The Industry Standard Software
Firstly, Final Draft is the brand name of a word processing application specifically designed for writing screenplays. It has been the dominant software in the film and television industry for decades. Its primary function is to automatically handle the extremely rigid and complex formatting conventions of a professional screenplay. This includes setting the correct margins for action lines, character names, dialogue, parentheticals, and transitions. By automating this process, Final Draft allows the writer to focus on the creative aspects of storytelling—character, plot, and dialogue—without having to worry about the technical formatting rules.
Because of its ubiquity, the ability to use Final Draft and submit files in its native .fdx format is a basic requirement for any professional screenwriter. Its features include tools for outlining, story mapping with index cards, and revision tracking, making it a comprehensive tool for the entire writing process.
‘Final Draft’ as an Industry Term
Due to the software’s dominance, the phrase “the final draft” has evolved into a general industry term for the completed, polished version of a screenplay, regardless of the software used to write it. When a producer asks for ‘the final draft’, they are asking for the version of the script that the writer considers ready to be read by agents, actors, and directors. It signifies that the story is complete, the revisions have been made, and the script is ready to be sent out into the world.
The Myth of ‘Final’
It is a long-running joke in the industry that there is no such thing as a truly ‘final’ draft. The script is a living document that continues to evolve throughout the filmmaking process.
- The Green Draft: The draft that is approved for production.
- Colored Revisions: As changes are made during pre-production and shooting, new pages are issued on a specific color sequence (Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green, etc.) to make it easy for the cast and crew to keep their scripts updated.
- On-Set Revisions: Dialogue is often tweaked during rehearsals or on the day of shooting to better suit an actor’s performance or a specific location.
In this sense, the ‘final draft’ is simply the last version before the collaborative and ever-changing process of film production begins.