I cant remember the intricacies of Filmnotion..but how does filmenvelope make the draft easier to execute- by having a menu of visual choices?..is that right? Also am quite lost on the "current screenplays will be contributed by users in this highly visual format so that novice screenwriters can quickly develop their craft.." how does the work protected?

You can make the whole storyboard,
Nice
Tommy

Interesting idea! Web-based writing tools are great and I've been reading about a few different ones lately, all of which are fairly new, and I don't recall hearing of any specifically related to screenwriting.
So you're making the screenwriting process more visual, to better reflect that film is a visual medium, but it sounds to me like the visual-ness employed in FilmEnvelope (icons representing various screenplay conventions) will have nothing to do with the visual qualities of the film itself.
Also I don't see how the name really fits much...what about something like ScreenDrawing, or Screenplay Visualizer, something that is more reflective of what it actually does.

Thanks doublelibra - I agree that the name doesn't reflect the product. I'll think on that one.

It is also true that the screenplay, which you can see at a glance along a mac dock-like storyline, doesn't get into visual aspects like camera angles/movements or recurring visual motifs (which your director is going to want to do anyway). But it will include generic locations, both interior and exterior, day/night toggle, as well as blank icons with which to do quick sketches or emphasize particular motifs.

The audience would be producers (ie anyone with cash) who would feel confidence when they get an 'oh I get it' from one glance at the story.

hey check out filmnotion.com today!

I hate Final Draft. Anything that is an improvement on the current screenwriting software is welcome.