- Highland 2 0 5 – Powerful Straightforward Screenwriting Approach Emphasizes
- Highland 2 0 5 – Powerful Straightforward Screenwriting Approach Examples
Sometimes we screenwriters, we just want to, well, screenwrite. We don’t always enjoy fussing over format or margins or how to make a parenthetical look right or whether or not writing “THE END” should be marked in Final Draft as a slugline/scene heading or an action line or just plain “general.”
Let’s talk about you. You’re passionate about telling stories. You see story ideas everywhere. When you come up with a good onewriting it down feels like unwrapping a birthday present. Maybe even better. Through the magic of your words, you might make someone—whom you’ve never met—shed tearsor grin for days. Through your ability to transport. © 2020 Screenwriting.io — All Rights Reserved. Answers; About; Ask; Index. Edit screenplays and TV scripts with Highland, the innovative utility that converts between PDF, FDX (Final Draft) and Fountain formats. With Highland, you. 5% for $250,000 - $1 million 10% for $1 million - $3.5 million 20% for $3.5 million & up An additional 2.5% is available to productions that film in underutilized areas. Austin's Under Utilized Areas Map The incentive is based on wages, invoices and petty cash: 70% of paid crew and paid cast (including extras) must be Texas residents.
The idea of Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter 6 and all the other script writing software packages out there is, ostensibly, to liberate the screenwriter from drudgery of formatting her own script. But even as helpful as they are, sometimes we happy typists just need all of that to simply get out of the way.
Here’s a few apps that can help you do just that:
Highland
Mac Only
$29
$29
Upon firing up Highland for the first time and slamming out some words, it occurred to me quite plainly: I’ve been doing it wrong. So many years dealing with mega screenwriting software suites and clunky interfaces. I’m happy to report that Highland does away with the bloat, and it does so in spectacular fashion.
The only thing Highland asks from you in return is for you to sort of give up your notion of how a screenwriting app should work. That’s because it doesn’t necessarily look like Highland is formatting your script as you go. But alas, as I’m about to show you, it’s all under the hood.
Here’s what I typed into Highland, below. Just raw, unformatted text. A slugline, some action, a few dialogue lines, a parenthetical, and some transitions:
And below is how it looks once you hit⌘-E, to preview your work:
That right there, my fellow screenwriters, is a prime example of a piece of screenwriting software getting the hell out of your way.
Ironically, Highland’s creator, podcaster John August, never intended Highland to be a screenwriting program. It was created to facilitate the conversion of files between the Fountain markup (a screenwriting markup/set of rules that enables easy creation of properly formatted screenplays using any simply text editor) and Final Draft and PDF.
No muss, no fuss. And it imports and exports just fine to/from Final Draft and PDF. Highland has some other great features as well, including a “Dark Mode” for writing in low-light situations (or if you just like writing scripts with a darker screen and bright text), the ability to embed notes (great for collaborating).
But Highland’s true strengths, in my opinion, are its lightweight, elegant interface and its typography. Seriously, my scripts look really nice with this app. Not to mention Highland files are openable with any text editor, making them super easy to share or backup or open across a variety of platforms, old and new.
That’s not to say Highland is a perfect screenwriting platform for everybody. Where it excels in elegance and typography and cross-platform simplicity and price, it’s a bit lacking in what I call the Obligatory Palette of Screenwriting Program Features™: revisions, outlining, page locking, character breakdowns, etc. – all that you won’t find in Highland, and you might need it. Readkit 2 6 32. A program like Slugline might be more your speed if you need a few more “tools” in your screenwriting app, while still not giving up a lot of the elegance and simplicity of the interface. I did a review of Slugline a while ago and you can find it here.
Below are a few other minimalist screenwriting apps you might like too, as well as my take on ’em:
Typed
Mac Only
$19
$19
If you’re looking for a bit more of a “zen” experience for your minimal screenwriting, and are willing to forgo some of the basics any good screenwriting program should have (namely, the actual formatting of your script), then you might like the new app Typed from Real Mac Software.
Typed features a stripped down, super-clean interface with attractive typography that let’s you simply, well, get into your screenwriting (or writing). It has very few features, but it might be all you need on your tablet or phone to get a conversation between two characters.
Here’s what you see when you open Typed (see below). No toolbar, no fancy windows, just a blank box with a random, perhaps inspiriation quote in it (which disappears as soon as you start typing.)
And here’s what your type looks like. Note, Typed doesn’t format your script, but it does make the writing process pretty and minimal. What I’ve typed here could be saved out of Typed and imported into Highland and Highland would then do all the script formatting for you.
![Examples Examples](https://patch.com/img/cdn/users/68478/2016/02/raw/20160256d3ea6eda53d.jpeg?width=695)
One feature about Typed you might like is the ability to write along to a series of meditative “sound tracks” built into the app, ostensibly for the purpose of letting you achieve full writerly zen while you bang out next year’s gross-out chick flick. For me, that sort of thing gets filed under “gimmicky,” but you might find it perfect for your writing style.
Typed is fast and easy and clean, and succeeds, as Highland and Slugline do, in letting you frame out the distractions and focus on your writing. In this mad, mad, mad, mad world, that’s something every screenwriter can use.
Zenpen
![Straightforward Straightforward](https://alchetron.com/cdn/Gerry-2011-film-images-decfe388-84b4-4169-8cdb-d8b0295243d.jpg)
PC / Mac / web based
Free
Free
Not sure if you like the idea of “distraction free screenwriting?” Try it for free at Zenpen.io. Zenpen pretty much captures the spirit of Typed and other minimalist writing platforms, but does it with a free web-based app. Simply hit the website and start typing. You can download your work as you go as HTML or markdown or plain text.
Zenpen, similar to Typed, doesn’t format your screenplay as you go, but with an app like Highland, it doesn’t matter. Highland will import whatever you’ve typed in any other text app, whether it’s Zenpen or Typed or even the built in Notepad on your Windows machine or Quick Edit on your Mac.
Here’s what it looks like, below. Note the four simple icons in the left column. They’re for Full Screen, Dark Mode, Word Count, and Save. That’s it.
Whatever you think of minimal screenwriting, it’s here to stay. Some writers will prefer to stay with their full-featured screenwriting software suites like Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter, and some will prefer to pare down their software package and write in a more elegant, cleaner, simpler way.
The good news is, with Highland, and with Final Draft embracing Highland’s underlying screenwriting markup language, Fountain, you don’t have to choose one over the other. They can work together. Keep Final Draft and Screenwriter’s full roster of scriptwriting features: outlining, index cards, breakdowns, collaboration, etc. but when you need to strip it all away and simply write, or, write simply, with Highland, Slugline, Typed, and Zenpen, you can do that too.
Screenwriters literally live in front of their screens, constantly revising and creating new scenes for their screenplays. But what about when a screenwriter has an idea and cannot access their computer? From tablets to smart phones, there is a plethora of screenwriting apps available that not only help make a screenwriter’s life easier, but also allow them to work on projects while on the go. Read below to discover the best apps available to screenwriters.
Device: iOS Price: $29.99 Current Rating: 4+/5 Download App from Apple | Final Draft, creators of the top-selling screenwriting software in the world, enter the mobile market with the Final Draft Writer™ app, enabling screenwriters to easily send or share their Final Draft FDX files from their laptop to their iPad and iPhone and truly work anywhere. Whether you’re making edits to a current script or starting a new one from scratch, the Final Draft Writer™ app supports easy navigation, ScriptNotes™, SmartType™, and much more so that you can move your scripts across platforms, email, or Dropbox with zero hassle. Every time you open the app, your script will show up paginated and formatted to industry standards, making this app a must for screenwriters of all stripes. |
Device: iPad Price: Free with paid upgrades Current Rating: 4.5/5 Download App from Apple | Tom Hanks, a famous collector and ultra-fan of typewriters, has delighted us with one of the best typewriter simulators we’ve ever seen on an iDevice. More customizable than you’d imagine and a pleasure to use, for best results prop up your iPad and couple it with a Bluetooth keyboard. |
Device: Android Price: Free Current Rating: 4/5 Download App from Google | This offers a novel approach to screenwriting, using the non-linear format employed by most video editors. On a small smartphone screen, this approach makes it easier to access and move elements between different sequences and scripts. You can import FDX and CELTX files, and export your screenplay to all the main formats, including PDF and HTML. |
Device: iOS Price: $9.99 Current Rating: 3.5/5 Download App from Apple | This is more versatile than the other apps and can be used for screenplays and novels, with built-in templates for working in either format. One of the cooler features of Storyist is the advanced index card support, with customizable plot, character and settings sheets and the ability to display them next to your manuscript while you're writing. |
Device: iOS Price: $7.99 Current Rating: 3/5 Download App from Apple | A professional film-plotting app with a cult following, Contour is a smart way of breaking down your film idea into manageable chunks so you can get down to the business of writing. |
Device: Android & iOS Price: $2.99 Current Rating: 5/5 Download App from Google Download App from Apple | Lists for Writers is more than a random bundle of lists. Organized into logical sections such as words, settings, plot points, personalities and characters, it's a quick-fix inspiration unblocker and features numerous other tools such as character name/occupation/foible builders and research tools. |
Highland 2 0 5 – Powerful Straightforward Screenwriting Approach Emphasizes
Device: iPad Price: Free with paid upgrades Current Rating: 3.5/5 Download App from Apple | This is a straightforward script-writing app that can be picked up and learned quickly. Its interface is elegant and utilizes keystrokes that will be familiar to any Apple user. By simply double-tapping the screen, you can switch between script elements, and files can be easily imported between Final Draft 8 or Celtx. The basic program is free, but it does have a few limitations, including the ability to work on just one script at a time. If you'd like greater flexibility, you can purchase upgrade packs for $4.99. |
Device: Android 2.2 and up / iOS 5 and later. Price: Free Current Rating: 4/5 Download App from Google Download App from Apple | Available in both iOS and Android versions, this app offers a clean, straightforward app for writing and formatting without all of the extra bells and whistles that can bog some writers down. You can tab through scenes, characters and dialogue at the touch of a button, and the finished product can be exported to Dropbox when you're finished. The free version has a few limitations, like the inability to import documents or work on multiple screenplays. You can however upgrade to a full-featured paid version. |
Device: Android 1.5 and up Price: $0.99 Current Rating: 2.3/5 Download App from Google | Screenwriter is a stand-alone app that requires no PC companion software. It's designed to allow writers to gather their thoughts and write rough drafts; the finished product should be exported and polished on the PC. This program allows for easy tabbing between synopsis, character, locations, scenes and more. The final script can be exported via email for easy sharing and editing. The program does not, however, support export to Final Draft or CeltX. |
Highland 2 0 5 – Powerful Straightforward Screenwriting Approach Examples
Device: Android 2.2 and up, iPhone & iPad Price: $9.99 Current Rating: 3/5 Download App from Google Download App from Apple | Celtx for desktop has always been one of the most popular, powerful and affordable screenwriting programs on the market. Now its app companion allows you to take that same functionality on the road for working at any time, anywhere. You can choose from several formats, including screenplay, stageplay and comic. You can add comments and notes to yourself as you go, and scripts can be easily imported and exported from the desktop Celtx version. |
Device: iPad Price: $4.99 Current Rating: 3.5/5 Download App from Apple | Although not a dedicated screenwriting app, Notably is a powerful tool for writers of all kind. You can organize all of your notes into 'Notebooks,' which can be bundled in any configuration that makes sense for you and your project. As you work, all of your work is automatically saved to Dropbox so you never have to worry about losing work. A few app-specific features are particularly attractive, including the ability to activate an in-app passcode to keep your documents protected. Additionally, the beautiful layout allows you to see text the way it might in print, inviting creativity with its beautiful typography. |