Any advice on screenplay writing software..

[truebrit71]

..as far as format is concerned? A friend and I are collaborating on a sitcom type of idea, but have absolutely no idea when it comes to proper format ie exactly how much direction is needed along with the dialogue - in a comedic situation, body language can be as important, of not moreso than the spoken word.

Also any direction/advice as to any resources for the methodolgy of putting it all together would be nice.

We have a general theme, with a boatload of storyline ideas, but we need some guidance as to how to organize them into something cohesive.

Neither of us has done much more writing than a few sketches for college revues and the like, and cetainly nothing that could be presented professionally which is the ultimate goal.

I've always toyed around with the idea of putting something together, and my friend and I have the same sense of humour, but we are politically diametrically opposed which adds some fun to the riffing sessions we have but I was floored when HE suggested that we write some of this stuff down...

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

[Angry Girl]

1. Final Draft is the industry standard but it's $180 BUT

There's also free. falstaff.net

The terms vary slightly from the U.S. standard but once you get used to the difference in what things are called, the thing works fine.

On Edit: Whoops, I'm assuming you're not a Mac.... Falstaff would be for MS Word on Windoze.

Hmm, falstaff.net seems down. Check here instead:
http://interactive.usc.edu/members/msteffen/archives/004864.html

[regnaD kciN]

2. I've used Movie Magic Screenwriter...

...for my last two scripts (one feature, one short). It works fine, and is especially useful if you have any ambitions to produce your own script, since it integrates perfectly with the same company's scheduling and budgeting software, saving you huge amounts of time in re-entering the same information again and again.

In terms of methodology, I recommend you take a look at the standard three-act, two-plot-point structure first advocated in print by Syd Field. You don't have to take it as religious dogma the way some of his Hollywood followers do, but it's a good starting point if you're in the "lots of ideas but no form" situation. Field's own Screenplay is the standard work for this, but a quicker overview (which also incorporates some of his later ideas) can be found in How to Write a Movie in 21 Days, written by a student of his whose name I have managed to completely forget.

[truebrit71]

3. Thanks for the input..

..very helpful!

[jayctravis]

4. You may also wish to check out Sophocles...

That program almost seems to read my mind about what I'm trying to do.

It's a little cheaper than some of the competitors, and the programmer often sends emails offering beta tests for updated versions to his paid userbase.