Big Fish
A full feature screenplay, 137 pages, to see how Matn handles a real production draft: scenes, characters, places and the report.
Screenplay by John August, from the novel by Daniel Wallace. © 2003 Columbia Pictures.
INT. YOUR DESK - ANY HOUR
Matn متن
Free beta · Version 0.2.1
The screenwriting app that speaks Urdu.
Matn formats your script to industry standard as you type, in English, in Nastaliq Urdu, or both on the same page. A fast, native app for every desk, free while in beta.
1 INT. INSIDE MATN - CONTINUOUS
What Matn does for you.
Everything a script needs, in plain words.
Formats as you type
Write your scene and Matn lays it out like a real film or drama script. Scene headings, characters and dialogue land in the right place, and page breaks are handled for you.
Urdu that looks right
Urdu shows in proper Nastaliq, the way it is meant to be read, and English and Urdu can share a line. No Urdu keyboard? Type Urdu with English letters.
See your whole story
Every scene, character and location is listed beside the page. Lay your scenes out as cards and drag them around to try a new order.
Never lose a draft
Matn saves as you write. Keep a copy of any draft with one key, compare it with today, and go back to it whenever you like.
Notes that never print
Leave notes and comments on any scene or line, and try a new version of a line without deleting the old one. None of it shows in the PDF.
Made for drama serials
Keep every episode of a serial in one file. Search, rename a character or export across all the episodes at once.
Ready for the shoot
Lock scene numbers, mark rewrites in colour, and see page count, running time, and who speaks the most, scene by scene.
Works with your files
Send a PDF that looks exactly like the screen, or a Word or Final Draft file. Open your old Final Draft, Fountain and InPage scripts.
Everything inside
Writing
- Auto formatting
- Smart autocomplete
- Dual dialogue
- Title page
- Auto CONT'D
- Industry page breaks
- Bold, italic, underline
- Centred text
- Shots & lyrics
Urdu
- Nastaliq Urdu
- Right-to-left pages
- Urdu + English lines
- Phonetic keyboard
- CRULP & InPage layouts
- Urdu numerals
- Urdu interface
Story
- Scene sidebar
- Index cards
- Drag to reorder
- Scene colours
- Characters list
- Locations list
- Character profiles
- Rename everywhere
- Command bar
- Find & replace
Rewriting
- Scene notes
- Comments
- Alternate lines
- Autosave
- Crash recovery
- One-key versions
- Compare drafts
- Restore anytime
Production
- Scene numbers
- Locked pages
- Revision colours
- Omit scenes
- Letter & A4
- Script report
- Running time
- Cast breakdown
- Breakdown CSV
Files
- PDF export
- Word export
- Final Draft
- Fountain
- Plain text
- InPage import
- Watermarked PDFs
- Actor sides
Serials
- Drama serials
- Single-file serials
- Episode switcher
- Export all episodes
- Script templates
Habits
- Daily word goal
- Writing sprints
- Writing streaks
- Best writing hours
Comfort
- Light & dark
- Sepia theme
- Night page
- Focus mode
- Typewriter scrolling
- Zoom
- Keyboard shortcuts
The app
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Works offline
- No account
- One-click updates
- Free beta
2 INT. THE READING TABLE - DAY
Try it with a real script.
Open it in Matn, or read the PDF Matn made from it.
To open it, install Matn, choose Open… in its sidebar and pick the .matn file. The PDF is exactly what Matn exports, so you can see the result before installing anything.
3 INT. THE DOWNLOADS - VERSION 0.2.1
Pick your desk.
Beta 0.2.1, released 9 October 2026. Every download is the full app, free.
macOS
Disk image · Apple silicon & Intel
- Needs
- macOS 12 Monterey or later
- Size
- 12.8 MB
- File
- Matn-0.2.1.dmg
Opening it the first time
Drag Matn into Applications. The first time, macOS may say it cannot check the app: open System Settings › Privacy & Security and choose Open Anyway.
Windows
Installer · 64-bit
- Needs
- Windows 10 (1809) or later
- Size
- 9.5 MB
- File
- Matn-0.2.1-setup.exe
Opening it the first time
Run the installer. If SmartScreen appears, choose More info › Run anyway. Matn is added to the Start menu and opens .matn files.
Linux
AppImage · any distribution
- Needs
- x86-64, most distributions
- Size
- 14.9 MB
- File
- Matn-0.2.1-x86_64.AppImage
Opening it the first time
Make it executable (chmod +x Matn-0.2.1-x86_64.AppImage), then open it. Nothing to install.
Debian & Ubuntu
.deb package · 64-bit
- Needs
- Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or later
- Size
- 11.5 MB
- File
- matn_0.2.1_amd64.deb
Opening it the first time
Install with sudo apt install ./matn_0.2.1_amd64.deb. Matn appears in your app menu.
4 EXT. QUESTIONS - DAY
Is Matn finished?
Not yet. Matn is in beta: everything on this page works, but you may run into the odd bug. We are improving the features that are here and building new ones, and Matn tells you when a new version is out so you can update in one click.
Is Matn free?
Yes. Matn is free while it is in beta, with every feature included. No account, no subscription.
Why does my computer warn me when I open it?
The beta is not yet signed with Apple or Microsoft, so macOS and Windows ask before opening it the first time. The steps for each system are listed with its download above, and each file has a SHA-256 checksum you can verify.
Where are my scripts kept?
On your own computer, as .matn files. Matn works entirely offline and saves as you write, with versions you can go back to.
Can I bring my existing scripts?
Matn opens Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain and InPage files, and exports to PDF, Word, Final Draft, Fountain and plain text, so you can move freely between tools.
How do I report a bug or ask for a feature?
Email hello@amtulshahida.com with what you were doing and what happened (a screenshot helps). Every report is read, and the beta is shaped by them.
FADE TO:
Your next draft starts on page one.
Found a bug, or wish Matn did something it doesn't? Tell us. The beta is shaped by the writers who use it.