AI and screenwriting / scriptwriting is a hot topic at the moment – talk of replacing human writers with AI bots, and copyright (how was this model trained? – do human screenwriters ever get asked how they trained?)
PLOT DOT AI
I came across an AI screenwriting tool called Plotdot AI which looks pretty interesting. Plotdot AI is still in Beta testing but the basic functions are that it can generate a full feature length screenplay, with human input on story, characters and theme (and more) in a few hours.
That’s brilliant isn’t it? Even as a pro scriptwriter with tons of experience and very real hard learned skills – it would still take me three to four weeks to generate an original screenplay – and that would be with a detailed storyline to go off – and I’m FAST – real fast (Faster than FEDEX on rewrites)
Looks like Plotdot AI – can do three weeks work in matter of hours.
Cut to: Outcry from some writers and screenwriters and filmmakers – the villagers gather with burning torches ready to destroy Plotdot AI – as if it was a monster unleashed.
But let’s back up into the garage for a moment before we burn through all the petrol – All Plotdot AI is doing is generating what a pro scriptwriter would call a vomit draft, a very rough first run, what it spits out is very generic – its not a polished, nailed down and ready to be shot – its just a rough starting point (cos all writing is rewriting and refining – that’s the job and the truth Ruth – no scriptwriter in the world ever has his first draft signed off).
This vomit draft – made in an hour or so – takes the pain out of one of the most important aspects of writing – it gets something down – something on paper than can be worked on – because the most important thing with first drafts is:
DON’T GET IT RIGHT – GET IT WRITTEN – and Plotdot AI get’s it written.
Pro scriptwriters and script consultants can use this draft as a STARTING point to then refine the script into something much more workable, human and original.
We can make that basic draft sing…
As a script consultant I can see a lot of use for it, and I can see myself being hired by clients to knock these vomit drafts into some sort of proper workable and presentable shape.
The first rule of writing is don’t get it right – get it written, you need something on paper so you can refine it.
This gets it written – in less than an hour, so the real work can begin. It’s not to be feared, and potentially this will create more work for scriptwriters who embrace it.
If you’re a producer or director – and have used AI to generate a first draft and YOU NEED A PROPER SCRIPTWRITER to knock the script into shape you can hire me – I’m happy to chat: contact me on matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk
Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire and UK script consultant for over 25 years. He’s written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award-winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and has been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a script writer.
As a film director for hire he’s completed four innovate, low budget feature length horror movies including the recently acclaimed: H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
His latest feature film SOBER a comedy starring Dean Smith (Last Tango in Halifax / Still Open All Hours) and Tom Gibbons (Funny Cow / The Archers) was released in April 2025 and became an online sensation and cleared 10,000 views in just two days..
You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb.