Final Draft Tips & Tricks

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A. Do you want to convert your film script written in Microsoft Word to industry standard Final Draft version. If your answer is yes, then follow these steps.

1. Open your script in M.S Word application. Choose the Save As option and save the file as a text file.

2. Before proceeding with step 1 remove all blank spaces from the top of the word document (Original Script ). Your Word document should start with EXT or INT. This should be your first line / first word.

3. Once you convert it into a text file open your Final Draft application. Go to file menu and click on the Open option. Locate your text file and select the open button. A message box will prompt you with the following, Open file as script or text document. Click on "Open as script".

4. Voila! Your whole script is imported in Final draft with 99% accuracy.

B. There are times when your script begins to swell with unwanted character names. Time to remove them. Follow the below mentioned steps and your script should be free of them.

1. Click on the Document Menu. Choose SmartType option.

2. Click on the characters tab.

3. Finally, click on the rebuild button.

Final Draft will remove all unused names.

C. Build your character names, customized timings and locations by using the SmartType option.

D. Macros: Create your own block of frequently used "text", "expression" or "setting" by using the macro feature. Go to Document Menu >> Macro. Name your macro and allocate a shortcut key to it. In the macro text box (Macro text)add the "text". Choose the element under which you this "text" to be activated (Action, Dialogue, Transition etc).

Next time you want to add this block of "text" in your script, use the short cut key.

E. Use the TAB key to shuffle between script elements.

F. Montage Sequence: This is not a tip. But many times script writers get stuck while formatting a Montage Sequence. Here are the two frequently used options.

1. Add Montage Start and Montage End (TAGS)in your scene.

2. Or, simply make use of short scenes.

Hope the above tips help you in writing your film script more efficiently.

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Source by Lalit Navani

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