(Help) Screenwriting on a budget. Please, recommend a decent free/cheap software.

[An ashy lil fap hand]

I personally don't even really mind using word but it would save a lot of time to not have to worry about format, even with a template. I also want to be able to share with other folks online instead of always having to organize time to meet up or wait for email responses. I've heard of a few but I don't necessarily trust the reviews, as some of the people I work with have had problems already. I think one was called celtx?

Regardless, I'm not trying to pay a crap load of money as this is my first major endeavor, it might be worth it. At best, recommend a hold over until I can get my hands on final draft or something.

 

[MF_BREW]

Try Celtx It's Free and load with everything you need.

 

[Wise]

Try Celtx It's Free and load with everything you need.

Thread.

That's all you need.

 

[An ashy lil fap hand]

getting it now. Hopefully the formatting is a breeze.

 

[MenacingMonk]

There's a thread in TFR dedicated to screenwriting.

 

[True Blue Moon]

Celtx fukks up a few things, like not doing page breaks after act breaks, but it gets the job done. I was using that in a while but went back to my torrented Final Draft recently

 

[An ashy lil fap hand]

Celtx fukks up a few things, like not doing page breaks after act breaks, but it gets the job done. I was using that in a while but went back to my torrented Final Draft recently

I would jack the software but I'm working for someone else. I don't wanna take the risk. Celtx is OK so far. I'm wondering if there is an offline version. I gotta mess with it some more.

 

[MenacingMonk]

Celtx fukks up a few things, like not doing page breaks after act breaks, but it gets the job done. I was using that in a while but went back to my torrented Final Draft recently

I mean, it shouldn't matter if you're not in the biz, right?

The PDFs I converted came out good. I didn't use the Act structure, tho.

 

[True Blue Moon]

I mean, it shouldn't matter if you're not in the biz, right?

The PDFs I converted came out good. I didn't use the Act structure, tho.

If you're decidedly not writing act breaks or just writing it for yourself then you'll probably be good.

But if you do choose to write with act breaks, you definitely want to start the new one on the next page after the end of the previous act. Especially if it's the kind of thing you want to put on the desks of managers, agents, producers etc.

I mean, if the script is badass and they're on the edge of their seat I'd like to think that wouldn't disqualify you, but it's the kind of thing that doesn't look great -- especially since Final Draft does it for you automatically.

It's kind of like even if you got a dope novel, they're gonna wonder why you started Chapter 2 in the middle of a paragraph instead of making me turn the page.

 

[MenacingMonk]

If you're decidedly not writing act breaks or just writing it for yourself then you'll probably be good.

But if you do choose to write with act breaks, you definitely want to start the new one on the next page after the end of the previous act. Especially if it's the kind of thing you want to put on the desks of managers, agents, producers etc.

I mean, if the script is badass and they're on the edge of their seat I'd like to think that wouldn't disqualify you, but it's the kind of thing that doesn't look great -- especially since Final Draft does it for you automatically.

It's kind of like even if you got a dope novel, they're gonna wonder why you started Chapter 2 in the middle of a paragraph instead of making me turn the page.

Yeah, I got it. And these execs are pretty anal about things.

Is the "end of act 1" necessary?

 

[True Blue Moon]

Yeah, I got it. And these execs are pretty anal about things.

Is the "end of act 1" necessary?

Yeah definitely. Picture the impact of a major cliffhanger right before a commercial break. Strong act breaks are what makes a good script great imo. People who write for cable shows on HBO and other places sometimes don't include the act breaks since those stations don't have commercials. But even still, they build the script with those heavy act break moments that add rhythm to the script.

People have told me to always do your act breaks and let whoever you're making it for/selling it to/getting notes from tell you otherwise. Because for someone who doesn't have a name or resume yet, they don't know whether you purposely left them out or are green to the point that you don't know what acts are.

 

[MenacingMonk]

Yeah definitely. Picture the impact of a major cliffhanger right before a commercial break. Strong act breaks are what makes a good script great imo. People who write for cable shows on HBO and other places sometimes don't include the act breaks since those stations don't have commercials. But even still, they build the script with those heavy act break moments that add rhythm to the script.

People have told me to always do your act breaks and let whoever you're making it for/selling it to/getting notes from tell you otherwise. Because for someone who doesn't have a name or resume yet, they don't know whether you purposely left them out or are green to the point that you don't know what acts are.

Are you doing movie or tv scripts? I'm trying to do tv since it's not long like a movie. One day I'll try a movie.

 

[True Blue Moon]

Are you doing movie or tv scripts? I'm trying to do tv since it's not long like a movie. One day I'll try a movie.

Strictly TV homie. I'll try my hand at a movie some day but TV is where it's at right now.