The screenplay is naturally the base for any drama production. In Dramatify it’s also the base for a web of links that string characters, cast, sets and locations together to end in the call sheets.
The easiest way to work with screenplays in Dramatify is to import a shooting script as a.fdx file from Final Draft or any Final Draft-compatible screenwriting program. If correctly formatted, you will at the same time import all characters with dialogue as well as all sets. While the .fdx file contains all that information, scripts from Movie Magic Screenwriter, Celtx, MS Word or a PDF do not. However, there are ways to import other screenplay formats as well with a little TLC.
Team writing
Do you have the writing team spread out? No problem. Team writing and editing work great in Dramatify. As each scene is a “card” or its own container, you can each work on different parts without risking overwriting someone editing the same content at the same time. It also makes it easy to create a storyline, just like with old-fashioned index cards, and then flesh out each scene.
Sorting characters and inviting cast
When you import a properly formatted screenplay, you also import characters and sets. The characters end up in one long list as main characters, and you need to properly categorise them as main characters, supporting characters etc. Just click on the edit icon next to the character name to do that.
In the resulting popup, you can also invite a cast member to the character, linking them together in team lists, cast lists and call sheets, or leaving the invitation for later.
Don’t forget to add extras and check off characters
After importing and sorting your characters, it’s important that you go through your screenplay scene by scene. You need to add characters that do not have any dialogue or are extras or atmosphere, as these will not have been automatically imported.
You also need to check off the characters that should be in front of the camera in each scene. We could, of course, take the risk of a qualified guess based on who has dialogue but prefer to take the safe road and let you decide.
Happy writing in Dramatify!
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