Honorees Share Screenwriting Advice at Final Draft Annual Awards

Every year, screenwriting software company Final Draft presents its Annual Awards Event to honor screenwriters who are working today. This past Tuesday, the ceremony was held at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Final Draft 2013 Hall of Fame Award honoree is writer, producer and director Nancy Meyers, "who has developed a reputation as a first-rate writer, director and producer of literate and sophisticated romantic comedies," said the company on its website. She wrote, produced and directed the 2009 film It's Complicated. Her film writing credits include Parent Trap, Father of the Bride, I Love Trouble, and Private Benjamin. Meyers is also well known for producing Something's Gotta Give and What Women Want.

At the ceremony, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Meyers "opened with a series of tips for aspiring screenwriters, drawing from her own experiences as one of Hollywood's most influential women in entertainment. 'I think writing is a job,' Meyers said. 'I make myself sit there all day until I get the work done. Take it seriously.'"

To sum up host Jay Chandrasekhar's advice: use screenwriting software, particularly Final Draft. THR reported that he said the software was industry standard, a tool that has been as important to him as a cell phone in advancing scripts worldwide.

Previous Final Draft Hall of Fame Award recipients include Lawrence Kasdan, Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Syd Field.

In other recent Hollywood news, FX has given the green light to a new comedy pilot called Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. Denis Leary will write and star in the pilot.