Movie Magic Tips & Tricks

I just installed mac os Big Sur and Movie Magic doesn't work.

This means that you are still launching an old version of Movie Magic Scheduling 6 or Budgeting 7.

Simply follow the directions below to uninstall/reinstall your software again and begin working in no time.

Open your Finder
Go to your Application folder and delete the folders within the MM Budgeting/MM Scheduling folder to uninstall without deactivating. To delete the folder, simply put the folder in the bin.
The program, when installed, will pick up on the old licensing data and you should be good to continue using Movie Magic.
Make sure all icons are removed from the desktop and/or Dock.
Please find below the links to download the latest version compatible with Big Sur:
https://moviesoft.com/moviemagic-download-centre/

I cannot find the default templates

If the template folder is not properly displayed, open Movie Magic Scheduling or Budgeting and go to File > New from Template.

Next, navigate to the location on your computer:

MM SCHEDULING

Windows: C:/Users/*Username*/MMData/MM Scheduling/Templates/System Templates
Mac: Macintosh Hard Drive > Users > *Username* > MMData > Movie Magic Scheduling > Templates > System Templates.
(alternatively you can hit simultaneously cmd + shift + H)

MM BUDGETING

Windows: C:/Users/*Username*/MMData/MM Budgeting/Templates/System Templates
Mac: Macintosh Hard Drive > Users > *Username* > MMData > Movie Magic Budgeting > Templates > System Templates.
(alternatively you can hit simultaneously cmd + shift + H)

Then highlight the template you want to use and click OPEN. Once this is done once, you won’t have to do it again. For a more in-depth explanation, you may find this video useful:

Lock File / Running Instance Error Message - Why This Happens / How to Limit the Risk of Lock File Issue?

Lock File – Why this happens?

When you work on a Movie Magic file (MMS or MMB), Movie Magic creates a lock file (during the session) to prevent another user to access your file (if it s saved and shared on a server for example). When you close your file, the lock file is normally closed as well.

However when there is a crash, the lock file is not closed.

Or

If you don’t use for a long period of time MMB or MMS without closing your software, the lock file might create a blocking issue when you try to open MMB/MSS.

Therefore, it’s recommended to close MMB or MMS rather to leave the session opened when you have finished working.

To delete the lock File

Open your Finder – Go to User > MM Data > MM Scheduling or MM Budgeting –

Delete the file named: movie_magic_budgeting.lock or movie_magic_scheduling.lock

For MAC USER
Open your Finder
Do: cmd + shift + H
There, MM Data > MM Scheduling or MM Budgeting
Delete the file named: movie_magic_budgeting.lock or movie_magic_scheduling.lock

Printer - Not having an active print setup will cause a lot of issues...

Not having an active print setup will cause a lot of issues from within both Movie Magic applications. If you don’t have a printer installed, we advise to install a virtual printer (dummy printer) and select it as default.

The way to set up/add a dummy printer?

1. Go to System Preferences -> Printers and Scanners.

2. Select the + symbol on the left-hand side.

3. In the window that opens up, select IP at the top.

4. In IP Address, enter 127.0.0.1, then below where it asks for Name just name it something like Fake or Dummy Printer.

5. Then hit Add.

6. Then, right-click the new dummy printer and set it as default.

You will then be able to use the PDF save us function.

Odd errors (Topsheet empty, Cannot access the globals or Fringes, ...)

Sometimes when odd errors occur during the use of the program, the settings can get corrupted. Simply closing the program and deleting the Settings Folder will resolve this. To delete the Settings Folder:

Close MMB
Go to MM Data > MM Budgeting > Settings Folder

For PC users: C:\users\”yourusername”\MMDATA\MM Budgeting
For Mac users: Open the finder > Cmd + Shift + H or under the “Go” Menu click the house icon.

Once there, click MMDATA\MM Budgeting.
Delete the Settings Folder (put the folder in the bin)
Relaunch MMB and see if it works.

Close MMS
Go to MM Data > MM Scheduling > Settings Folder

For PC users: C:\users\”yourusername”\MMDATA\MM Scheduling
For Mac users: Open the finder > Cmd + Shift + H or under the “Go” Menu click the house icon.

Once there, click MMDATA\MM Scheduling.
Delete the Settings Folder (put the folder in the bin)
Relaunch MMS and see if it works.

When clicking on “Group Setup”, Fringes, no pop up appears.

Close MMB
Go to MM Data > MM Budgeting > Settings Folder
For PC users: C:\users\”yourusername”\MMDATA\MM Budgeting
For Mac users: Open the finder > Cmd + Shift + H or under the “Go” Menu click the house icon. Once there, click MMDATA\MM Budgeting.
Delete the Settings Folder
Relaunch MMB and see if it works.

How to Access Your Movie Magic Backup files?

Both Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting regularly create backups of your file.
Backups are automatically created in case of a small technical issue such as:

– Lock file Issue
– Application crash
– Power cut

The backup files are located in the Backups Folder:

MM SCHEDULING or BUDGETING

Windows: C:/Users/*Username*/MMData/MM Scheduling (or Budgeting) /Backups
Mac: Macintosh Hard Drive > Users > *Username* > MMData > Movie Magic Scheduling (or Budgeting) > Backups

You can check the following tutorial video as well:

Opening a Movie Magic File - Recommendation

To open a Movie Magic file (Schedule or Budget) don’t click twice on the file icon but rather, launch the application (MMS or MMB) and then go to File > Open and then open your file

How to Create a PDF (Schedule or budget)?

There is no PDF button in Movie Magic. To create a PDF, you will need to use the print function.

Open Movie Magic
Go to File > Print
In the Print Window, Select the PDF menu at the bottom left

How to Create a Shooting Script?

What is a Shooting Order Script?
A shooting order script is the working script whose scenes are sorted in the shooting order determined by your schedule.

Scene Organiser is a new MAC product that creates a shooting script from your Movie Magic Scheduling and Final Draft files

Click here to download a free demo.

An alternate way to create "Save As" versions of your file:

Rather than creating a copy of your file (File > Save As) from Movie Magic Scheduling or Budgeting, we suggest slightly changing your workflow and creating copies from the location where your file is stored.

> First, close Movie Magic.

> Go to the location where your file is located:

Mac:

Do a right-click (Contextual Click) on the file
Select Duplicate
This will create a copy of your file

Windows:

Do a right-click and select File > Copy
Unselect the file
Do a right-click again and select Paste
This will create a copy of your file

Importing a Final Draft Script into Movie Magic Scheduling 6

You cannot directly import a native Final Draft file into Movie Magic. Actually you can but it only import the Scene headings and character names.

In order to import all data from you script, you have to import a “.sex file (which stands for Screenplay EXport file). This file can be directly generated from Final Draft 11 by opening the script and going to File > Export > Script… Then, select the .sex file format.

Then in MM open a new template and import the .sex file at that point. This will create a new Schedule document.

In addition, in the latest version of Final Draft, you can fully tag your script. We created 2 great guides covering this topic. They will help you to really use the best of both software and save a lot of time.

Breakdown Your Script in Final Draft®
Getting Started on Movie Magic Scheduling 6

https://moviesoft.com/product-category/mypocketguide/filmmaking/

Download MMB7 Shortcut Keys & Quick Tips

Movie Magic Budgeting Quick Tips
Movie Magic Budgeting Short Keys

Merging Schedules?

You cannot merge multiple schedules.

However, in the case of multiple episodes, we suggest to import all your Final Draft Script (X Episodes) into one big Scheduling File. Of course, you have to make sure to number your scene differently from one episode to the other. For example, Episode 1. 100, 101, Episode 2 201, 2020 etc and so on.