my application materials and it worked well. I've been using Fade In for a webseries I'm writing for. It's slower (or maybe that's just my laptop) but still works well and is free.

 

[civetta]

I've used Fade In for almost 5 years, it's a decent program for a reasonable price

 

[IndecisiveElle]

A lot of schools require you use Final Draft. Personally I think the new update sucks though and I am sticking with v8.

But in the mean time, use whatever you like (I've become a fan of Highland, created by screenwriter John August, it's cheap - can also convert file types which is handy, including FDX) and get The Hollywood Standard: Script Format & Style text as a reference guide. Think of it as the MLA handbook for screenwriters. It's a must own IMHO.

The standard file type is PDF so it doesn't matter what you wind up using as long as you learn the basics of proper formatting and style. It's only when you're in production that you might need to have Final Draft depending on what software your UPM and ADs use for scheduling. But again, for your own writing purposes, don't worry about that, find one that works for you and learn about formatting.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

I will say, that Celtx causes a lot of formatting errors and is generally required to do a lot of fixing compared to other programs. I always advise my students to stay away from it so they don't learn the wrong formatting standards. If you want free, go with FadeIn.

 

[xLorenzoM]

I torrented Final Draft (shhhhhh...) & it's been very helpful in the sense of saving character names and shortcuts.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

I torrented Final Draft (shhhhhh...) & it's been very helpful in the sense of saving character names and shortcuts.

My first copy was too. So was Final Cut 7. yeah, I'm that old. I used torrents until I was in undergrad and had discounts. Won't torrent movies though! That's our lively-hood! haha.

 

[mistah_P]

I will say, that Celtx causes a lot of formatting errors and is generally required to do a lot of fixing compared to other programs. I always advise my students to stay away from it so they don't learn the wrong formatting standards. If you want free, go with FadeIn.

Any particular areas where you noticed formatting errors?

It's not a question of free so much as it is the effort to learn a new program right now, just for the sake of applications. I mean I get it for school once you get in but just trying to get some sense of if it makes sense to make a switch now, or just "go with what I know"

 

[mistah_P]

I torrented Final Draft (shhhhhh...) & it's been very helpful in the sense of saving character names and shortcuts.

Naughty naughty

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Any particular areas where you noticed formatting errors?

It's not a question of free so much as it is the effort to learn a new program right now, just for the sake of applications. I mean I get it for school once you get in but just trying to get some sense of if it makes sense to make a switch now, or just "go with what I know"

I don't think they'll be too hard on your for applications. But I'm not sure.

The spacing is off on a lot of Celtx scripts I've read. It may be better than it used to be but in the past you could tell just from glancing at two pages, from Celtx vs FD, next to each other that one was different/wrong. I'd take a peak at any professionally produced or award nominated screenplays you can find online. There are many sources, but a24 comes to mind as always posting their scripts when nominated. Compare your formatting that way or pick up the style/formatting book I mentioned if you want to be certain your formatting looks good for your application. But again, I don't know how important it is for applications. Depends on the school I would imagine.

 

[Kira]

When I decided to apply to graduate school (therefore, become "serious"), I bought Final Draft. I bought mine with an educational discount. If it's not on sale now, it will be within the next two months or so

Final Draft has a pretty quick learning curve.

 

[Riki Tiki Tavi]

i also use celtx, but elle is right that there’s a lot of spacing issues. i had to go in and tweak with the formatting so, so, so many times for my applications. made me wish i heard of fadein sooner! now that i’m getting ‘serious’ about screenwriting, though, i’m definitely getting final draft. with the student discount, can’t be too bad, right?

 

[mistah_P]

When I decided to apply to graduate school (therefore, become "serious"), I bought Final Draft. I bought mine with an educational discount. If it's not on sale now, it will be within the next two months or so

Final Draft has a pretty quick learning curve.

Okay. I guess I'm gonna learn me a new program. It doesn't hurt that I... *ahem* found... a Lynda course for Final Draft. Might as well go through that first