Writing your Screenplay on the iPad
With the success of the Apple App Store and iPhone, along with the 
introduction of the iPad last week, the screenwriting community can’t help but wonder when the first screenwriting app for the iPad will be released — and further more, who will release it.
Let’s face it — the screenwriting apps available for the smaller devices are kinda’ silly. It would take hours to compose a compelling sequence simply due to the size of the screen and keyboard.
Unlike the screen of the iPhone, the iPad sports a 9.7 inch screen and full-size, soft keyboard, which provides a much more natural (two handed) and efficient way to write a screenplay on a mobile device (see for yourself at 2:35 of the video below) — come to think of it, it might even be better than how we do it now. With the multi-touch technology built into the glass of the device, writers will be able to actually touch their screenplay while writing it; so while the keyboard shortcuts we’ve all come to know so well help us execute the commands we want quickly, multi-touch gestures might just trump them.
There’s no doubt an app will be specifically made for the iPad — the question is, who will be up for the task?
Celtx? Final Draft? Screenwriter?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and feelings about this.
Would you use the iPad to write your screenplay — why or why not? And what company do you think would make the best app?
![Do You Use Final Draft? [POLL]](http://www.scriptxray.com/wp-content/themes/arthemia-premium/scripts/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/finaldraft8.jpg&w=80&h=80&zc=1&q=100)
I would love to write a screenplay on the ipad! With the success and versatility of the iPhone and iPod Touch only make this an actual possibility for writers. I can’t wait to try it out!
I’m actually banking on the iPad working as a screenplay. I’ve got my fingers crossed and my finances in order. I have a nice big iMac at home, but my girlfriend’s MacBook is more often becoming my tool of choice for the scripts I write. I thought of getting a laptop, but the price was a little too much to shell out on top of a perfectly serviceable, though stationary, iMac. The iPad could be the answer! It’s that exact combo i need – writing, note taking, web serviceability – and once I have a play with it, try typing and see how it feels, I hope to nab it. The web is fairly abuzz with screenwriters hoping for a Celtx or Final Draft app. I’m one of them! If it doesn’t come with launch, I’m sure it’ll come eventually. For the record, I’m a Celtx man, only because I couldn’t afford Final Draft back in the day, before torrenting was rampant.
Got to play with an ipad today. There is no way a fast touch typist is going to be happy with the touchscreen keyboard. It isn’t quite full size and that “almost” factor is going to take your accuracy from the 90s down to the 50s for the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, the ipad is compatible with wireless keyboards… and Apple’s wireless keyboard is both comfy and small… A small bag with ipad and keyboard would still be lighter and nicer than the whole laptop experience. I can totally see propping up the ipad down at Starbucks and tapping out a script. As soon as Final Draft has a workable app, I’m sold.
Waiting patiently for screenplay app for the Ipad, so today I called Final Draft to see if any word on it. The feeling I got over the phone was that they are not working on it as of yet. Something to do with the iPad’s OS. Does anybody have any further knowledge of this?
@Vince – I wish I could pump out a screenplay at a 90 wpm rate! That’d be awesome!
@Charlie – I imagine they’re not developing anything because of cost. Why else would they sit back and watch as other develop apps and freeware available for screenwriters.
I’m guess they’ll consider it if it catches on.
Been hacking away on the iPad, and created a way to write screenplays on it. We detail it here, and put up a free template you can download:
How to write a screenplay on the iPad.
Think this is a great stop-gap until a dedicated iPad screenplay app comes along.
awesome!
I’ll wait for the Final Draft app to launch, by then, hopefully most of the bugs will be worked out.
I have a PC at home and I usually write my entire script at home, then transfer it over to the Pages program on my iPad. I use it all the time, I had a macbook air but there is nothing quicker then pulling out my ipad and changing a line or two. Every scriptwriter should have one!
i am planning to buy an iPad since it looks lighter than a regular desknote and i don not use much of the features of a laptop.;`*
iPad is way too cool to own, i wanna buy one next month.~;’
I don’t think it’s ever going to be uncool to own one