[MacDV] Re: Screenplays and writing tools--MacDV Digest #2161

[Illovox Media]

on 5/12/03 6:07 PM, Matthew Guemple at mo.og at verizon.net wrote:

> My point is simply that all of the formatting that FinalDraft and the
> like do is easily reproduced in Word. Most people have Word. If you
> already have Word why spend the money on more software. What really
> matters is the writing, not the formating. To me it's like buying a
> Director's Viewfinder before you've even made a movie.
> 
> Anyway if you want to go out and spend $200 on software... personally
> I'd save the money and spend it on something really useful, like
> renting a 24p camera..

That just shows where you emphasize value, not what the most efficient use
of money is.  Your friends are wrong.  The software helps the process, makes
it smooth and effortless, and also provides services no word program will do
easily, if at all.  And though the writing is all, if the format is wrong,
no one in the "biz" will bother to read it.  For those for whom time is
valuable, the software saves it.  For those who write regularly, a 24p
rental is useless without a script, and a script that comes out smoothly is
a god-send.  Furthermore, no proper script, no camera rental will make up
for bad story or formatting...just differences in perspective Matt.

>>> All of  my friends who write screenplays say the "software" is a
>>> waste of
>>> money. Just set the format up in Word, - you can probably find one on
>>> the web - and get a decent book that tells you what page which plot
>>> point should happen and then start writing.
>> 
>> Having a tool that makes life easier/faster/more productive
>> You might want to look at Screenwriter (also known as Movie Magic 2000
>> on the PC).

I prefer Final Draft.