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How to Write a Script in Final Draft

Final Draft is a screenwriting software that lets you properly format television scripts, feature film scripts and plays. You can purchase the software from a screenwriting store or download it directly off the company's website. After you install Final Draft, you have access to a variety of templates for screenplays, plays and television scripts. The software also features a spell check, provides a thesaurus and lets you listen to your script using both male and female voices to represent your characters.

Instructions

    • 1

      Open Final Draft. Click "File" on the top menu, which generates a pull-down menu. Select "New."

    • 2

      Click on "Scripts," which creates a list of templates, including British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) screenplay format, stage plays, one-hour television scripts, half-hour television scripts and Broadway musicals.

    • 3

      Select the kind of script you want to read. For example, if you are writing a one-hour television script, choose "One-Hour TV Drama."

    • 4

      Click on "File" on the top menu and select "Save." Enter the name of your script in the "Save As" box and click "Save."

    • 5

      Click "Format" on the top menu and move your cursor over "Change Element To" and select "Action."

    • 6

      Type the word "Fade In" at the top of the page. Hit the "Return" key twice, and a box appears with key script elements such as "Action," "Dialogue," "Character" and "Scene Heading." The action element lets you write description for the script. Dialogue is the words your characters speak. Character refers to each person in your script and scene heading -- also known as slug lines -- delineate the location in which a scene takes place.

    • 7

      Click "Scene Heading," and type where the first scene takes place. Hit the "Return" key, and proceed to write your action and dialogue. Final Draft automatically switches from "Scene Heading" to "Action," which is correct screenplay format. However, hitting the "Return" key twice always will bring up the elements box that lets you choose whichever element you want to type next.

Screen Writing

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