How to Use Movie Magic Screenwriter for TV and Feature ScriptsMovie Magic Screenwriter is a powerful, industry-standard screenwriting program used by professionals for both television and feature film scripts. This guide walks you step-by-step through setting up projects, formatting for TV and features, writing efficiently with templates and shortcuts, using production tools, and exporting for draft circulation or production. Practical tips and examples are included to help you move from first draft to production-ready script.
Why choose Movie Magic Screenwriter?
- Industry-standard formatting: Automatically applies correct margins, indents, and element spacing for industry-accepted screenplay format.
- Templates for TV and features: Built-in templates for teleplays (single-camera, multi-camera), features, and produced scripts speed up setup.
- Production-friendly features: Scene numbering, revision tracking, stripboard integration, and production reports make the transition from script to set smoother.
- Robust navigation and outlining: Scene navigator, Beat Board, and index cards help you structure long-form scripts and episodes.
Getting started: installation and setup
- Install Movie Magic Screenwriter from the official distributor and activate with your license.
- Open the program and choose New > Script to start. Select the appropriate template:
- Feature Screenplay (for theatrical or feature-length projects).
- Single-Camera Teleplay (hour-long or half-hour single-camera shows).
- Multi-Camera Teleplay (sitcoms filmed before a studio audience).
- Set project details: Title Page fields (title, writer, draft date), page size (US Letter or A4), and default element spacing.
Understanding screenplay elements and formatting
Movie Magic Screenwriter uses element types to format text automatically. Common elements:
- Scene Heading (INT./EXT.) — indicates location and time; starts a scene.
- Action/Description — describes visuals and actions.
- Character — centered name above dialogue.
- Parenthetical — brief actor direction within dialogue (use sparingly).
- Dialogue — the spoken lines.
- Transition — edits like CUT TO:, DISSOLVE TO:.
- Shot — camera directions, used rarely.
Use the TAB and ENTER keys to cycle elements quickly. Pressing ENTER after a Scene Heading automatically moves you to Action; pressing TAB will jump to Character or Dialogue based on context. Learn the element hotkeys in Preferences to speed up typing.
Formatting differences: TV vs. Feature
- Feature scripts typically run 90–120 pages, formatted with standard screenplay margins and page count approximating minutes.
- TV formats vary:
- Half-hour multi-camera scripts often include scene numbers, act breaks, and parenthetical audience/LAUGH cues.
- One-hour (single-camera) teleplays resemble feature format but include act/sting markers and act breaks per network requirements.
Movie Magic includes templates that automatically set act break labels, page length targets, and other teleplay-specific fields (e.g., Teaser, Act One, Act Two, Tag). Use the “Act/Scene” tools to insert act breaks and label them correctly for submission or production.
Structuring your script: outlines, index cards, and Beat Board
- Use the Index Card view to organize scenes visually. Cards hold scene headings, scene descriptions, and estimated length. Drag and drop to reorder.
- The Beat Board (or Story Map) helps you plot beats, character arcs, and subplot threads before writing full scenes.
- Create a synopsis or scene-by-scene outline in a separate document or inside the screenwriter’s Outline view; then convert outline entries into scenes.
Practical workflow: outline major beats → create index cards per beat → flesh out scenes in Draft view → refine with notes and revision tracking.
Writing efficiently: templates, autotext, and shortcuts
- Save frequently used blocks (e.g., character bios, recurring scene intros) as templates or Snippets to insert with a shortcut.
- Autotext can expand short triggers into full phrases (e.g., type “INT-LIVING” to expand to “INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY”).
- Customize your element hotkeys and keyboard macros in Preferences for actions you use often (e.g., insert Scene Heading, add parenthetical, or page break).
Example snippet for TV cold open:
TEASER INT. APARTMENT - DAY Beat description... CHARACTER Dialogue... Save that as a template to insert instantly for each episode’s cold open.
Collaboration, revisions, and version control
- Use Revision Mode to mark changes by color and track what text was added, deleted, or revised between drafts. Choose revision colors per production standards (e.g., white, blue, pink, yellow).
- Export revision reports and revision pages for production teams and unions.
- For collaborative writing, export to Final Draft (.fdx) or RTF if your co-writers use different software. Use comparison tools to merge changes if multiple versions are combined outside the program.
Production tools: scene numbering, reports, and stripboards
- Number scenes automatically or manually; numbered scenes sync with production breakdowns.
- Generate reports for characters, locations, props, and scene pages — useful for scheduling and budgeting.
- Export a stripboard (CSV or another format) to import into scheduling programs (e.g., Movie Magic Scheduling) so production can build shooting schedules from your script.
Tip: Before exporting to scheduling, ensure scene headings are consistent (INT./EXT., location names standardized) for accurate breakdowns.
Exporting and delivering scripts
Common export formats:
- PDF — standard for submissions; include a title page with writer contact and draft date.
- Final Draft (.fdx) — for collaboration with writers using FD.
- RTF or DOCX — when requested by producers or reviewers who prefer Word.
- Fountain — plain-text interchange for lightweight workflows.
When submitting to agents or contests, use the feature or teleplay template with correct title page info and save a PDF with embedded fonts to preserve formatting.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Misaligned elements: check Document Settings for margins and element tabs.
- Page count mismatch: ensure you’re using standard page size and not inserting large blocks of prerendered text or excessive scene headings.
- Export formatting changes: test exports to target formats (FDX/RTF) and adjust element mapping in Export Preferences.
Best practices and professional tips
- Keep action concise — screenplays are visual documents; show, don’t tell.
- Use Scene Headings consistently; production teams rely on them.
- Use revision colors and notes to communicate intent to production and co-writers.
- Back up early and often; save incremental versions (MyScript_v1, _v2, etc.).
- Learn keyboard shortcuts for the most-used elements — they dramatically increase drafting speed.
Example: basic single-camera teleplay setup
- New > Teleplay > Single-Camera.
- Title Page: fill in Title, Written by, Draft date.
- Insert TEASER as a Scene Heading block labeled “TEASER.”
- Use Index Cards to create Act One — add scene descriptions and estimated page counts.
- Draft scenes, using Dialogue and Parenthetical elements as needed.
- Run a Page Count and adjust pacing to hit act-length targets.
Final notes
Movie Magic Screenwriter bridges creative drafting and production needs. Using its templates, outlining tools, and production features lets you focus on storytelling while remaining production-ready. Practice the element shortcuts, maintain consistent scene headings, and use the Index Card view and revision tools to keep long-form TV seasons and features organized through every draft.
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