Final Draft training for HETV

A good understanding of Final Draft is essential for anyone looking to get ahead in high-end TV production. But whilst a partial working knowledge can be achieved on the job, getting to grips with the software’s finer points needs the kind of focus that’s hard to come by in a busy production office.

So the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund has put together a free fully funded Final Draft training programme for junior to mid-level crew working in high-end TV (it is NOT aimed at non-scripted crew this time).

The two day course will be held on weekends, with 20 spaces available per group, per month except August). All of the training sessions will take place via zoom except the first session which will be delivered face-to-face in Central London.

Course leaders Imogen Gay and Rosie Dias will guide you through a wide variety of topics, including coloured amendment pages, beat boards, batch changes, creating reports and much more.

Attendees will also have access to pre-recorded interviews with key industry figures such as script supervisors, script coordinators, writers and script editors – and you will receive a Padlet of great resources.

If you don’t have Final Draft, we will ask you to download a free trial version, but don’t do this until the first day of your course.

This programme is funded by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund made up of contributions from UK high-end TV productions. 

Who it's for

This course is aimed at junior to mid-level high-end TV production crew with at least two credits on an HETV production (not including dailies), working in the production office, AD or script department. These include:

•   APOCs
•   production secretaries
•   assistant directors (With a mininum 3rd AD credit)
•   script coordinators 

It is not aimed at crew working in unscripted TV.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a new entrant programme for recent graduates/runners.

ScreenSkills supports current and future generations of talent to flourish in the screen industries. We are committed to embedding diversity in all its forms, including geographic representation, in the workforce we help to build

We always welcome applications from under-represented groups, including, but not limited to: those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We offer inclusive training. If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, please let us know and we will be happy to work with you to meet them.

Contact: matt.thecallsheet@gmail.com

What it covers

This two-day training course will be delivered either in person or online and will cover:

• amendments and memos including coloured pages
• sides and creating scene-per-page scripts
• creating a new script and templates
• batch changes
• alternative dialogue
• reports
• tagging 

Both days will feature exercises where you will put what you have learned into practice in a supported environment. 

You will also get access to pre-recorded interviews with a wide variety of Final Draft users to give you an insight into different areas of the software.

You will also be given an invaluable Padlet of Final Draft resources.

How to apply

The training will run on the following dates:

• Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 March 24 (online)
• Saturday 20 - Sunday 21 April 24 (online)
• Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 May 24 (online)

Click 'apply now' to apply for your place on one of the Final Draft course. You will need a ScreenSkills account to complete your application.

Contact information

Email: matt.thecallsheet@gmail.com