I just had a brief look into screenwriting software. My main interest is that it's simple, interferes on a minimum level with the writing process and (preferably) that it's free. There are a number of choices most of which are free on a basic level, but you pay for advanced features.
Desktop Applications
Celtx
The best desktop software I've found so far seems to be Celtx. The basic software is free and it seems sufficient for now. It has script writing functionalities and applies the correct formatting, allows notes and media, it can break down a script (e.g. list characters, actors, crew, locations, sound effects, etc), can export as a PDF, has index cards (which allows to rearrange scenes via drag and drop), a title page, etc.
Then there are addons for a relatively low cost. Addons allow functionalities such as fullscreen mode, performance tracker (including word count), plot view (which adds a timeline to the index cards), etc.
Celtx Studios is a monthly subscription to save scripts online and work collaboratively. As nice as this would be I'm deterred by a monthly fee.
The reason why Celtx is at the top of my list is that it's simple to use and seems to be the least distraction in the writing process.
And then it's available on Windows, Mac, Linux and eeePC.
Scrivener
Scrivener seems to be a popular choice on a Mac. However, I couldn't find out if there is a proper function for screenplay formatting. The screenshots only show book chapters. I haven't tested it, but it seems to get overall good feedback.
Scrivener is not free, but there's a 30 day trial version.
Adobe Story
For all those who are going to have an Adobe Production or Master Suite CS5, these Suites include a program called Adobe Story (built on Adobe AIR) that can sync through Adobe CS Live and works well with other Adobe products. Be aware that CS Live will only be free for a complementary period. Certainly CS5 is far from free but if you happen to have a CS5 suite installed it may be all you need.
Online Services
There are a number of online services for screenwriting. To me the advantage is that the text is stored online and that I can access it from anywhere as long as there is an internet connection. Also it naturally supports collaborative work more than most desktop solutions.
The downside to me is that all browser based tools that I tested were just too slow or a bit too complicated when you want to jump from one scene to another or read/write more about a character on a separate sheet, or access other tools.
Plotbot
Plotbot looks pretty good on first sight. It provides powerful tools such as scene branches to develop alternative versions (even though I find switching between branches is a bit clunky). Each and every line can be commented by collaborators or, if it's a public project, by other Plotbot users. Overall Plotbot is obviously created with a collaborative spirit in mind with an active community of screenwriters - and probably it's the best choice for collaborative scenarios. As a single screenwriter the simplicity of Celtx is still more appealing to me.
I really appreciate the effort of the Plotbot developers who provide the service and community platform for free.
ScriptBuddy
My brief first impression just tells me that ScriptBuddy is less powerful than Plotbot and extra features are not free. On the other hand simplicity may be exactly what you want. But if you're serious about using one of these tools you better give it a try and use a free account to start with.
Scripped
Scripped is another online alternative. Free for 'beginners', but you pay if you want more functionality — and you pay dear. For my taste a monthly subscription that starts from $10 is too much for such a service. So concerning that Plotbot is clearly the winner among online screenwriting tools.
There are probably a million more solutions available. For any other suggestions please leave a comment below.
Comments
Post your comment
No one has commented on this page yet.
RSS feed for comments on this page | RSS feed for all comments