Script writing software

Afternoon,

Can you download free script writing software that is good enough and of industry standard, or do you have to buy the software?

Also...How does it work??

<3

You don't need any software, unless you'd really like it. Just look at a script and then copy the layout using Word.

Or download Celtx for free. Certainly don't spend money on Final Draft or whatnot at this stage, it's really only of use to people who write for a living, and even then it's optional. Billwill will be along shortly with further information...

Thanks,

I have written material, but have not written it in script form. Does this mean I will literally have to go through every line and edit it into script form?
Can't I just highlight it and the script software magically sets it out for me?
Or am I hoping for too much..

Thanks Griff,

Quote: Scottidog @ January 19 2011, 3:25 PM GMT

Thanks,

I have written material, but have not written it in script form. Does this mean I will literally have to go through every line and edit it into script form?
Can't I just highlight it and the script software magically sets it out for me?
Or am I hoping for too much..

View original

I'm not absolutely sure but I suspect you've got some cutting and pasting on your hands there.

Hey Scotti

I've used Celtx on and off over the years. It's more geared towards US movie format, but they keep adding different formats with every new addition. It used to be a really good FREE collaboration software too, but I think they made that bit premium.

As a BCG member you will find a link to a free copy of My ScriptWriters Toolkit on Page 2 of this topic, but I also suggest that you read the whole topic.

https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/5583/2/

https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/5583/2/

Contrary to notes in there I have since found that it DOES work correctly on Microsoft Word/Office 2007 and Word/Office 2009 but it needs slightly different installation instructions and I have not written those up yet.

It does turn out that the most reliable, though somewhat tedious, method of putting an unformatted script into a formatted script is by copy/pasting each individual dialogue. I did the whole of one of Wm Shakespeare's plays as a demo.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scriptsmart/index.shtml

Quote: Griff @ January 19 2011, 7:47 PM GMT

ScriptSmart is awful.

View original

I've had little trouble with it. There's a few little niggles here and there, but nothing major.

Don't bother with Scriptsmart while you can have a free copy of my Toolkit.

Scriptsmart is unsupportd, 'cos the bloke has left the BBC, it is cumbersome, requiring you to use different keystrokes depengding on what type of script you are creating. And it doesn't have the clean-up facility for producing submission scripts that the Toolkit has.

How much time to writers waste obsessing about formatting scripts? A lot.
And all you have to do is use Word and your tab key.

Quote: chipolata @ January 20 2011, 10:07 AM GMT

How much time to writers waste obsessing about formatting scripts? A lot.
And all you have to do is use Word and your tab key.

View original

And if it's not formatting, it's what type of brads to use or how many holes to punch. Seriously, I had to unsubscribe from the Shooting People writers bulletin because that was all anyone was talking about.

Yeah, what Chip said.

Here's a 'how to do the format for sketches' and radio sitcom looks pretty much the same from Dan Tetsell: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2010/01/newsjack_script_smart_or_smart.shtml

Dan

Also, what are brads?