ScriptBuddy - Learn Screenwriting
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ScriptBuddy
I've been spec writing scripts for quite some time and have never found any of the leading scriptwriting software titles to be of much help. They all seemed too cumbersome and fairly difficult to learn. None of them fit into my style of writing. I found myself spending too much time trying to learn the software and not nearly enough time using the software for what it was designed to do: make the technique of scriptwriting easier.
On each occasion, I reverted to free-writing my script in a notebook and then typing it on a word processing program. The most difficult task was getting the correct format.
One day I was surfing the internet, searching for ideas, when I came across the best scriptwriting tool I have seen to date: Scriptbuddy.com
Scriptbuddy takes all the guesswork out of formatting your screenplays, it does it for you. Scriptbuddy incorporates all of the industry standard formatting rules.
The workstation is WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get). As you write your screenplay, it will display exactly as it will look on the printed page.
Scriptbuddy has several more awesome features such as the fact that your screenplays are saved permanently online in your private account only seen by you. That is, until you decide you want to publish all or part of your work, into the sites high traffic Community where tens of thousands of people can brows and leave feedback every month. And it's all FREE. They do have a pro-version that costs $5 per month and allows you to convert your screenplay to PDF form for printing.
Go visit them today. I don't get paid for this. The site has done so much for me that I thought I would do something for it.
The opening scene of my new script
FADE IN:
INT. TONY'S HOUSE – NIGHT
KITCHEN
A pizza box is on the counter along with opened two litre
bottles of soda. 80's Rock Music is playing from the living
room.
CLOSE ON TONY:
Tony, Caucasian male with medium build, is wearing pajamas
and sitting at the kitchen table. He is wearing his best
POKER FACE and peeking over the top of his cards. He shoves
all his chips to the center of the table.
TONY
I'm all in!
We move around the table and see that the two other players
are children and also wearing pajamas. Nicky, age 6, and
Katie, age 8. Tony's nephew and niece. Nicky folds.
NICKY
Too rich for my blood!
Katie pushes in all her chips, which are now revealed as
pieces of candy.
KATIE
Let's see what you have!
With a smug look, Tony lays down his cards
TONY
Full house! Jacks over tens.
He reaches for the pot.
KATIE
Not so fast. I have two pair. A
pair of sevens, and another pair
of sevens.
Katie drags all of the candy to her side of the table.
TONY
Why you little hustler.
Tony stands, laughing, and begins chasing Katie and Nicky
around the table.
Ted Griffin (Oceans Eleven, remake)
Paul Haggis (Crash)
Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can)
Nick Kazan (Reversal of Fortune)
Ever think about writing a screenplay?Loading...
I've been using scriptbuddy for about four years now. I wrote my first screenplay on it. It is great.
It is great fun. Writing screenplays is like playing a game where you have to become the characters you create. Almost like an actor accept nobody has to see you acting a fool, you do it all on paper...or online in this case...lol
That's fantastic Christine. I've been using it for about that long too and have written 7 complete screenplays with them. I usually only go pro for a few months at a time, when I'm getting ready to print and submit to agents. I was using Triggersteet.com for feedback too wich was great feedback but they don't have a formatting tool like scriptbuddy. I think its the best tool out there.
Can you say more about the difference between the pro and the free versions? Is the export to pdf feature the only difference?
@Woodson, thanks for stopping by.
Besides exporting to PDF, you can export to plain text which can then be imported inot other popular screenwriting software. The Pro version enables the spell checker, removes any advertising that shows on the free version workstation and takes away the limits of how many screenplays you can have in your account. I think the free version allows 5 at a time. You can upgrade to Pro for 3month, 6month or 1year at a time. I usually go with the 3month when I'm ready to download and print.
The BBC writers' website also provides great free screenwriting programs - both UK and US formats, also radio, sitcom, TV drama etc screenwriting programs. As for converting to .pdf - there are many free programs out there. There really is no need to pay for any screenwriting programs these days - two or three years ago the pro versions did offer a lot more - but everything you need to write and prepare a screenplay for dissemination is available for free. I have used the BBC program for many short scripts and for 2 feature length specs.
great to find more screenwriters here !
Thank you Iphigenia, I'll have to look into the BBC program. The only problem I have had with Scriptbuddy, and it's not that big of a deal, is when I want to print out what I have scripted, no matter how far I've gotten, I have to pay to upgrade.
It is good to see more screenwriters here, maybe we should start a group.
livewithrichard-have you written many screenplays?
@ Christine
Depends on what you consider many. I've written 7 so far, with about a dozen more in process. I've had some good solid "maybe's" lol from at least 2 agents and 1 screenplay made it to the finals in a competition. I'm now reworking it because some elements are now a bit aged. The scene above is from my newest script which is a Romantic Comedy. How about you, how many and what have you done with them?
Thanks for writing this hub, I've been interested in script writing for a while now and just haven't found the right software to work with. This scriptbudy looks good though.
It's a great site Jbounds. Everything you need to get started and properly format your scripts is right there. There is also a huge community to get and give feedback.
That's really cool. Thanks.
RKHenry 2 years ago
Why you little hustler. Ha ha. Sounds like great fun.