Final Draft AV 2.5 Win/Mac

by Final Draft, Inc.

Product Features

• Professional audio-visual scriptwriting software with auto formatting
• Import from any word processor; export to multiple file formats
• Create customized templates for different clients and projects
• 120,000 word spell-checker and thesaurus; custom dictionary
• Identical scripts on both Windows and Macintosh platforms

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000BYRUAI
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 1.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,721 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #22 in Software > Education & Reference > Script & Screenwriting
  • #35 in Software > Home & Hobbies > Movies & Television
  • #42 in Software > Education & Reference > Writing & Literature

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Final Draft AV is the only dedicated full-featured scriptwriting software specifically designed for the professional writers of commercials, corporate and training videos, documentaries, and presentations. Unlike standard word processors, Final Draft AV keeps the audio and video columns automatically aligned when text is added, edited, or deleted. There are no complicated commands to learn and no need to worry about style or placement of text; Final Draft AV creates a professionally formatted Audio-Visual script in no time.

Features:

• 100-percent cross-platform: Final Draft AV scripts are identical on both Windows and Macintosh platforms and can easily be exchanged between both.
• Import/export: Files from any word processor can be imported easily, no need to re-type your script. Export to multiple file formats (including PDF) to easily and securely share scripts with anyone.
• Automatic formatting: Paragraphs stay aligned as you type. When text is added to one column, the matching paragraph in the opposite column automatically stays with it.
• Elements: create separate styles for video description, character, dialog, etc. to make the script look exactly the way you, your company, and your client demand.
• Layouts: Create customized templates for different clients and projects. Switch between formats without having to retype any text.
• Export to teleprompters: Scripts can be sent directly to most teleprompters, with or without character names. There is no need to retype or reformat the text.
• Storyboard with Keynote: (Mac OS only) Export the text of a script into Apple's Keynote presentation software to create storyboards. Note: Keynote must be purchased separately.
• Final Draft AV to Final Draft: seamlessly transfer scripts between Final Draft AV and Final Draft with ease and take advantage of all possible media formats.
• Spotlight: (Mac OS Tiger only) search through text within your Final Draft AV documents quickly and easily and place it at your fingertips.
• Guide line: Rearranging and realigning text is easy. The blue guide line indicates exactly where text will be aligned as it is moved.
• Spell-checker and thesaurus: A 120,000 word spell-checker and thesaurus with synonyms and antonyms. Create a custom dictionary to add your own terminology.
• Script registry: Final Draft AV is a preferred file format of the WGAw online registry service. Final Draft has an authorized agreement with the WGAw online registry service.

What's new in Final Draft AV 2.5?

• Rearrange Guide Line: The new Rearrange Guide Line provides the ability to drag-and-drop any video text and have it line up with any audio text--or vice versa. This enables scenes and shots to be easily reordered after they are written. This function is unique to Final Draft AV.
• Improved Importing and Exporting Capabilities: Importing of RTF files with and without tables has been enhanced significantly. Both plain text files and Rich Text Files (RTF) can be imported. In addition, when there are three or more columns in a Microsoft Word table, a special import dialog appears to determine how the text will be formatted in Final Draft AV.
• Teleprompter Export: dialogues may now be separated by carriage returns.
• Instant Elements: you can create a new Video Description or Dialogue element with a simple mouse click.
• Spotlight: (Mac OS Tiger only) search through text within your Final Draft AV documents quickly and easily.
• Script Registry: Final Draft AV is a preferred file format of the WGAw online registry service. Final Draft has an authorized agreement with the WGAw online registry service. (Note: you do not need to be a member of the WGAw to use this service.)
• Foreign Language Spell-Checker and Thesaurus: add-on British English, French, Spanish, and German spell-checkers and thesauri are now available.

Product Description

Final Draft AV is the only dedicated full-featured scriptwriting software specifically designed for the professional writers of commercials, corporate and training videos, documentaries and presentations. Unlike standard word processors, Final Draft AV keeps the audio and video columns automatically aligned when text is added, edited or deleted. There are no complicated commands to learn and no need to worry about style or placement of text; Final Draft AV creates a professionally formatted Audio-Visual script in no time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, September 17, 2006

By 

DVD Author (St. Louis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Final Draft AV 2.5 Win/Mac (CD-ROM)

I am so disappointed with this software. It crashes and seems to be extremely sluggish. I expected much better from a product that costs so much. I need to be able to create scripts for my clients, so I don't know what I'm going to do. But I may have no choice at some point to buy something else. I've got to get my work done and not have to constantly be frustrated with the way the software stumbles along.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Frustrated!!!, March 13, 2009

By 

Traveller "Traveller" (MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Final Draft AV 2.5 Win/Mac (CD-ROM)

We had such high hopes for this. After struggling to create columns in Word, this seemed like the perfect solution. But the constant crashes make it extremely frustrating to use. If only it had an automatic backup it would at least be usable. But the hours and work lost are adding up. For me the crash rate is extremely high. A colleague uses it as well and has had only a few crashes--though one is too many IMHO. I've tried both the PC and now the Mac version. Today I noticed there was an upgrade so I downloaded it and tried to install it. The install failed and now I can't even open my past scripts. I tried calling customer service but you have to enter a credit card and agree to pay for support before you can even talk to someone. They do allow limited free support at first. If you have money to spare this may work for you. Write in a word processor and then paste the audio portion into the second column. Then write in your visuals. That's what I'm going to have to do from now on if I can get it working again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars AN IRRITATING NECESSITY, April 30, 2008

By 

Kirk Winkler (Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Final Draft AV 2.5 Win/Mac (CD-ROM)

If you're doing AV scripting (TV, particularly), this is a must. It's MUCH easier than struggling with Word columns or templates, and it delivers a very professional looking product.

But there are too many missing or problem features. First, it has an irritating tendency in Windows XP to shut down due to errors. So save...early and often. Then, there doesn't seem to be a zoom function for Windows (there is for Mac), so you're stuck with a full page at a time, which isn't great if your eyes aren't as strong as they used to be. And when it comes to sharing...if the person receiving your script doesn't have Final Draft AV, you'll have to export as a .pdf or a rich text file.

In other words, for as long as this product has been around, Final Draft hasn't attended to some basic issues. Make it exportable to .doc format for Word, make it zoomable, and above all, figure out what the code issue is that's shutting it down and it will be a MUCH better program.