1. REVIEWS - Final Draft Version 8
ViewUserReviews
Average Customer Rating
3.9 out of 5
Product Feature
Final Draft 8 combines powerful word processingq
with professional script formatting in one
self-contained,
Easy-to-use package specifically designed forq
writing movie scripts, television episodics and
stage plays
Television show, screenplay, stage play andq
graphic novel templates are included to help get
you started
Have your script read back to you by assigningq
different male and female voices to each of your
characters with text-to-speech
New XML file format for compatibility with a wideq
variety of other products
No need to learn about script formatting rules.q
Final Draft automatically paginates and formats
your script to industry standards as you write
Read moreq
Product Description
Final Draft version 8 Prof scriptwriting software Read more
Product Description
Use your creative energy to focus on the content; let Final Draft take care of the style. Final Draft is the
number-one selling application specifically designed for writing movie scripts, television episodics and stage
plays.

2. It combines powerful word processing with professional script formatting in one self-contained, easy-to-use
package. There is no need to learn about script formatting rules--Final Draft automatically paginates and
formats your script to industry standards as you write.
Its ease-of-use and time-saving features have attracted writers for almost two decades positioning Final Draft
as the Professional Screenwriters Choice. Final Draft power users include Academy, Emmy and BAFTA award
winning writers like Oliver Stone, Tom Hanks, Alan Ball, J.J. Abrams, James Cameron and more.
New in Final Draft Version 8
Scene Navigator
Manage and view all the important details of your scene in this sortable floating palette
Page Count Management
Now you have even more control about what fits on a page
File Format (now XML)
Outline your script ideas in story development software and seamlessly read them into version 8
Scene Properties Inspector (SPI)
Add scene titles and colors to track your story lines, characters, etc.
Scene View
Outline your script ideas and re-order scenes in this high-level overview
Remember Workspace
No more searching for the correct draft you were just working on
Story Development Features
Scene View
Outline your script ideas and re-order scenes in this high level overview.
With the Scene View you can look at your script from a 5,000 foot view and select, drag and drop one or more
scenes to reorganize your ideas as you outline. Insert new scenes easily, and hide or show information
important to you such as the scene's action, title and summary. Scene View also displays a scene's color so you
can quickly identify one scene from another. Print your Scene View or just view it alongside the script. With a
double-click you can sync the script to instantly go to any scene you've selected in Scene View.
Scene Navigator

3. Manage and view the important details of your scene in this sortable floating palette.
Manage the pace and flow of your story and keep track of up to 9 categories of information related to your
scenes. The Scene Navigator is a sortable, customizable floating palette that displays details about your script
such as a scene's title, color, page number, length and location, and best of all it syncs with the script with a
single-click. As your script progresses you can pick and choose the columns of information that are relevant for
that phase of writing.
Scene Properties Inspector (SPI)
Add scene titles and colors to track your story lines, characters, etc.
Track data specific to each scene in this new floating palette such as the scene's story beats that will
eventually make up the Action, Characters and Dialog of the scene. Add and edit your scene's title such as
'Villain introduced', and add color to the scene to help you track things like storylines, character arcs, and
material you need to get back to later. Like the Navigator, the SPI will display the details of whatever scene
you're working on in your script so that you have your summary notes handy as you need them.
Index Cards
Easily outline your story and restructure your script by dragging and dropping multiple scenes at a
time
This improved feature has double-sided cards that display the script's scene on one side and the summary on
the other. The Summary View allows you to enter ideas directly into the index card such as your basic outline,
notes, sequence or act markers, comments, locations, blocking... anything you need to build and organize your
story. You can also color your Index Cards to help organize themes, character arcs, A and B stories, etc. Select
and rearrange multiple cards at once if you need to re-order your scenes or print your Index Cards directly on
3x5 or 4x6 cards for use in the 'traditional' way if you want to visualize and organize scenes outside of the
application. Double-clicking on a card in Split Panel View will automatically sync the scene selected with your
script.
File Format (now XML)
Other software now works seamlessly with the new Final Draft .fdx file format.
Final Draft version 8, has a new file format that we have shared with a number of technology partners to make
the writer's overall experience better. Now you can save to the new Final Draf't file format in a variety of
products. Your information can then be opened directly in Final Draft with perfect format and structure. No
more reformatting in Final Draft and no more re-typing or lost information!
Final Draft Testimonials
"My entire writing staff uses Final Draft. Even if you don't own a computer, I recommend buying Final Draft."
J.J. Abrams--Writer / Director / Producer
What do other Hollywood professionals have to say about Final Draft? View testimonials (PDF format).
Writing/Rewriting Features
The Panels System
Keeps your script in sync with Index Cards and Scene View
Like most writers, you probably need to keep a lot of ideas at the front of your mind while you're writing. With

4. the Panels System, you can split your screen into separate panels and view your script pages in one panel while
you view another section of the script, your Index Cards or Scene View in the other panel. With the Panels
System you can compare two scenes' dialog and pacing side by side even though they may be separated by a
vast number of pages. If you want an overview of each scene, use the Index Cards or Scene View on one side
and the script in the other. A double-click in any scene will keep the panels in sync.
Templates
Jumpstart your writing by using one of our built-in templates
Television show, screenplay, stage play and graphic novel templates are included to help get you started.
Looking for an old series no longer on the air? The Final Draft Online Template Library is updated regularly and
allows registered users to download additional templates directly from finaldraft.com.
Page Count Management
Now you have even more control about what fits on a page
Our new Leading Style in version 8 allows you to adjust the spacing of the entire script or you can select
individual sections of text and adjust their spacing to help manage your page count
Built-in Spell-Checking and Thesaurus
Now you have the ability to select an additional language
The vastly improved spell-checking engine comes with English (US) and a built-in thesaurus plus the option to
install one of 15 additional language spell-checkers and thesauri. The application provides real time auto-spell
check, catches capitalization errors and will assist you in finding synonyms. With definitions for 80,000 plus
words from Merriam-Webster and a full thesaurus, you have all the tools at your fingertips. In addition, all the
words you added to your user dictionary from version 7 will automatically populate your user dictionary when
you install version 8.
Remember Workspace
No more searching for the correct draft you were just working on
It's important if you are working among multiple drafts to make sure that you are editing the correct one. With
the new Workspace preference, you can have Final Draft open all the files you had open, in the order you were
working on them, the last time you worked in Final Draft.
Final Draft Courier Font
An improved appearance at high magnification helps your eyes during those long rewrite sessions
Having a consistent page count that production companies and studios can depend on to help them estimate
their budgets is crucial when working on a script. That's why Final Draft offers its own font that will ensure
proper pagination on both Windows and Macintosh. With version 8 we have made the font easier on the eye so
you can better endure when you're writing for long periods of time.
Printing and PDF Options
Greater flexibility, more options and improved printing interface put you in the driver seat
Now, not only can you print your script in its entirety, you can choose which sets of revisions you want to print
and you can print other views such as the Scene View and Index Cards. We've added the ability for you to print
directly on 3x4 or 4x6 index cards and print your script directly to PDF so you can decide whether to send a full
script or subset of pages to someone via PDF. The Title Page is also conveniently available as an option to
include in your PDF or printed output.
Writing Management
Track your daily writing goals
Use the Statistics Report to check how much content you've completed in a writing session to help you manage
your writing goals. You can also track things such as your ratio of Action to Dialog and whether there may be
some unnecessary profanity in your script if you're attempting to 'clean it up.'

5. ScriptNotes
Keep track of ideas and feedback about sections of your script
These effective pop-up windows hold your ideas, suggestions or scene fragments that you've cut but don't want
to toss without taking up space onscreen. Use ScriptNotes to provide feedback on a particular scene when
reviewing your partner's script or print your ScriptNotes as a report for easy reference when reviewing your
script.
Tab and Enter functions
Simple keystrokes make learning Final Draft a snap
You can install and start using Final Draft within minutes due to the easy-to-use Tab and Enter functionality that
helps format all of the various types of script elements to Industry Standards.
ScriptCompare
Easily track your changes between drafts of your script
Compare two drafts of the same script (.fdr or .fdx) and Final Draft will highlight any changes, allowing you to
easily see the differences from one file to the next.
Text to Speech
Have a 'table reading' anytime you want
Have your script read back to you by assigning different male and female voices to each of your characters.
You can even assign a narrator for action and other non-dialog script elements. Powered by the text-to-speech
engines built-in to Windows and Mac OS -- it's like having a live script reading in your computer.
CollaboWriter
Write with other Final Draft users anywhere with an Internet connection
Write, edit and discuss a script with other Final Draft users in real time, over the internet, anywhere in the
world. You can transfer 'control' back and forth between individuals so that one person makes changes at a
time, ensuring that information isn't lost during rewrites.
Format Assistant
Scan your script for any errors--it's like having a copy editor at your side
This useful tool checks your script for common formatting errors, such as missing dialogue, extra spaces,
carriage returns and blank elements. You can set it to run every time you print or only when you want it to.
100% Cross-Platform
Share your script files with Mac or Windows users
Final Draft scripts are identical on both Windows and Macintosh platforms and can easily be exchanged
between both.
Script Registry
Direct access for registering your work
Final Draft is a preferred file format and the only scriptwriting software with an authorized agreement with the
WGAW online registry service.
Production Features
Final Draft Tagger 2
Break down your script and prep it for scheduling applications
This updated stand-alone application reads any Final Draft script and enables you to "tag" elements within the
script [cast, costumes, props, etc.] and export the results into most scheduling applications. Tagger allows you
to select text from the script and add any element with a click of the mouse in any category for that scene--or

6. for any or all scenes where that element appears. The element text is highlighted and color coded, and can be
customized to suit the way you like to work. Created with the help of veteran Assistant Directors, Producers and
Unit Production Managers, Tagger means no more going over a paper script again and again with highlighters.
Revisions/Page Locking
Easy-to-use tools for handling script changes once you go into production
From the ability to omit scenes, lock pages and A-pages as well as set your revision colors, version 8 provides
you all the tools you'll need to take your script through production. With version 8, we've created a new feature
that will automatically track the page header's revision color so you can issue one set of revisions or all of them
as needed. Merging pages that have been cut once a script is locked is also a snap. With new how-to tutorials,
you have step-by-step instructions on how to merge pages without affecting your overall page count. Final
Draft also includes standard revision colors in each film and television template.
Title Page, Cast Pages and Locations Pages
Cover pages come pre-formatted for industry standards
All of the Final Draft Television Templates come pre-set with easy-to-use information for each series such as the
specific cast list and typical sets/locations. Our Standard One-Hour and Half-Hour Templates will also help you
get started on pilots by providing what information should appear in the finished product. The added bonus is
that the Title Page uses its own numbering for tracking the following pages so it won't add to your overall page
count.
Customizable Reporting
Get immediate stats to help you develop your script and keep it on budget
Final Draft offers seven different reports to give you quick facts about your script. The Scene Report, for
example, provides a snapshot of the scene's length, cast, starting page number and location. The Location
Report will inform you how often a location is used and will group the scenes by INT/EXT. The Character Report
includes an 'appearance summary' so you know how frequently one character speaks, versus the other
characters, as well as the total word count for the character. Use the ScriptNotes Report to get a quick scan of
all the notes in your script based on each scene and page. The Statistics Report will allow you to track daily
writing goals by displaying how many words you've written along with details on the types of elements you
used and what percentage of the script they make up. Need to cast your characters? You can instantly create
then print or email Character Sides for any speaking parts in your script.
Read more
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