Free Scriptwriting Software

topic posted Mon, September 26, 2005 - 12:29 PM by  Steve
Hey Gang,

Just wanted to let you all know that we have released version 0.9.3 of Celtx. We have a host of new features to help ease the script writing process.

Check it out here: www.celtx.com

This is one script writing application that will fit into your budget. :)
posted by:
Steve
Canada
  • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

    Tue, October 30, 2007 - 3:00 PM
    I've been fiddling with Celtx recently, and was at a workshop for it at the Screenwriting Expo last weekend in LA.

    Does anyone else here use it? It has certain... ah... limitations, but an open source preproduction organizing software package is a pretty cool thing.
    • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

      Tue, December 25, 2007 - 12:02 PM
      Okay, I've been working up a feature script on celtx so far ( www.celtx.com/ ) and have run into a funky little glitch. I've been writing on Kauai, and we recently were hit with a bunch of storms, which scotched connectivity. So, although I could write, I could not typeset or produce a PDF until I could get online again. (my father isn't online, and the only free wifi access I could find was at the other end of the island in Kapaa, so I was double-doomed -- I could only get over there every few days)

      I am, however, really fascinated by the whole pre-tagging thing, the ability to just enter a script and be TABBING or ENTERING to switch to a different kind of text, such as dialogue, action, parenthetical. This is pretty cool. I've been using Word for my scripts up until now, with macros and styles defining all the bits I need.

      I'm not sure about this whole adding a "CONTINUED" at each page break, though. Is that normal in a movie script?
      • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

        Sun, January 6, 2008 - 1:36 PM
        It was normal. That practice isn't generally done anymore unless you're continuing dialogue as far as what I've been seeing.
        • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

          Sun, January 6, 2008 - 7:34 PM
          CONTINUED is for shooting script format -- you shouldn't be writing in shooting format. That's for the production breakdown later.
          • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

            Tue, February 26, 2008 - 8:14 AM
            I disagree - you should be writing in whatever format stimulates and activates your creative energies, and gets you thinking about how to move the story through its action and conflict. I have produced multiple "shooting scripts" which were then re-composed for standard script distribution. I have also written multiple "treatment" form pieces which were composed into capable scripts.
            • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

              Tue, February 26, 2008 - 3:50 PM
              Then let me rephrase, since you're being picky: you shouldn't deliver shooting format to readers, producers, or contests for whom you are seen as being the "writer." If you're going to produce/direct it yourself, then you can scawl it in crayons on dirty napkins if that makes you happy and stirs your creative juices.

              When the issue at hand is professional script formatting, then there are specific rules one needs to follow in order to be taken seriously.
      • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

        Wed, March 12, 2008 - 3:35 PM
        "I'm not sure about this whole adding a "CONTINUED" at each page break, though. Is that normal in a movie script?"

        Ah, this was a wetware issue. I figured out how to turn that off. It's one of the options under the "typeset" tab.

        Had a neat thing happen -- a director asked me to send him a short "intro" script., so I banged it out in celtx and exported a PDF. I sent him the PDF and he asked if I could snd a copy in something else, Word or whatever so he could import it into his preproduction software celtx.

        He was happy when I was able to send him the celtx file a few minutes later.
  • Re: Free Scriptwriting Software

    Tue, February 26, 2008 - 8:11 AM
    Using Celtx and still using Final Draft.
    Personally, I'm writing, producing, directing, and assisting with editing so I would really like to see some more organizational capabilties built in, and better "collaborative" permissions and change management built in to Celtx. I've been trying Google Docs as well, which works a lot better from the collaborative aspects, although it does not auto-format like Celtx and Final Draft.
    It does have spreadsheets and presentation capabilities, which I think might outweight the formatting aspects for me.