(the transition) shows you know the rhythm of cinema. Fade In (the software) shows you respect your own time.
Most software shows you a list of scene headings. Fade In shows you a color-coded map of your story. You can drag and drop an entire sequence from Act 2 to Act 1 in two seconds. It automatically re-numbers your scenes, updates the script, and fixes the pagination. For rewriting, this is magic.
But for a professional, the first two words on that blank page aren't "Once upon a time." They are:
has become the professional's choice for three specific reasons:
If you are a screenwriter, you know the feeling. You open a new document, and there is nothing but a blinking cursor on a white abyss. The pressure is on.
Never use "FADE IN:" at the top of a spec script if you have a cold open (a scene that plays before the title card). In that case, just start with the scene heading. Save the Fade for after the teaser. What software are you currently using to write? Let me know in the comments below.
