If scriptwriting programs were cars , Mariner Software ’s Montage 1.0.2 would be a turbo Mercedes with GPS and a six - DVD changer — but no rearward power train . As decent as they ’ve made the interface — particularly how nonrational it is to voyage — in its current version Mariner has missed the bedrock of screenwriting , make this software an impractical option for master , and only marginally utile to wannabes . That allege , Montage make a bold affirmation with its approaching , and with future upgrades it may indeed match the current screenwriting criterion , Final Draft 7.1.2 .
A simple word processing computer programme can keep dialogue , scenes , and natural process the right way formatted ; you may achieve proper data formatting with Microsoft Word , for example , and even Apple ’s page ( ) has a screenplay layout . Montage handles this well enough , do it possible to drop a line a script from scratch . If you were inclined to write a spec script , Montage could work for you . But true screenwriting package need extra features .
The bulk of a working screenwriter ’s life is not spend on compose first drafts , but on rewrite and round script , while keeping track of changes . In this regard , Montage falls flat . lineament that chase change and drafts , lock pages ( which sets page count and earmark for a versioning schema ) , make production scripts , and identification number scene — industry - standard elements of screenwriting — are all miss from this initial release . form screenwriters ca n’t get through a Clarence Day without these pecker .
Mariner acknowledges the importance of these features , and says it plans to add them in a next update .
Bugs are mundane with many new applications . Sometimes , even veteran software can be bug - heavy , like rival Final Draft ’s 7.0 ’s early release ( ) , and Montage has its share . For example , Montage act funnily when I was editing a document . The pointer often would jump a number of lines down the schoolbook when I insert a Scene Heading ; sometimes , it would jump to the final stage of the text file when I cancel a surgical incision of text . Or , when you make world change to the document initialize , like transfer the margins for Action text , the change appears only on the school text you enter after you ’ve made the change — and not on the precede pages ( though in some cases , the written document print correctly despite what I saw on blind ) .
collage can import scripts from Final Draft and RTF files . For me , this was a hit or miss exercise , as the resulting text had significant formatting errors when using some template . For case , import a Final Draft document into the normal Screenplay guide mold aright , but it was incorrect in Screenplay ( Warner Bros. ) template . Another incommodiousness : Montage does not have the power to export back to Final Draft .
Mariner designed Montage as a departure from the constraint of Final Draft , and it has delivered on some fronts . The Outlining and Synopsis portion of the program , both well - project and conducive to brainstorming , are nice additions . Plus , in the Contacts discussion section , Montage lets you cross your handwriting submissions . It also mix with Apple ’s Address Book to store client info .
Macworld’s buying advice
Montage 1.0.2 feels like it was bear untimely . Seasoned screenwriters wo n’t find the tools they need in this initial release , and it was rather dotty . But the software does show promise , and perhaps with some additional updates , it will slip some of Final Draft ’s thunder .
[ Anton Linecker is a writer and picture proficient adviser last in Los Angeles . ]
