Final Draft Inc. And GoldPocket Unveil Interactive Television Script Software - by Sarah Woodward

August 19, 2002 – Los Angeles, CA

Popular scriptwriting software publisher Final Draft Inc., and GoldPocket, a leading provider of two-way interactive programming for TV set-top boxes and PCs, have unveiled an interactive television (iTV) scriptwriting solution that enables writers to add interactive content to their scripts.

With the release of Final Draft 6.0.3, writers can use special ScriptNotes to annotate their television scripts with interactive material. The iTV ScriptNotes files are compatible with GoldPocket's broadcast automation tools, its joint postproduction solution with Avid Technology, and its EventMatrix interactive network, which delivers content to all set-top box, personal computer, and wireless platforms.

Registered users of Final Draft can download the software update and templates free of charge at www.finaldraft.com.

Meanwhile, the publisher's one-year-old multicolumn scriptwriting software, Final Draft AV 1.1, which was developed for commercials, corporate videos and documentaries, does not yet feature the new interactive capabilities. Those elements are expected to be added and released next year, according to Final Draft VP of product development Frank Colin.

However, the just debuted Final Draft 6.0.3 iTV scriptwriting solution may prove attractive to the advertising community as it delves into the advertainment arena. Final Draft 6.0.3 is based on the open XML language standard released in June by the iTV Production Standards Initiative, a consortium of some 450 relevant companies.
GoldPocket's iTV content production solution with Avid was unveiled at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in April. The two companies' respective technologies can team to allow editors to add timing and triggering information to interactive content via the most recent releases of Avid Symphony, Media Composer and Xpress.

A two-way interactive network, GoldPocket's proprietary EventMatrix leverages a real-time processing engine to enable television viewers to interact directly with each other, either via set-top box or PC. Based in Los Angeles, the company's tools and technologies were deployed last year on Volvo's iTV initiative on Bravo's Inside The Actors Studio via Euro RSCG MVBMS, New York, and convergent media company Cylo Inc. (SHOOT, 12/7, p. 1).

Additionally, GoldPocket has produced more than 3,000 hours of iTV programming for major broadcast and cable networks including CBS, FOX, Sony, The WB, Game Show Network, TBS Superstation, Comedy Central, Discovery Networks and Cinemax.