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Page 1: Resources Tool Kit - Script Reader Pro · the coffee break screenwriter ... screenwriting -- from the craft of writing, to legal questions, ... Resources Tool Kit

Resources tool kit

Essential Screenwriting Resources Handpickedby the ScriptReaderPro Team

Copyright © 2013 ScriptReaderPro

Page 2: Resources Tool Kit - Script Reader Pro · the coffee break screenwriter ... screenwriting -- from the craft of writing, to legal questions, ... Resources Tool Kit

Resources Tool Kit

Copyright © 2013 ScriptReaderPro.

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2013 ScriptReaderPro

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welcome

In this guide we have collected together all of the very best resources

we use day in day out here at ScriptReaderPro.

Inside you’ll find lists of all the essential books, courses, podcasts, blogs etc. that

will help further your career as a screenwriter. There are much more out there on

the web of course, but these are our cream of the crop and unmissable resources.

So, without further ado…

* * *

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books

Given the huge amount of screenwriting books available, it can be a

daunting task trying to pick out the best ones...

The list below represents perhaps not the most well known books, such as Robert

McKee’s Story, but the ones we feel best explain things in a clear, practical, no BS

manner, (something Mr. McKee isn't particularly good at.)

Forget Craig Mazin’s rants about screenwriting books being a waste of time,

there’s a reason why both aspiring and professional screenwriters swear by many

of them -- because they’re useful!

your screenplay sucks! 100 ways to make it great by william akers

Both William Akers has had three feature films produced from his screenplays,

and this book is great for writers to really get to grips with the bare essentials of

the craft. His points on honing and editing your sentences are particularly helpful

if you’re one of the many writers who suffer from overwritingingus.

Click here

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the coffee break screenwriterby pilar alessandra

Pilar’s friendly but no-nonsense approach shines through in this really helpful

little book aimed at those with 9-5 jobs and / kids who have trouble finding the

time to sit down and write. Highly recommended.

Click here

the 21st century screenplayby linda aronson

Whether you want to write short films, features, adaptations, genre films,

ensemble films, blockbusters or art house movies, this book takes you all the way

from choosing the brilliant idea to plotting, writing and rewriting. Featuring a

range of insider survival tips on time-effective writing, creativity under pressure

and rising to the challenge of international competition,The 21st Century

Screenplay is essential reading for newcomer and veteran alike.

Click here

the sequence approachby paul joseph gulino

Just about the only book apart from our own that focuses solely on sequences.

Paul chooses a handful of diverse films, from Toy Story to The Graduate and

breaks them down into sequences, the method taught at USC. While we don’t

agree with all of the analysis, it’s a great companion to our own book and learning

how there’s more than just three acts to screenplay structure.

Click here

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writing screenplays that sellby michael hauge

While not a “fun” read in the vein of say, Save the Cat or My Story Can Beat Up

Your Story, this book contains a ton of great information, especially on character.

Now fully revised and updated for the modern screenwriter in a 20th anniversary

edition, this is a classic.

Click here

writing for emotional impactby karl iglesias

One of the biggest problems a spec screenplays can have is the reader feeling a

lack of emotion when reading it. Karl addresses this fact head on in this book and

shows you how to deliver an emotional impact on as many pages of your script as

possible.

Click here

inside storyby dara marks

If you’re struggling with theme, this is definitely the book for you. In it, Dara

reveals how the internal character development of the protagonist informs the

overall story and theme. Essential reading.

Click here

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the hollywood standardby christopher riley

Formatting can be a real pain in the ass, but this book by Warner Bros. script

processing department whizz, Christopher Riley, is our book of choice when it

comes to formatting decisions. While not perfect, it answers pretty much any

question you’re likely to have.

Click here

my story can beat up your story! by jeffrey alan schechter

Did you know that act 1 in a screenplay has 12 very specific plot points? This and

other powerful, story-telling techniques that Hollywood screenwriters have been

using for decades, are revealed in Jeffrey’s book. A hidden gem.

Click here

master screenplay sequencesby scriptreaderpro

This book reveals the hidden truth about screenplay structure, missing from

many books and courses -- sequences. It will teach you how films as diverse

as Wolf Creek and Bridesmaids are made up of more than just 3 acts but are

actually underpinned by 7 or 8 self contained sequences, or “mini-movies” each

with 3 acts and 6 major plot points of their own.

Click here

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save the cat & save the cat strikes back!by blake snyder

Both books are essential reading for the aspiring screenwriter. The original Save

the Cat is a modern classic and it’s follow-up, Save the Cat Strikes Back! is

equally as good. The ultimate insider’s guides on writing and selling screenplays,

by a late great show biz veteran.

Click here

We would also highly recommend reading more general books on the

film industry and theory such as:

Cinematic Storytelling by Jennifer Van Stijll, Down and Dirty Pictures by Peter

Biskind, Breakfast With Sharks by Michael Lent, On Writing, by Stephen King

and Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman.

In other words, you need to pretty much immerse yourself in the world of

cinema, 24/7. Learn as much as you can through reading, not just screenwriting

books, but books about directing, editing, acting and producing as well. It all

helps!

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courses

There are many ways of becoming a professional screenwriter and, if

you’ve got the money, gaining a Screenwriting MFA can be a good one.

Many of today’s professional writers are graduates of screenwriting programs and

since the 1970’s they have become one of the primary entry routes into the

industry.

However, they are expensive. And gaining an MFA doesn't mean you're

guaranteed work. Far from it.

On the whole, though, we wholly recommend attending a screenwriting MFA, or

even a short writing course, as it is a great way of focussing the mind, learning to

hit deadlines and making connections.

Worldwide there are literally hundreds to choose from but, if you can, we’d

recommend attending one of these -- the six best screenwriting courses in the

world based on course structure, reputation, faculty, connections, location and

alumni.

university of southern californiamfa in writing for screen and television

Probably the best and most highly respected screenwriting MFA in the world.

This is an intensive two year program which concentrates on writing for narrative

film and television. The internship and mentorship opportunities are

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phenomenal, as a result of the university's close links to the film industry’s top

screenwriters, directors, production companies and studios.

Click here

university of california los angelesmfa in screenwriting

During UCLA’s screenwriting program you will learn all the key elements of

creating scripts for feature film and television, including story structure, plot,

scene development, characterization and dialogue. The goal is to prepare you to

turn your stories into screenplays. A series of writing assignments guides you

toward mastering the basics, which you use to conceptualize and begin work on

your own scripts.

Click here

american film institutemfa in screenwriting

The heart of this screenwriting program lies in the relationship between the

students and the faculty who serve as teachers and mentors, guiding and

supporting each writer’s development in an intimate workshop setting. In the

core screenwriting workshops, students grow as cinematic storytellers through

critique and analysis of their work by faculty and peers.

Click here

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new york universitymfa in dramatic writing

The faculty members with whom students meet in weekly workshops are all

professional writers. At times, when they feel it would be of benefit to student

work, they call on outside writers to act as consultants and critics. In each

student's last semester, when the graduate thesis project is completed, final

readings of the work are presented to the public and entertainment industry

representatives.

Click here

chapman universitymfa in screenwriting

This two year MFA in Screenwriting is an intensive program designed to help you

develop your individual creativity as you explore the intricacies of story structure

and character development. You’ll work one-on-one with an outstanding faculty

of Hollywood screenwriters who have countless years of experience in both film

and television, and many awards on their shelves. You’ll learn to write in a variety

of art forms -- short film and feature-length screenplay, episodic television and

mini-series.

Click here

columbia universitymfa in directing / writing for film and television

The course of study at this film school includes two years of creative workshops

and related courses, followed by one to three years of thesis and Research Arts

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work. Students are immersed in the principles and working methods of a variety

of genres and dramatic forms. Through multiple exercises and short film and

script projects (both short and feature length), you will be encouraged to explore

your understanding of the medium, with the ultimate goal of establishing your

personal voice.

Click here

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podcasts

It’s amazing how much you can learn listening to a 45 minute podcast

while walking the dog.

Here are our choice podcasts on the craft and business of screenwriting:

the q&a with jeff goldsmithFilm journalist, Jeff Goldsmith’s, podcast in which he conducts a lengthy

interview with a top screenwriter, asking them questions about how they got into

the business, their writing habit, writing process and much more. Unmissable.

Click here

on the pageHugely popular script consultant, Pilar Alessandra’s, informative and

entertaining weekly podcast in which she interviews a different guest each week

from the world of writing, directing, acting and producing.

Click here

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sam & jim go to hollywoodNow defunct, but the 40 odd episodes here are well worth a listen about two

regular 30-something guys packing up their successful careers in the restaurant

business and moving to LA to try and make it as screenwriters. Warning: Listen

on a low volume so as not to be occasionally deafened by Sam’s piercing laugh.

Click here

creative screenwriting magazineThe old version of Jeff Goldsmith’s current podcast, but the same deal -- fantastic

interviews with top screenwriters from around the world. No longer running, but

there are hundreds of great episodes still online to enjoy.

Click here

script notesJohn August and Craig Mazin talk shop about all areas on the profession of

screenwriting -- from the craft of writing, to legal questions, to Hollywood news.

Despite Craig’s often annoying “umbrage,” and John’s inability to make it

through a single episode without mentioning Big Fish, there’s too much good

stuff here to miss.

Click here

script castMaybe not the most focused podcast on this list, but certainly the funniest. Script

Doctor Eric and co-host Matt crack jokes and poke fun at one another in a highly

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entertaining one hour slot on screenwriting, with the occasional guest. Sadly

another podcast that’s no longer running.

Click here

selling your screenplayNew screenwriting podcast from produced screenwriter Ashley Scott Myers. The

show usually has a weekly guest and an emphasis on getting started in the

business -- getting an agent, manager and producer interested in your work.

Click here

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contests

Wondering whether to splash the cast to enter some screenplay

contests?

And if so, which ones? The big players with thousands of entrants, or the smaller

regional ones with relatively few? Which are worth all your time and effort?

Hopefully by the end of this section, you’ll come away with a greater idea of the

pros and cons of script contests and how best to approach them.

The Cons

It can get pretty pricey sending your script(s) to half a dozen or more

competitions at $50+ a pop. In order to avoid wasting your money, we

recommend not sending your script out to anyone, including script competitions,

until it has received at least a “Consider” from a reputable script consultancy.

Make sure you’re completely happy with it before sending it in, even if it means

spending a few extra bucks in order to sneak it in the late entry category.

If you’ve got the script(s) and you’ve got the cash, there is absolutely nothing

wrong with entering as many script contests as you can. It can only increase your

chances of success.

Then again, not all contests will do much to further your career if you win. Do

some research before you submit to determine what happens if you do place

highly.

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Do you get a meeting with a manager? Or just cash? Who has won before and

what did they get out of it? Asking these sort of questions could save you a lot of

money.

The Pros

These can be summed up in one word -- exposure. It is a well known fact that

screenplay contests can provide a great way for aspiring writers to finally gain

some recognition for their work.

Winning a competition is, of course, the desired outcome of entering, but even

placing in the top ten can gain a writer recognition, an agent, a manager etc.

Without doubt, the Nicholl Fellowship is the most highly coveted award out

there. Winners of this are pretty much guaranteed a major step up into the

industry. Conversely, it’s also one of the toughest to do well in and tends to favor

Drama as a genre.

The other alternative is to concentrate on the smaller league regional contests,

such as the Austin Film Festival screenplay contest. The advantage of these

contests is that they have far fewer entries and so a greater chance of placing well.

As with the bigger screenwriting contests, even placing in the top five or ten can

result in great exposure and representation.

Whether you concentrate on the small or big players doesn’t really matter. What

matters is that your screenplay is rocking when you send it in.

Here’s the skinny on our 10 favorite contests out there:

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Austin Film Festival Screenplay ContestThis contest continues to open doors by creating a networking system for new

writers to further their career within the industry. Industry professionals

recognize the Austin Film Festival as a widely respected and popular writing

competition, with representatives from agencies and production companies

participating in the judging process. Past judges include: Focus Features,

Lightstorm Entertainment, CAA and more.

Click here

bluecatThis competition holds a longstanding tradition of giving written notes to every

screenplay submitted. Each feature screenplay entered receives two analyses,

while each short receives one. BlueCat has one of the largest cash prizes in the

world for a short screenplay contest, with the winner being awarded $10,000.

The Grand Prize for the Best Feature Screenplay is $15,000.

Click here

cinestoryCinestory has an outstanding track record in launching screenwriter’s careers.

Top scripts are requested by companies such as Paradigm, The Lisa Callamaro

Agency, Energy Entertainment etc. Finalists prizes include cash prizes but,

probably more importantly, a one year fellowship and screenwriting retreats in

which Hollywood professionals mentor the writer’s screenplay and career.

Click here

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creative world awardsCWA is an international screenwriting contest known for having the writer’s

interest at heart when it comes to development and industry promotion. They’ve

built relationships with some of the industry’s most recognized companies, all of

which are aggressively looking for fresh, new material. Now going into its seventh

year, with several options and deals signed for past entrants, the contest has

firmly established itself worldwide as a leading source for discovering emerging

talent in the entertainment industry.

Click here

final draft big breakThis is an annual, international feature and television screenwriting contest

designed to launch the careers of aspiring writers. Big Break rewards

screenwriters with over $80,000 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Los

Angeles and A-list executive meetings. Winners and finalists alike have had their

screenplays optioned and produced and have secured high-profile representation

as well as lucrative writing deals.

Click here

nantucket film festival

Winners receive an all expenses paid, month-long stay at the exclusive

Screenwriter’s Colony on Nantucket; VIP week-long film festival pass to all

events; round-trip from New York to Nantucket to attend; accommodation; a

Showtime-sponsored reception in the winner’s honor; participation in a Mentor’s

Brunch with Screenwriters Tribute recipient and $5,000. Past screenplay jurors

Copyright © 2013 ScriptReaderPro

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include Bobby and Peter Farrelly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lili Taylor, Tom

McCarthy and Stanley Tucci.

Click here

Nicholl fellowshipThe big daddy of all screenplay contests. Up to five writers each win $35,000

fellowships from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Place highly

in this and be prepared to buy a new cell phone after your old one melts from all

the industry heat.

Click here

page awardsOver the past ten years the PAGE Awards screenwriting contest has become

widely recognized as one of the most important sources for new writing talent

within the Hollywood community and worldwide. Each year dozens of top

producers, agents, and development execs judge the contest and read the winning

screenplays. Many of the winning writers have landed script assignments,

secured representation, and signed option agreements on their work, and many

now have movies and television shows in production, on the air, and in theaters.

Click here

scriptapaloozaPast winners have won Emmys, been signed by agents, managers, had their

scripts optioned and made into movies. One of the best parts about placing highly

in this competition, however, is that Scriptapalooza will do something no other

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competition in the world does: promote, pitch, and push the semifinalists and

higher for a full year.

Click here

script pipelineBeyond cash prizes, finalists are given exposure to approximately 200 qualified

industry contacts, as well as consultations with Script Pipeline’s Director of

Development and Senior Consultant; personal introductions to managers,

producers, agents, directors, and others searching for new projects and writers;

an opportunity to send other material to Script Pipeline for internal review and a

reserved spot to the Secret Door Pitchfest as a recognized finalist.

Click here

slamdanceNow in its eighteenth year, Slamdance has a history of highlighting talented,

independent screenwriters and introducing them to the entertainment industry.

The competition consists of four categories -- Feature, Short, Horror and

Teleplay / Webisode. A great feature of the competition is that it also provides

coverage on every entrant’s script.

Click here

zoetropeFrancis Ford Coppola’s motion picture production company, Zoetrope, offers

$5,000 to the grand prize winner of its contest, plus excellent Hollywood

industry exposure. The winner and ten finalists will be considered for

representation by William Morris Endeavor, CAA, The Gersh Agency and more.

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Finalist’s scripts are also considered for film option and development by leading

production companies, including American Zoetrope, Samuel Goldwyn Films,

Fox Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics and more.

Click here

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websites

Below you’ll find a list of the sites we find the most helpful, covering

every area of screenwriting.

We’ve kept this section of the tool kit to the essentials, as it’s all too easy to get

sucked into a worm hole on these site reading about screenwriting rather than

actually doing it.

screenwriting blogsjohn augustJohn August, writer of Go, Charlie’s Angels and Big Fish (lest we forget) has

created one of the best free sites for screenwriters on the web. Type in any

question about screenwriting you may have in the search bar and it’s probably

been answered on a blog post or podcast episode.

Click here

the bitter scriptreaderAs he says on his site: “The advice and rantings of a Hollywood scriptreader, tired

of seeing screenwriters make the same mistakes, saving the world from bad

screenwriting, one script at a time.”

Click here

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go into the storyGreat blog operated by The Black List, written by Hollywood screenwriter Scott

Myers. In his own words: “I’ve been an online instructor through UCLA

Extension Writer’s Program since 2002. This blog is largely in response to

students who wanted to continue our conversations about the creative process. I

offer it as a resource to them and any other aspiring writer, especially those

interested in screenwriting and the magic of movies.”

Click here

living the romantic comedyIf you’re writing a romantic comedy, you definitely need to check out this blog,

from a leading Hollywood script consultant, Billy Mernit. “The delights and

torments of romance (funny or not) as portrayed in the movies and experienced

in so-called real life, foibles of the writing craft, and other topics apropos.”

Click here

mystery man on filmIn his own words: “I first began on Trigger Street. I love writing script reviews.

Then Unk was my inspiration to blog. So blame him. To this day, I still love his

series on the The Transformational Character Arc. I’d put Go Into The Story on

that pedestal worthy of daily visits. People used to complain about me being a

prolific blogger. You’re a frickin’ machine!”

Click here

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scriptmagInformative Writer’s Store site, with guest blog posts by working Hollywood

screenwriters and consultants.

Click here

wordplayerPirates of the Caribbean writers, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, host a forum and

blog in which they and other Hollywood screenwriters answer all your questions

on every aspect of the craft of writing.

Click here

selling / pitchingthe black listThe infamous Black List began as a survey in 2005 when Franklin Leonard

surveyed almost 100 hundred film industry development executives about their

favorite scripts from that year that had not been made as feature films. Since then

the voter pool has grown to about 500 film executives, 60% of whom typically

respond and over 225 Black List screenplays have been made into feature films.

Now screenwriters are able (for a small fee) to upload their scripts to their

database, in which you can monitor the volume of interest it’s receiving, and the

response, from the industry executives reading it.

Click here

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inktipMore than 140 movies have been produced from scripts found on InkTip. That

being said, you’re more likely to have smaller management and indie companies

reading your scripts than the big studios or agencies. At $60 for six months,

though, you don’t have much to lose.

Click here

the great american pitchfestWhile the executives you pitch your screenplay to at this event are far more likely

to be lower level juniors than seniors, this is a great way to get your script out into

the world and read. What makes this pitchfest better than most is that there is no

sign up process; you simply meet with however many companies you want for

one price. They also make sure that the companies who attend are credible and

seriously looking for material and writers.

Click here

industry newsdeadline hollywoodAs a screenwriter it’s essential to have your finger on the pulse on what’s

happening in Hollywood. This site by Nikki Finke, helps you do just that with

daily updates on the film industry.

Click here

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done deal proThis site tracks the various script, book, treatment, and pitch sales and options

made in Hollywood each day as well as internationally. This is an invaluable tool

for aspiring screenwriters who want to know each week what material is being set

up and with whom, and to track the latest trends.

Click here

studio system newsFormerly Hollywood Wiretap, this is probably our favorite source of Hollywood

insider news.

Click here

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films

Is it just coincidence that many of the great screenwriters tend to have

a remarkable knowledge of cinema?

We’re constantly amazed at how many aspiring screenwriters seem to only take a

passing interest in film. Many of the classics have passed them by, as have many

of the most talked about films of the year. It’s a bit like Maria Sharapova

admitting she’s never heard of Steffi Graf.

An understanding of the films that have shaped cinema’s history is vital to

expanding a writer’s craft, so make sure you’re on top of the game by

familiarizing yourself with as many of the films in the lists below as possible.

Best Screenplay Oscar Winners

Best Picture Oscar Winners

Cannes Palme d’Or Winners

Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winners

New York Times Best 1000 Movies Ever Made

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online screenplays

Many professional writers advocate reading screenplays as being the

best way to learn how to write; and there's A LOT of truth to this.

Reading as many scripts as possible, in any genre, helps improve writing style,

dialogue, sense of scene structure and overall structure. They are an invaluable

tool in learning how to master the craft.

You should be reading at least one produced screenplay (or unproduced from The

Black List) a week. If you’re writing a Thriller, read as many Thriller screenplays

as you can. If you’re writing a Romantic Comedy, there’s no excuse for not having

read Annie Hall and When Harry Met Sally.

Read the classics. Read the modern gems. See the standard you need to aspire to.

The rhythms and conventions all start to sink in, and it’s guaranteed that

constant reading will improve your writing.

The best way to get hold of free screenplays is to ask someone you know who

works at an agency to pass them on to you. Failing that, these websites offer free

downloading of screenplays.

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being charlie kaufmanFor fans of Mr. Kaufman there are links here to various drafts of his screenplays

and TV scripts.

Click here

my pdf scriptsA bit unpredictable as the site seems to be off-line some of the time, but a great

resource when it is actually live. All the screenplays are nicely presented in PDFs,

rather than the amateurish looking transcripts you find on many other sites.

Click here

script-o-ramaOnce you’ve readjusted your eyes to the website’s black design and tiny typeface,

there’s actually a great library of screenplays here to read.

Click here

selling your screenplayAshley Scott Meyers has created a database of online screenplays ready to

download. Quality varies but there’s a good collection of nice PDFs in there as

well.

Click here

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simply scriptsHundreds of free, downloadable screenplays and transcripts of current, classic

and a few soon-to-be-released movies, television, unproduced and radio shows.

Click here

* * *

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screenwriting software

If you want to take this screenwriting thing seriously, you need

professional software.

Yes, it can be a bit pricey, but no one’s going to take a script seriously that’s

written on Word. (We get more than you’d think.) In our opinion it’s all a

question of personal preference which one you ultimately go for. As practically all

screenplays are whizzing around the net as PDFs anyway, it doesn’t really matter

which software you use, as long as it does the job and looks professional.

final draftCan be frustrating as hell to use at times, but seems to be the “industry standard,”

whatever that means. Comes in at a hefty $249.95 on the official website, so we’d

suggest snagging yourself a discount from somewhere else like Amazon or The

Writer’s Store.

Click here

movie magicA viable alternative used by many Hollywood professionals and regarded by

many as head and shoulders about Final Draft. Some writers seem to find it

easier and faster to type using this program than any other, but there’s really not

much between this and Final Draft.

Click here

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celtxIf you’re really determined not to spend a dime, then Celtx is probably a good

place to start. It has its drawbacks, of course, but does a pretty good job; and

there’s a paid version with a few extras and cloud based storage available. The

official website only offers a free trial but you can bag a free copy of the software

on sites like softonic.com

Click here

fade inAnother alternative is Fade In, available at $49. This is an up and coming

program that’s been receiving rave reviews from The Hollywood Reporter, Craig

Mazin, and MacWorld, among others. Well worth checking out if you’re on a

tight budget.

Click here

courier primeLastly, we thought we’d draw your attention to a new typeface developed for

screenwriters by Alan Dague-Greene and John August. Like many others we’ve

made the switch to Courier Prime as it gives the script a much nicer look than

Final Draft Courier.

Click here

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thank you

We just want to say thanks again for signing up! You guys are great

and we’re extremely honored to have you on board.

We hope you found this tool kit useful, but please remember -- it doesn’t matter

how much research you do, how many books you read or conferences you attend

-- nothing will accelerate your screenwriting career more than actually writing.

If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact

us at [email protected].

And a big THANK YOU goes out to everyone who’s posted comments on our

posts, Liked our Facebook page and followed us on Twitter. Maybe you’d care to

join them?

Speak soon and keep writing!

Alex, David, Todd & the rest of the ScriptReaderPro Team

Copyright © 2013 ScriptReaderPro