That's interesting. I downloaded the Script Smart template for Word XP but it doesn't work properly for me, so I've had to set up my own styles.
Google Docs Scriptwriting Template
The trouble with me is that if I'm online, I'll just log on here and div about for two hours. I need to be offline to work.
I like the idea that it would continuously and remotely back up your work and previous versions. You'd never lose an afternoon's work due to a computer crash again.
Quote: Griff @ August 7 2008, 3:44 PM BSTMy worst thing about writing when I'm online, apart from arsing around on here, is my tendency to "research" as I go. Oh, I need the name for a Ukrainian cleaner ? Spend half an hour reading web articles about the most popular women's names in Ukraine so that I choose *exactly* the right one. Let alone any further procrastination that occurs as a result of typing "Ukrainian women" into Google.
True, google is the lazy man's thesaurus. Nothing wrong with getting visual images of Ukranian women to help with the creative process.
Quote: Griff @ August 7 2008, 3:44 PM BSTLet alone any further procrastination that occurs as a result of typing "Ukrainian women" into Google.
I couldn't resist... wow! So did you decide upon a future Mrs. Griff?
This is great but when I started scriptwriting I didnt find anything like this and so had to surf the internet for formatting tips and now that I have started using them I dont really want to change them.
Quote: Griff @ August 7 2008, 3:44 PM BSTMy worst thing about writing when I'm online, apart from arsing around on here, is my tendency to "research" as I go. Oh, I need the name for a Ukrainian cleaner ? Spend half an hour reading web articles about the most popular women's names in Ukraine so that I choose *exactly* the right one. Let alone any further procrastination that occurs as a result of typing "Ukrainian women" into Google.
I know some Ukranians: Olga, Tatiyana, Irena, Katarina. Basically, the same as Russian names.
Quote: Griff @ August 7 2008, 3:38 PM BSTSo I'm stuck with Final Draft (which is horrid)
Guhhhhhhhhhhh!
Why so, Griffy?
Quote: Graham Bandage @ August 7 2008, 3:35 PM BSTThat's interesting. I downloaded the Script Smart template for Word XP but it doesn't work properly for me, so I've had to set up my own styles.
Have you tried my Scriptwriters' Toolkit? Much better than Scriptsmart.
Not for Apple Macs or the new MS Word 2007 though.
Quote: Griff @ August 10 2008, 4:50 PM BSTWell, various bits of it plain don't work - exporting your document from Final Draft into PDF format crashes the whole application. Also I have a recollection you can't export successfully into MS Word format either, you just have to cut and paste (which loses all the formatting).
And the interface is really ugly, and they force you to use a horrid font called "Final Draft Courier" and, and, and ... oh I just found it a very depressing and uninspiring piece of software to use. Which is annoying because it does come with a nice set of script templates including things like "BBC 30 minute sitcom" and so on.
I did like all the keyboard shortcuts in it, and the tab actions to jump between different script elements, plus all the smarts where it knows if you've just entered a transition then you are about to do a new scene heading and so on, and it remembers all your character names and locations and automatically completes them as you type dialogue lines and scene headings, and lots of things like that, but in general, I'd rather just use Word.
I use a separate PDF bit of software because I remember the Final Draft exporter came out looking rubbish.
>And the interface is really ugly, and they force you to
>use a horrid font called "Final Draft Courier"
This is because USA Film Producers always want their scripts in Courier. They haven't really advanced since the tripewriter age. They convinced themselves that one page of USA film script format typed in courier font on average gives one minute of finished film.
USA Screen writers even argue about precisely which Courier font is exactly the right one, and so I suspect the Final Draft programmers chose their particulaer courier. Since now, as I understand it almost all films scripts in the USA are now typed with Final Draft, I guess their courier has now become the defacto standard.
As far as I am aware most UK producres, do not care exactly what you use as long as it looks roughly like a script.
All thse scripts get re-typed into whatever software the TV/Film production team use in any case.
However like I said above, I do a Scriptwriters Toolkit, which covers a lot of different UK script formats. It works on Windows PCs with MS Word 97 through Word 2002 (aka Word-XP).
Sorry I have no plans to upgrade it to Word 2007 or the Apple Mac.
Quote: Griff @ August 10 2008, 7:47 PM BSTYeah, it just seems to be a particularly ugly Courier which adds to the whole depressing experience.
What's people's experience with prodcos regarding font preferences for TV scripts in the UK ? I think most people don't care as long as it's 12 pt and double space, but the few times a preference has been expressed, I've been advised NOT to submit in Courier but use Times New Roman instead.
I think either the BBC script (Helvetica, I think) or the Warners (Courier) are the two best bets.
I used to do all mine in the BBC style, but got told to do it the US way, which although I like it less, that's now the way I do it.
Quote: billwill @ August 10 2008, 7:52 PM BSTAs far as I am aware most UK producres, do not care exactly what you use as long as it looks roughly like a script.
Basically yeah.
Previous threads on this issue:
https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/6761 https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/5583 https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/6684
Quote: Griff @ August 10 2008, 9:06 PM BSTYep this wasn't meant to be an open discussion on scriptwriting software (although that's a subject it's always interesting to come back to and hear people's recent experiences), was just bringing the new Google Docs template to everyone's attention. I think I'm going to try using it for my Red Planet entry, especially since they just want the hard copy so won't care what electronic format you used to get there.
Mmmn, but the link you gave just takes you to a 'used' template, there are none of the facilities it describes?
And I could not find how you got to it, so can you provide a link earlier along the chain ?
>I'm not aware that there's any documentation available
>from Google on the specific features of the Screenplay template.
In that first link you gave, in the root message above, the text in the dummy script, gives some idea of what the template does.