Screenwriting software
Encyclopedia
Screenwriting software are word processors specialized to the task of writing screenplay
s. The need for such programs arises from the presence of certain peculiarities in standard screenplay format which are not handled well by generic word processors. A good example would be the formatting and revision-tracking requirements of shooting script
s. The page-break constraints imposed by standard screenplay format are also difficult to implement using standard word processors.
Most of the major screenwriting programs are standalone desktop applications. These include Celtx
, DreamaScript, Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software, Final Draft, Scrivener
, Montage
, Movie Magic Screenwriter
, Storyist
, Movie Outline
, Page 2 stage
, Plot Builder, and Sophocles
.
Some new solutions are mobile apps which run on mobile devices such as iPhone and iPad. This includes Scripts Pro. This type of app allows users to create new scripts as well as import existing scripts from major screenwriting programs such as Final Draft and Celtx. Other solutions include web applications which run in a web browser with no software to install. These include Scripped
, ScriptBuddy, PlotBot and Zhura
.
Many other programs are available as add-ins for generic word processors such as Microsoft Word
. Examples include Dr. Format and Script Wizard. There is also a package for LaTeX
called screenplay.
Some screenwriting applications, such as Celtx
and Sophocles
, also incorporate production scheduling
and budgeting
capabilities. Others, such as Zhura
, provide additional collaborative editing
tools.
When used in conjunction with a TSR
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 screen writers from 1982–1987, after which word processing programs had their own macro features.
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.
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 has since been updated and released commercially as ScriptWright.
This third generation of screenplay software consists of the standalone script writing programs such as Movie Magic Screenwriter, Final Draft, and Cinovation's Scriptware.
The latest generation adds online storage and collaboration. New partnerships, such as that recently announced between Movie Magic Screenwriter
and Scripped
, may lead to online and offline synchronization.
Adobe Systems
' recently announced screen writing software Adobe Story
supports both online-offline synchronization as well as collaboration.
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
s. The need for such programs arises from the presence of certain peculiarities in standard screenplay format which are not handled well by generic word processors. A good example would be the formatting and revision-tracking requirements of shooting script
Shooting script
A shooting script is the version of a screenplay used during the production of a motion picture. Shooting scripts are distinct from spec scripts in that they make use of scene numbers , and they follow a well defined set of procedures specifying how script revisions should be implemented and...
s. The page-break constraints imposed by standard screenplay format are also difficult to implement using standard word processors.
Most of the major screenwriting programs are standalone desktop applications. These include Celtx
Celtx
Celtx is free media pre-production software designed for creating and organizing media projects like screenplays, films, videos, stageplays, audio plays, documentaries, machinima, comics, games and podcasts....
, DreamaScript, Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software, Final Draft, Scrivener
Scrivener (software)
Scrivener is a word-processing program designed for writers. Scrivener provides a management system for documents, notes and metadata. This allows the user to keep track of notes, concepts, research and whole documents for reference...
, Montage
Montage (software)
Montage is screenwriting software developed for Mac OS X. Montage allows the creation, editing, and management of screenplays on Macintosh computers. Montage can import Final Draft documents...
, Movie Magic Screenwriter
Movie Magic Screenwriter
Movie Magic Screenwriter is a word processing program sold by Write Brothers, Inc. to format screenplays, teleplays and novels .- History :Write Brothers' first software program, Scriptor , was the world's first screenplay formatter....
, Storyist
Storyist
Storyist is a creative writing application for Mac OS X. Tailored for novelists and screenwriters, it provides a word processor, a cork board with support for index cards and photos, an outliner, and a project manager.-Features:Word Processing...
, Movie Outline
Movie Outline
Movie Outline is a word processing program to step outline a cinematic story and format a screenplay. It was created by Dan Bronzite, a produced UK screenwriter...
, Page 2 stage
Page 2 stage
Page 2 Stage is screenwriting software designed expressly for people writing screenplays, scripts, and plays. The formatting required for writing movie and TV Script is very specific and general Word processors cannot produce scripts in the correct format...
, Plot Builder, and Sophocles
Sophocles (software)
Sophocles was a Windows-based screenwriting software application used for writing feature film and television screenplays. The program first became available on the Internet in 1999...
.
Some new solutions are mobile apps which run on mobile devices such as iPhone and iPad. This includes Scripts Pro. This type of app allows users to create new scripts as well as import existing scripts from major screenwriting programs such as Final Draft and Celtx. Other solutions include web applications which run in a web browser with no software to install. These include Scripped
Scripped
Scripped is an online screenplay services company offering three services: script writing, script registration, and script coverage. Scripped currently does not facilitate collaboration among screenwriters. It combined with Zhura in 2010...
, ScriptBuddy, PlotBot and Zhura
Zhura
Zhura , merged with screenwriting competitor Scripped as of March 28, 2010, is a free web-based screenwriting software application for writing and formatting screenplays to the film industry standard, as well as other formats...
.
Many other programs are available as add-ins for generic word processors such as Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
. Examples include Dr. Format and Script Wizard. There is also a package for LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
called screenplay.
Some screenwriting applications, such as Celtx
Celtx
Celtx is free media pre-production software designed for creating and organizing media projects like screenplays, films, videos, stageplays, audio plays, documentaries, machinima, comics, games and podcasts....
and Sophocles
Sophocles (software)
Sophocles was a Windows-based screenwriting software application used for writing feature film and television screenplays. The program first became available on the Internet in 1999...
, also incorporate production scheduling
Shooting schedule
A shooting schedule is a project plan of each day's shooting for a film production. It is normally created and managed by the assistant director, who reports to the production manager managing the production schedule...
and budgeting
Film budgeting
Film budgeting refers to the process by which a line producer, unit production manager or filmmaker prepares a budget for a film production. This document, which could be over 150 pages long, is used to secure financing for the film and lead to pre-production and production of the film. Multiple...
capabilities. Others, such as Zhura
Zhura
Zhura , merged with screenwriting competitor Scripped as of March 28, 2010, is a free web-based screenwriting software application for writing and formatting screenplays to the film industry standard, as well as other formats...
, provide additional collaborative editing
Collaborative editing
Collaborative editing is the practice of groups producing works together through individual contributions. Effective choices in group awareness, participation, and coordination are critical to successful collaborative writing outcomes. Most usually it is applied to textual documents or...
tools.
History
The first screenwriting software was a standalone script formatter, Scriptor, from Screenplay Systems. It took a text file generated by a word processor and inserted the proper page break tags.When used in conjunction with a TSR
Terminate and Stay Resident
Terminate and Stay Resident is a computer system call in DOS computer operating systems that returns control to the system as if the program has quit, but keeps the program in memory...
program such as SmartKey
SmartKey
SmartKey was the first macro processing program of its type, and the first TSR or terminate and stay resident program for PCs and their eight bit predecessors....
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 screen writers from 1982–1987, after which word processing programs had their own macro features.
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.
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 has since been updated and released commercially as ScriptWright.
This third generation of screenplay software consists of the standalone script writing programs such as Movie Magic Screenwriter, Final Draft, and Cinovation's Scriptware.
The latest generation adds online storage and collaboration. New partnerships, such as that recently announced between Movie Magic Screenwriter
Movie Magic Screenwriter
Movie Magic Screenwriter is a word processing program sold by Write Brothers, Inc. to format screenplays, teleplays and novels .- History :Write Brothers' first software program, Scriptor , was the world's first screenplay formatter....
and Scripped
Scripped
Scripped is an online screenplay services company offering three services: script writing, script registration, and script coverage. Scripped currently does not facilitate collaboration among screenwriters. It combined with Zhura in 2010...
, may lead to online and offline synchronization.
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
' recently announced screen writing software Adobe Story
Adobe Story
Adobe Story is a collaborative script development tool from Adobe Systems Inc. It can be used to accelerate the process of creating screenplays and turning them into finished media. Adobe Story is capable of being integrated with Adobe Production Premium Suite.Adobe Story is available both as a...
supports both online-offline synchronization as well as collaboration.