Screenwriting software: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Word processors specialized to the task of writing screenplays}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=August 2015}} |
{{More citations needed|date=August 2015}} |
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'''Screenwriting software''' are word processors specialized to the task of writing [[screenplay]]s. |
'''Screenwriting software''' are word processors specialized to the task of writing [[screenplay]]s, i.e. [[screenwriting]]. |
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== Overview == |
== Overview == |
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Another class of screenwriting software includes those that, rather than act as specialized [[word processors]], attempt to direct the writer's storytelling process by utilizing [[narratology|story theory]] to facilitate the planning of a screenplay. Examples of this type of program includes [[Dramatica (software)|Dramatica]] and [[Index Card (software)|Index Card]]. |
Another class of screenwriting software includes those that, rather than act as specialized [[word processors]], attempt to direct the writer's storytelling process by utilizing [[narratology|story theory]] to facilitate the planning of a screenplay. Examples of this type of program includes [[Dramatica (software)|Dramatica]] and [[Index Card (software)|Index Card]]. |
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Screenwriting software often also provides functions that allow writers to analyze their scripts for various characteristics. In 2018, developers began adding functions that allow an analysis of [[gender representation]] such as the [[Bechdel test]], e.g. in [[Highland 2]], |
Screenwriting software often also provides functions that allow writers to analyze their scripts for various characteristics. In 2018, developers began adding functions that allow an analysis of [[gender representation]] such as the [[Bechdel test]], e.g. in [[Highland 2]], and the forthcoming [[Final Draft (software)|Final Draft]] 11.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryzik |first1=Melena |title=Is your script gender-balanced? The new test helping filmmakers get it right |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/film-scripts-gender-balanced-software-bechdel-test-christina-hodson-oscars-a8361336.html |accessdate=20 June 2018 |work=The Independent |date=21 May 2018}}</ref> |
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=== Platforms === |
=== Platforms === |
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== History == |
== History == |
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The first screenwriting software was a standalone script formatter, Scriptor, from Screenplay Systems{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}. It took a text file generated by a word processor and inserted the proper page break tags. When used in conjunction with a [[ |
The first screenwriting software was a standalone script formatter, Scriptor, from Screenplay Systems{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}. It took a text file generated by a word processor and inserted the proper page break tags. When used in conjunction with a [[terminate-and-stay-resident program]] such as [[SmartKey]] or ProKey—keyboard utilities that assigned a sequence of commands to keystroke combinations—the "dot commands" that Scriptor required could be inserted semi-automatically. Additionally, keyboard macros could be programmed to properly indent and enter abbreviations—allowing a user to customize the working of the word processor. |
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SmartKey was popular with screenwriters from 1982–1987, after which word processing programs had their own macro features.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}} |
SmartKey was popular with screenwriters from 1982–1987, after which word processing programs had their own macro features.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}} |
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The latest generation adds online storage and collaboration and integrates with apps on mobile devices. Many software also integrate outlining tools as well as other creative support, and tools to further integrate the production process.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}} |
The latest generation adds online storage and collaboration and integrates with apps on mobile devices. Many software also integrate outlining tools as well as other creative support, and tools to further integrate the production process.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}} |
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==List of software== |
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<!--- The threshold for inclusion is notability, not whether or not the app has a wikipedia page. See [[Wikipedia:Notability#Stand-alone_lists]]---> |
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*[https://arcstudiopro.com/ Arc Studio Pro] - Free and paid professional screenwriting software with automatic formatting, real-time collaboration and drag and drop outlining features. Used by professional Hollywood feature and TV screenwriters. |
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*[https://www.kapitan.fi/beat/ Beat] - Free and open source screenwriting app for macOS, with drag and drop outlining, scene card and timeline views. It uses the Fountain plain text format. |
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* [https://github.com/piersdeseilligny/betterfountain Better Fountain] - Free and open source screenwriting plugin for [[Visual Studio Code|Visual Code Studio]] using [[Fountain (markup language)|Fountain markup]]. It supports all the Fountain formatting features, has an outlining tool, live preview, PDF export (with highlighted characters), statistics for the script and individual characters in it. |
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*[https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/causality.html Causality] - an original approach emphasizes visual story development outlining and simultaneous scripting movement while tracking causalities (cause and effects) of key plot points; simultaneously display of 3 story elements: Snippets(Script)/Story Logic (White Board)/Timeline, plus visual Characters tracking. Quickly breeze though an outline, simultaneously write out story Snippets as the ideas come. Exports into Final Draft, Fountain, and PDF, and loaded with extra features, with multi-language support, plus collaboration and other features coming soon. Free and Paid versions for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/causality.html|title = Groundbreaking screen/Novel writing app}}</ref><ref>https://medium.com/infodump/a-working-guide-to-screenwriting-software-384abe163545 "A working guide to screenwriting software" Julian Simpson Mar 17 2018</ref> |
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* [[Celtx]] - Free to register, but requires paid subscription for the full collaborative version. Browser-based, with apps for [[Mac OS X]], [[IOS]], and [[Android (operating system)|Android]]. Includes a comic book script-writing mode.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/technology/personaltech/easy-ways-to-get-your-movie-idea-out-of-your-head.html|title=Video Feature: Easy Ways to Get Your Movie Idea Out of Your Head|last=Eaton|first=Kit|date=2015-02-04|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |
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*[https://dramaqueen.info DramaQueen] - Software for script writers and novelists. Offers working with storylines, turning points, different structure models, a storytelling guidance, character profiles, story-charts and character arcs. |
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*[[Dramatica (software)|Dramatica]] - Name of a theory and software suite created as part of a project by Chris Huntley and Melanie Anne Phillips. |
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*[https://www.dubscript.com/ DubScript Screenplay Writer]- A professional screenwriting software for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] with features such as auto-formatting and Google Docs fixing. A free version is available with a watermark header on printed output/PDF and optional subscription. DubScript also outputs to most major screenwriting formats.<ref name=":0" /> |
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* [[Fade In (software)|Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software]] - Professional screenwriting software for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Linux, with mobile versions for iPhone, iPad and Android. Imports and exports Final Draft as well as most other major screenwriting software formats. |
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* [[Final Draft (software)|Final Draft]] - Professional screenwriting software for [[Mac OS X]] and [[Microsoft Windows]]. |
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*[https://filmustage.com/ Filmustage] - Automatic script breakdown and scheduling service. Filmustage makes 100 scenes script breakdown in 1 minute. Service involves 24/7 free export in Movie magic scheduling, pdf and spreadsheets. |
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*[https://www.fountain-mode.org Fountain Mode] - Major mode for the [[GNU Emacs]] free text editor for working with [[Fountain (markup language)]]. Features include [[WYSIWYG]] elements, TAB autocompletion, and live pagination.<ref>{{cite web |title=rnkn/fountain-mode |url=https://github.com/rnkn/fountain-mode#features |website=GitHub |access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref> |
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*[https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland-2/ Highland] - Highland is a screenplay utility for Mac that seamlessly converts PDF screenplays into editable Fountain or Final Draft files, and back again. It’s also a text editor, so a screenplay can be written directly in Highland. |
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*[[JotterPad]] - A powerful professional screenwriting app for [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jotterpad.x&hl=en Android]. Includes paid [[Fountain (markup language)|Fountain]] support, export to [[Final Draft (software)|Final Draft]] and print formatted script to PDF. |
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* [https://kitscenarist.ru/en/ KIT Scenarist] - A free and [[Open-source software|open source]] screenwriting software for [[Mac OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Linux]], which includes story development tools, corkboard, screenplay editor and statistics module. Includes paid service for [[collaborative real-time editor|real-time collaboration]] and versions for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]]. |
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* [[LyX]] - An open source document processor based on the [[LaTeX]] typesetting system, with support for screenwriting using the "hollywood.lyx" template. |
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* [[Montage software|Montage]] - Screenwriting software for Mac only. |
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* [[Movie Magic Screenwriter]] - Integrated professional screenwriting software. Available on Mac and Microsoft Windows. |
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* [[Page 2 stage|Page 2 Stage]] - Free open-source software, designed specifically for Windows. Available in a variety of languages. |
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* [[Practical Scriptwriter]] - Professional script writing software for Windows. Formats cover Film, Stage, Radio and TV. |
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*[https://prewrite.com Prewrite] - Free browser-based tool for writers to develop story ideas into a screenplay, scene-by-scene—visually with timelines, cards and inspiring images. It tracks story beats, characters, emotional context, plot threads, and provides advanced analysis tools for insights into story structure. Provides importing and exporting features that work with Final Draft and PDF file formats. |
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*[http://www.scriptstudio.com/ Script Studio] (formerly [[Movie Outline]]) - Creative writing software for Mac and Windows designed by produced screenwriter for writing and professionally formatting movie scripts, teleplays, stage plays and novels. Includes story and character development features. |
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*[http://www.scriptsapp.com/ Scripts Pro] - iOS-based app which allows a writer to edit scripts in text file format via Dropbox and iTunes transfers.<ref name=":0" /> |
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*[https://www.scrite.io Scrite]- free and open-source desktop screenwriting app that lets users write in Indian languages also.<ref>{{Cite news|last=R|first=Shilpa Sebastian|date=2020-05-13|title=Scrite, an app to help write screenplays|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/terriflix-a-bengaluru-based-company-launches-scrite-a-free-screenplay-writing-app/article31574709.ece|access-date=2021-03-10|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The app allows users to visually map their story structure, capture relationships between characters as a graph, alter the sequence of scenes using a drag & drop interface, in addition to helping writers properly format screenplays. It allows import & export to various formats and supports generation of reports from the screenplay. <ref>{{Cite web|title=August {{!}} 2020 {{!}} SWA – Blog|url=https://www.swaindia.org/blog/2020/08/|access-date=2021-03-10|language=en-US}}</ref> Recent updates also allow users to synchronise film and screenplay presentations. |
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* [[Scrivener (software)]] - A powerful writing tool that helps writers concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents for [[Mac OS X]] and [[Microsoft Windows]]. |
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*[http://www.nongnu.org/screenwriter/ Screenwriter-mode] - Major mode for the [[GNU Emacs]] free text editor. Includes commands and tools to format scripts as [[plain text]] files. |
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*[http://slugline.co/ Slugline] - It is a screenwriting app for Mac, iPad and iPhone. It uses the Fountain plain text format. |
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*[http://storytouch.com/index.html Story Touch] - Story Touch is a complete software for dramatic development and creation. Graphs and color pallets will provide a veritable X-ray of a script. |
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*[[Storyist]] - Storyist is a creative writing application for Mac OS X and iPad. |
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*[https://www.studiobinder.com/script-sides/ StudioBinder Script Sides] - StudioBinder is a TV & film production management software which has an inbuilt screenwriting tool called 'script sides'. |
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*[https://tooleybook.com/ Tooleybook] - Free online book writing software <ref>https://tooleybook.com</ref> |
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*[[Trelby]] - A free and [[Open-source software|open source]] screenwriting program for [[Linux]] and [[Microsoft Windows]]. (Development at a standstill, but still viable and available for download.) |
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*[[WriterDuet]] - Real-time collaborative, online-offline professional screenwriting software.<ref>https://nofilmschool.com/2014/09/writerduet-pro-makes-collaborative-screenwriting-app-available-offline-much</ref> |
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=== Discontinued === |
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* [[Adobe Story]] - An online collaborative screenwriting suite by Adobe.<ref>https://helpx.adobe.com/story/kb/end-of-service-adobe-story.html</ref> |
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* [[Amazon Storywriter]] |
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* [[Celtx]] free desktop version - Has become cloud-based requiring paid subscription for the full version. |
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* [[FiveSprockets]] - A discontinued free, online, collaborative story-development and scriptwriting web-software. |
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* [[Scripped]] - Professional browser-based screenwriting text editing software. (now defunct and no longer accessible) |
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* [[Sophocles (software)|Sophocles]] - commercial story-development, scriptwriting, and scheduling package. (discontinued) |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Film production]] |
* [[Film production]] |
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* [[Screenplay]] |
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* [[Screenplay slug line]] |
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* [[Screenwriting]] |
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* [[Project management software]] |
* [[Project management software]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:46, 13 September 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2015) |
Screenwriting software are word processors specialized to the task of writing screenplays, i.e. screenwriting.
Overview
[edit]Features
[edit]While add-ins and macros for word processors, such as Script Wizard[1] for Microsoft Word, can be used to write screenplays, the need for dedicated screenwriting programs arises from the presence of certain peculiarities in standard screenplay format which are not handled well by generic word processors such as page-break constraints imposed by standard screenplay format. Screenplay software often provides specialized shortcuts for quickly typing character names or slug lines, collaborating with other writers, adding production notes, character notes, easy outlining, scene reordering, and other tools to facilitate the creative process.[2] Other features often required when writing shooting scripts include page-locking, scene numbering, revision-tracking, and production-related reports (such as which characters appear in a given scene or which scenes are set during the day or night).
Some screenwriting applications, such as Celtx and Sophocles, also incorporate production scheduling and budgeting features.[3]
Another class of screenwriting software includes those that, rather than act as specialized word processors, attempt to direct the writer's storytelling process by utilizing story theory to facilitate the planning of a screenplay. Examples of this type of program includes Dramatica and Index Card.
Screenwriting software often also provides functions that allow writers to analyze their scripts for various characteristics. In 2018, developers began adding functions that allow an analysis of gender representation such as the Bechdel test, e.g. in Highland 2, and the forthcoming Final Draft 11.[4]
Platforms
[edit]Screenwriting programs exist for all varieties of platforms and environments including traditional standalone desktop applications that run directly on a personal computer, web applications that run solely within a browser, and mobile apps that run on phones, tablets, and other portable devices.
Plain text markup
[edit]The Fountain markup syntax, co-developed by screenwriter John August, facilitates formatting screenplays directly from plain text, be it in dedicated writing software, email programs, or text generated through OCR.[5] There is also a formatting package for LaTeX called screenplay.
History
[edit]The first screenwriting software was a standalone script formatter, Scriptor, from Screenplay Systems[citation needed]. It took a text file generated by a word processor and inserted the proper page break tags. When used in conjunction with a terminate-and-stay-resident program such as SmartKey or ProKey—keyboard utilities that assigned a sequence of commands to keystroke combinations—the "dot commands" that Scriptor required could be inserted semi-automatically. Additionally, keyboard macros could be programmed to properly indent and enter abbreviations—allowing a user to customize the working of the word processor.
SmartKey was popular with screenwriters from 1982–1987, after which word processing programs had their own macro features.[citation needed]
An update to Scriptor understood the style sheets used in Microsoft Word for DOS. And so the need for key macro programs was lessened. Scriptor's limitation was that once formatted it was difficult to re-import the resulting text back into a word processor for further editing.[citation needed]
The next generation of screenplay software hooked into Microsoft Word. Warren Script Application was initially released as a set of style sheets for Word for DOS. It was updated for Word for Windows circa 1988. gScript, a shareware script formatter/template, was released via CompuServe in 1989. It was included on the disk accompanying the book Take Word for Windows to the Edge, published by Ziff-Davis in 1993. It was subsequently updated and released commercially as ScriptWright.[citation needed]
This third generation of screenplay software consists of the standalone script writing programs such as Movie Magic Screenwriter, Final Draft, and Cinovation's Scriptware.[citation needed]
The latest generation adds online storage and collaboration and integrates with apps on mobile devices. Many software also integrate outlining tools as well as other creative support, and tools to further integrate the production process.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Select the Perfect Script Software | WritersDigest.com". WritersDigest.com. 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ "What is the best free screenwriting software for screenwriters?". Script Reader Pro. 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
- ^ "Celtx is Now an All-in-One Video & Movie Planning System". No Film School. 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ Ryzik, Melena (21 May 2018). "Is your script gender-balanced? The new test helping filmmakers get it right". The Independent. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "John August and Stu Maschwitz Release 'Fountain,' a Handy Screenwriting Tool/Markup Language". No Film School. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2018-01-03.