Screenwriting & Production Management Software
Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter are the screenwriting software industry leaders, compatible with most scheduling and budgeting programs. Here is a list of screenwriting, and production management programs.
WattWenn (Robust Breakdown, Scheduling program with sophisticated sorting option, extensive production documentation and tools, works with smart phones and tablets. / Scenios(
Cloud based breakdown, scheduling, budgeting and production management, with editing logging and workflow component.
Final Draft software (
Screenwriting software with story development, index cards, character arc and scene navigation tools, reports and a read aloud function. / Movie Magic Screenwriter (
Screenwriting software with a variety of views such as outlining, notes, panels and page count reduction tools. Integrates with the Movie Magic production software.
Celtx (
Cloud-based screenwriting software with tools for outlining, adding notes and various media and offers easy collaboration features. It has grown from screenwriting to adding breakdown, scheduling, budgeting functions, as well as production reports, collaboration tools and storyboarding. / Montage and Contour Screenwriting Software (
Montage is a screenwriting software with formatting and outlining tools as well as a query and synopsis feature.
There is a distraction-free mode. Partner software includes mobile screenwriting program Contour for tablets, phones; and a character development software, Persona.
Truby's (Write A) Blockbuster (
Screenwriting software with structuring, premise, character creation, rewriting and genre-specific tools. Created by screenwriting consultant John Truby, compatible with his method. / Jungle (
Variety of software, StoryO screenwriting, compatible with the Jungle Software scheduling and budget products and their beginner scheduling and budgeting package Chimpanzee, StoryO offers outlining, timeline, character creation tools, an index card and visualization function for pitching. Exports to several formats.
FadeIn (
Screenwriting with numerous functions including a variety of output formats, scene timing, extract and join pages, dialogue tuner and session statistics. Offers index card, organizing, color coding, bookmarks and one-liner features to move and rearrange scenes. There’s a distraction-free mode, multiple import format support, dialogue tuner and word-use frequency function, as well as mobile app for phone/tablet use. / WriterDuet (
Real time writer collaboration software in and off the cloud, multiple outlining tools, easy pdf import. Imports/exports multiple formats, offers infinite revision tracking, encryption, Google Drive and Dropbox backup, script statistics and reports.
Highland (
Exports to FDX, imports from pdf, provides easy navigation and user-friendly formatting tools. Dark mode for late night writing, distraction-free mode, create markers to add ‘bookmarks’ enabling you quickly jump to specific sections. / Trelby (
A free screenwriting program with multiple views, name database, multiple reports, comparison tools. Imports and exports to a variety of formats.
Fountain(
A minimalist writing app focusing on writing first, formatting later; enabling you to write in any text editor on any device. Developed with screenwriter John August, this is a plain text markup language that, due to its flexibility, developers are using as a foundation for new screenwriting programs and tools. / Slugline (
A Mac-based app for screenwriting, contains outlining tools based on Fountainscreenplay format. Infers formatting and can copy/paste into the program for automatic formatting.
Movie Draft (
Screenplay program with multiple views including individual scene view, outline and index card navigation, color-coded editors and a scene timer. Includes a library of visual icons to use for navigating your story. Non-linear writing and editing functions, TAB and ENTER formatting. / Scrivener (
Screenwriting and novel writing software to outline, structure, research, write with a project management function. Tools include the ability to easily restore earlier version, keep reference materials visible and collaboration tools.
Scripts (iTunes)
IPhone and iPad movie script writing app, scene numbering. Compatible with several different file formats. Uses industry-standard Tab and Return for automatic element insertion. Features include Dropbox integration, dictation support, offers image attachments to use for navigating your story. / Save the Cat (
Screenwriting and structuring software for Window/Mac based on screenwriter and author Blake Synder’s method. Program helps writers develop logline, title and genre and hit story beats. Multiple views, fonts and color coding for editing.
Amazon Storywriter (
A free, cloud-based screenwriting app that imports and exports Fountain and works in a browser or as aChrome app. / Movie Magic Screenwriter (A popular screen writing software, with a Tagging feature, a breakdown tool to identify elements in the script
Logline (
Loglineis a Mac based, plain-text, Fountain screenwriting and outlining app thatlets you see the structure of your screenplay. Provides a variety of background visuals. Write and edit on any device or platform. Export script, outline, treatment, summary to pdf. / Writer Duet (
Real time writer collaboration software in and off the cloud, multiple outlining tools, revisions pdf. Online-only on mobile platforms.
DubScript (
A screenplay app to write, read and edit scripts for Android phones and tablets. / Afterwriting (
A web-based screenwriting software to write, edit and preview and convert scripts.
Adobe Story (
Cloud-based screenwriting subscription service. For an additional add-on, Adobe Story Plus offers collaboration, scheduling and production reports. / Storyist (
Mac-based novel and screenwritingapp for use on computers, smartphones and tablets, offering plot, characters and settings tools.
Writer (App on iTunes)
Mac-based screenwriting app based on the fountain language
with outlining features, automatic formatting, exports to a number of formats. / MyScreenplays (Android-based on Amazon)
Non-linear film screenwriting software for Android mobile devices. Import/export multiple formats, edit non-linearly, offers treatment editor, auto-formatting functions. Cloud-based Google docs integration.
LIghtSpeed (
Web-based entertainment production management system with breakdown, scheduling, production documents / Yamdu (
Scheduling, Contracts, Online Document Management, Financing Organization
Studio Binder (
Breakdown, Scheduling, Production Management Documents, File Sharing / Scenechronize (
Cloud based breakdown, scheduling, budgeting and production management
The Takes(
The Takes is a cloud-based online production management tool offering breakdown, scheduling, storyboard, locations, blocking and camera diagram support tools for collaborative
Word Processing Software: it is possible to find a template (or create one) forMicrosoft Word (, or Open Office (www. openffice.org), or others.
The form Ch2_Screenplay_WordTemplate.doc included here is a word processing script writing template. It utilizes STYLES and MACROS – when you open it, a dialogue box will open telling you that the file uses Visual Basic Macros – just select “Open” so that the macros function.
(Ch2_Website_Visual_Basic_Macros.jpg) **multimedia: do not include this note on the website** / **multimedia: editorial has this image available as a separate file if needed***
Selecting an appropriate style from the dropdown box make it easy to use pre-formatted paragraph settings for Slug lines, Action, Dialogue, and Character. If you open the document and for some reason do not see the selection of styles Go to the Word Processing drop down menu and open View/Toolbars/Formatting and the Style dropdown should appear.
(Ch2_Select_Style.jpg)
Here is a form without any use of styles or macros, Ch2_Screenplay_WordTemplate_NoMacros.doc