Author: [log in to unmask] (Allan Siegel) Date: 1/3/95 7:00 PM [Editor's note: This message was submitted to SCREEN-L by the "Author" noted above, and not by Jeremy Butler ([log in to unmask]).] I am forwarding the following as a response to a recent query regarding script writing software; it is the best overview that I have seen so far. >Hi all... > >Concerning Screenplay software: > >I use stylesheets I made for Microsoft Word 5.1 on the Mac, and I >personally think they are pretty bulletproof. I'll gladly binhex them to >whoever would like a copy. (Or, if you have an AOL account, ship them >that way.) > >Final Draft is the standard for writing scripts on the Mac, and it's a >good program. I personally think it's a little slow unless you've got a >fast machine and lots of ram but most of my friends are very happy with >it. I will say I type sometimes upwards of 100wpm (not often) and Final >Draft can't keep up like Word can. > >I don't know a single person who's happy with Scriptor. It's slow, it's >cumbersome and it requires you to have a word processor and then have it >convert the file. Want to change one page? Got to recovert the whole thing. > >Anyway, I think Word is fine for spec features, and FD will be nice down >the road. If I was doing TV scripts (a bit less fun to format 2-col in >word) I'd think about it. MacWarehouse will probably have the best price. > >In the other world, I know a lot of people happy with MovieMaster (DOS, I >think a Windows version is due in the spring) but I've nver used it. > >On Book City or whereever: > >anyone looking for sample scripts, first try your library -- you never >know. Orlando had over 100 good ones, in script format. About 794.8 or >so in the dewey system. Then, email me privately... I've got about 70 >and I'll copy them for roughly cost, because that's all those stores do >anyway... buy them off an actor or crew member, then copy them and charge >$15 or $20. It's quasi-legal, but no one minds if it improves the >quality of spec scripts. But that's a different debate. > >Anyone with more interest in screenwriting, there's a list for it: send >a mesage to [log in to unmask] with the body reading: > >subscribe scrnwrit yourfirstname yourlastname > >Warning: it generates a LOT of chit-chat type mail... some days nearly >100 pieces. You can get it in digest form... above adress, send body: > >set scrnwrit digest > >You can do that as a second line on your subscribe message. > >Any more screenwriting questions I'd be happy to answer in email... I've >lived in LA for almost 3 years and worked as a reader for some big folks, >and been paid (just a tiny bit) for writing, so maybe I can help some. > >OK, it's very late... see ya. > >Otto >[log in to unmask] >LA > > Allan Siegel SAIC, Chicago [log in to unmask]