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For a capstone film project, the right scriptwriting software makes a big difference. For example, you might use Scripto, which was created by screenwriter Rob Dubbin.
Rob designed the software to keep things simple. “When I was at the Colbert Report, we were working our tails off trying to collaborate with each other,” Rob explains. “You would write scripts in the morning, and you’d expect to be done by the time Stephen rehearsed the show in the early afternoon. That’s a really tight schedule, and it’s a challenge to keep information in sync between departments.”
Rob created Scripto “to be like Google Docs for TV shows.” Writers can work together on scripts, store them on a shared folder system, and plan a show. Plus, producers can know right away if a prop has been added or cut. They can learn about major changes immediately.
With large organizations like the Colbert Report, this kind of communication helps. “It takes up to 200 people to make a show,” Rob points out. “The tighter the communication, the better the show is. More people like working there because you don’t have to sit over someone’s shoulder to type.”
So, why didn’t Rob and his team just use Google Docs? “In television, the format of the scripts is so important,” he explains. “Being able to collaborate on this very specialized form of document is essential. It creates one shared nervous system for the entire television show to work with.”
Scripto doesn’t just work for television writers. In fact, it uses two script formats. One, of course, is the studio format. This format works best for news reports and late night shows.
The other, however, is the screenplay format. “You would use this format if you were writing a short film, long film, comedy, or drama,” explains Rob. Film students could use this format to simplify their capstone projects.
