Your Final Draft Writing Week

August 12 – 19

Inspiration for your screenwriting this week:

The Beginner’s Guide to Screenplay Rewrites

When you type FADE OUT, FADE TO BLACK, or THE END on your first draft of a script, by all means, celebrate. That’s a huge accomplishment. You’ve just done what most beginning screenwriters never do: you finished a script. 

But the writing isn’t done yet. You shouldn’t be sharing that first draft with anyone. You certainly shouldn’t be submitting it anywhere. You’ve made an amazing leap forward in your screenwriting. But now it’s time for the real work, where the real script starts to shine. This happens in the rewrite. 

Let us show you everything you need to know to make your rewriting process as enjoyable and pain-free as possible.

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‘Spoof’ Scripts Are Back: What ‘The Naked Gun’ Reboot Means for Screenwriters

Some film genres never go out of style. Thrillers and action/adventure movies, for example, remain perennial favorites, consistently drawing audiences in theaters and on streaming platforms. Other genres, however, tend to fade in and out of popularity.

Take the Western: once considered dead, it roared back to life in the early 1990s with critical and commercial hits like Dances with Wolves and Unforgiven, followed closely by Tombstone, Wyatt Earp, and The Quick and the Dead. Then, the genre went quiet again, until Taylor Sheridan reignited interest with the success of Yellowstone.

Now, with the release of The Naked Gun legacy sequel, another once-popular genre may be ready for a revival: the spoof. We break down what a spoof is and how to write one that will catch the attention of Hollywood.

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How to trigger visuals for your scripts

Screenwriting is a visual medium. We know that. We’re taught that. We preach that. But how often do most screenwriters take a step back and ask themselves, “Am I actually writing visually?” 

To make an immediate impact on whoever is reading and considering your work, your screenplays need to make the script reader feel as if they are watching a movie unfold as they read. This is one of the most underrated aspects of screenwriting - writing a cinematic script where the visuals pop off the page, and here's how to do it.

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Kristin Scott Thomas talks reclaiming tragic childhood with ‘My Mother’s Wedding’

Over her fruitful acting career, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas has played some of the most complex and layered female characters on screen, from the rebellious and passionate Katherine Clifton in The English Patient to the calculating spymaster in TV’s Slow Horses. Now she makes her screenwriting/directing debut with My Mother’s Wedding, to tell a story that’s deeply personal. 

Written with her husband, journalist John Micklethwait, the film is a touching yet multi-pronged look at three sisters, their feisty mother, and the emotional undercurrents that keep them from becoming their true selves. For screenwriters, it’s a great example of channeling personal trauma onto the page while telling a sweet yet poignant ensemble story.

Read our exclusive interview with Dame Kristin Scott Thomas about how she brought My Mother’s Wedding to the big screen.

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Don’t know how to start writing your script?

We’ve got you covered! We just introduced the Screenplay for Beginners template in Final Draft 13. This template shows each of the common screenplay elements in action, with simple explanations about what each of the elements do and how to select them. It’s the perfect way to learn the basics and jumpstart your screenwriting journey!

To learn about accessing the template, visit the link below.

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