Oh, Lord, did I screw up today!!

[Chuck58]

I don't know whether FD or MM is on top. I've run into a couple of places while reading about companies looking for scripts that specify Final Draft. I've also found various writing forums where people say they have both, just in case. I know MM will take a Final Draft script and can format it into MM. Final Draft just says unknown format and won't touch it. There are ways around that of course, like saving in PDF or rtf or maybe just copy and paste.

They're all good, and I firmly believe if a script is really, REALLY great, you could write it in crayon on brown wrapping paper and they'd buy it. I doubt I'll ever have one that good, so I use a screenwriting program.

[rnbrewer]

FD could definately use an auto correct feature. Honestly I'm surprised they haven't incorporated one after all this time. Then again, that would probably be a pain in the butt for me. Especially when considering that often time, creative writing means making up a new word or name. Not really a big deal though.

The only reason I would ever be concerned about switching from FD to MM is the fact that so many screenwriters I know use it. In fact, I currently only know one other writer besides myself that uses it. I'm beginning to wonder if I must have fell out of the loop somewhere along the line.

[Chuck58]

It's like anything computer related. Windows is a good example. I've got XP on my desktop and Vista on laptop only because we couldn't get XP any longer. Both are great.

I have MM2000 on my desktop and MM6 on the laptop. I like them both, and both do the job just fine, but I much prefer MM6. I don't see a reason to upgrade should Movie Magic decide to come out with a super dooper version 7. Other than improvements in the GUI, MM6 is basically MM2000, maybe with some tweaks.

I've read scripts dating back to the 1940's. They're the same format. The beginnings are slightly different. I've noticed some list a cast of characters at the top, with some info on each. Other than that, action, dialogue, etc is the same, although the action sequences in the earlier scripts are - to me - more literate.

The reality is, if I wanted to bother, I could set up my old Royal manual typewriter and do scripts. The actuality, a computer program is vastly simpler. But, do we need the latest and greatest? Not at all. A Win 95 script program, if it will work with XP or Vista, is just fine.

Final Draft, Movie Magic, needs to sell software to stay in business. Thus, 'improvements' need to keep being made. Movie Magic came out with v6. Thus Final Draft had to answer with something that, from pictures I've seen, looks very similar. I still think MM is a step ahead, mainly thanks to its autocorrect feature, which saves a bit of time checking spelling and capitalization.

[rnbrewer]

I guess I'm just being nitpicky. It disappoints me when I spend good money for a good product only to find out that a newer version of the same product is only months away from being released. I know, that's business, right? It's still a pain in the butt. Like with DVD's and Blu-Ray movies; I buy a movie and two to three months later the "Unrated-Super-Delux-Extra-Special-Uber-Extended-Version-With More Boobs" is realeased and suddenly I'm forced to buy the whole thing all over again. Well... not forced. Okay, I'll admit, I'm a rabbid consumer just like everyone else. And let's face it, this is the same business I'm trying to break into so I really shouldn't complain about it..... but it's still a pain in the butt.

[ScriptNurse]

The standards of formatting have hardly changed in 80 years, let alone LAST year. What HAS changed is the functionality of Final Draft itself.

[rnbrewer]

I have to admit, I'm starting to lose a bit of faith in Final Draft. The program still works fine but a recent email I've recieved containing the Final Draft Newsletter is already talking about Final Draft Version 9. I just freakin' bought FD8 last year!

My question: is it really necessary to update any of them? The standards of formating don't change that much do they? I'm strongly considering this Movie Magic Screenwriter Software. I'd like to check it out at the very least to see if I like it better.

[elizabethhvu]

I absolutely love MMS6. It's the best screenwriting software ever. So easy to use. And when you export it to pdf  you have the scenes in the drawer.

[ScriptNurse]

Uh oh ... and I've been thinking about upgrading. Geez. I guess I'll HAVE to now.

[Chuck58]

I noticed that Movie Magic 6, latest version, now offers a 5 day fully functional trial. I don't know when they finally ditched the silly 2 day trial thing.

Well, 5 days is reasonable, so dummy (here) downloaded it. What a mistake! Talk about sweet! I'll never be happy with MM2000. Both Final Draft and MM2000 are Stone Age by comparison. MM6 has just about everything anybody could want in a single package.
 

I've got to tell myself to stay away from these trial things. Inevitably, something like this happens.