Some Screen shots

In order to give you some idea of what ScriptWright will add to your word processor, here are a few screenshots of some of the more useful commands:

New Additions in BookWright 2003

Addition of SmartCont

There is a new intelligent feature to automatically place (continuing) after a character/speakers name when a speech by that character is interrupted by action description.

The setting is controlled by a check box (next to Smart Enter and Smart Tab) on the Global tab of ScriptWright settings.

When checked, ScriptWright will check, as you type for instances such as:

And as you hit ENTER after the second CHARNAME, it will automatically insert (continuing) in order to draw attention to the fact that the same character is continuing to speak after the interruption of action.

This feature is easier to understand if you try it than it is when described.

Also new, ScriptWright now allows for the use -- as is common these days with other formatter -- of the less grammatically correct (CONT'D) demarcation of a a continuing speech.  This setting is controlled on a document level, and is set on the Document tab of the ScriptWright settings dialog box:  see the button titled "Set Continuing Style."

You can choose which "continuing style" to use.  But you are not locked into your choice, because ScriptWright also has a new facility to convert from once continuing style to the other:

ConvertContinuings

This command will go through your document and convert from (continuing) to (CONT'D) or vice versa.

This has always been a pet peeve of mine, with ScriptWright and in my teaching.  Gramattically, and according to the old rules of script formatting established by studios and script services, one should always use (continuing) when denoting that a character is continuing to speak after an action interruption.  (CONT'D), short for "Continued" was only used to denote a scene or a speech that was continued over a page break.  That is, the former was about gesture inside the scene, the later was entirely an accident of formatting.

However, computer software designers who have turned to script formatting have assumed, incorrectly, these were the same.   More and more the use of (CONT'D) next to a character name (see right panel above) has become acceptable.

So, bowing to custom, I am giving my users the choice.  I still contend the usage displayed on the right is preferred.

Added Report/Navigation module

This command replaces the older Create Scene Report and  Create Structure Report.  I have left those commands on the Tools menu for those who prefer them.

I call this Report/Navigation because although this command can print a report of sluglines or sequences -- it can also be used quite simply to navigate through your screenplay.  Here is the starting dialog box:

Once you have clicked Go, above, the dialog box will change to display a list of scenes or sequences.  In this example, scenes:

What's cool is that the dialog box is non-modal, that is you can edit yoru document while it is still displayed.  When you click on a scene slugline in the list the insertion point will jump to that scene. 

If you click Create Report -- a report of the scene headings (in this case) will automatically be created.  Unlike the older version of this function you don't need to select font size/style.  If you want to reformat the resulting table simply use the normal Word facilities.

Among the additions to this ScriptWright 2000:

Some other example dialog boxes

To give you an idea of what ScriptWright does...

Settings Dialog

One of the most obvious and useful changes in this version of ScriptWright is the collecting of all the various settings and options in a single tabbed dialog box.

When you click on the first toolbar button or select ScriptWright settings from the tools menu, you will see the following:

This allows much easier modifications of your preferences and control over how ScriptWright will function.

Create Index Card Command

The object of this feature is to generate a printable version of the document with each heading level placed on a separate index card. This allows you to spread the cards out (on table or bulletin board) and have a simple way to view the overall structure. You can then shuffle the cards around.

Formatting your screenplay

The main command for creating a well-formatted script for submission is called Format Script.

You execute this command after entering and editing you text, when you are ready to print a final submission draft.

You have the option of formatting your screenplay either as a Master Shot or a Shooting Script.

For most purposes, a Master Shot screenplay is all that is expected.  The Shooting Script format adds top and bottom continueds.

Changing the spacing of a specific paragraph

Sometimes a paragraph will end in a single word, pushing the pagination of a section of your screenplay off.

This command allows you to interactively change the spacing of a given paragraph.  There's also an automatic version of Fudge...

CheckTemplate Add-in

This utility is only relevant if you move your document from one computer to another, and the template folder specification is different. For instance, if you write on a computer with:

C:\Office\Templates\ScriptWright

--as your ScriptWright folder, and you share your document with, say, a writing partner whose computer is setup up with--

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates\ScriptWright

--as his ScriptWright folder, this add-in, which is placed in your Startup folder, will check each time you open your document and automatically prompt you if the link to the template has changed. You can then navigate to select your template and reattach it.

Note: this add-in will check the link in all of your WrightWorks based documents. That is, it will not check every document for a legitimate link to a template.

Free Fonts

You can optionally install two monospaced fonts. These fonts, VTCorona and VTBulletin were created by a company called Vintage Typewriter Fonts. These are samples that they have given me permission to distribute.

You can order a full package of fonts specifically suited to screenplays by contacting them at: http://www.vintagetype.com or call 1-800-656-5426 or write:

Vintage Type
5662 Calle Real #146
Goleta CA 93117-2317

NOTE: Hewlett-Packard has made a free Dark Courier font available. There's a short-cut to the internet site on your ScriptWright menu item. Or you can select here: http://www.fontsmart.com/fonts.htm.

Menu Geography

There are now two options for organizing the menus in ScriptWright.

The default places most common and relevant Word commands, along with all ScriptWright commands on the top level menus, and then the standard Word commands on pop out menus.

You can also reverse this, leaving the top level Word's default menus, and placing ScriptWright menus on a pop out.

Compatibility with DeskJet Color/B&W Printers

Some printers are always seen as color by Word, even if you have the black and white cartridge installed.

This has caused problems in the past since ScriptWright, by default, uses colors for the various paragraph elements.

The updated Change Colors command takes care of all styles -- allowing you to change everything to Auto so that text will print in black and white. However, FormatScript changes the color of broken paragraphs to red so that it can easily join broken paragraphs if you strip formatting.

With this release of ScriptWright there is a global option which allows you to change the color for broken paragraphs from Red to Black.

If you use a laser printer, this option is irrelevant.

If you have seen red text printing as grey, then change to Black.

NOTE: this change is not retroactive. You should first strip formatting on an existing script, then change this option, then reformat.

Redesigned Manual and help file.

The help file has been updated to reflect the latest changes in the ScriptWright interface, and to include additions made to the program since version 6.

The manual is also distributed electronically, as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file.  This means you can either load the manual into Acrobat and use it's bookmark and cross reference features to navigate the manual, or you can print a hard copy.

The cd-rom version of the update will ship with a copy of Acrobat Reader 4.0.  Otherwise you will have to download Acrobat directly from adobe.  Go to the Download Page for more information and links.