Montage 1.3 previewed

Mariner Software has announced Montage 1.3, an update to its screen-writing software developed exclusively for Mac OS X. Billed as the most comprehensive update to the application, version 1.3 introduces the ability to write scripts in Montage, then export them to Final Draft (in addition to already-included import features). Montage 1.3 will also include localizations for French, German, Spanish and Italian languages, along with support for Movie Magic Screenwriter .sex file formats. The company will be demonstrating a pre-release version at the Moviesoft (booth 23-01) during the Cannes Film Festival at the Market Place Palais des Festivals.

Montage provides screenwriters with a live script outline, a view of scenes, characters, locations, tasks, research, and more. Several pre-formatted templates, including film, television, and theater, automatically format the user's script to industry standards. Montage's Smart Views feature allows writers to visually filter the script to the desired content, based on user-selected criteria. When the script is completed, Montage offers the ability to create, submit, and track query letters, a script synopsis, and script submissions to hundreds of included industry contacts. Montage also imports Final Draft, text, and RTF documents.

"One of the biggest objections we received early on is that many screenwriters work with colleagues who use Final Draft," said Michael Wray, President of Mariner Software. We have invested thousands of man hours to reverse engineer the Final Draft code. As a result, a writer can now use Montage to create his or her script and take advantage of all the innovation and integration with Mac OS X, and once the script is complete, it can be saved in a true Final Draft format and shared with anyone. This is technology the screenwriting community has never seen before."

Montage 1.3 will be a free update for all 1.0 customers; however, the company did not provide a released date. The shipping version of Montage 1.2.2 sells for $140 and is a free upgrade for all 1.0 customers. Montage requires Mac OS 10.3.9 and is a Universal Binary.

by MacNN Staff