Screenwriting : Causality and other programs by Marc Nelson

Marc Nelson

Causality and other programs

As I'm fairly new to screenwriting I wondered if anyone else used programs like Causality to help get some feedback on their scripts?

I wrote my pilot script in Word, but have taken sections of it and put it into Causality and found the Readability section quite useful.

Does anyone else use programs like this and do they think they are worthwhile and good to follow?

I'm not taking all their advice, but it has helped me re-structure my script.

Marc Nelson

These were the original lines.

Maurice Vaughan

I use Microsoft Word to outline scripts, but I've been thinking about using a screenwriting app to outline, Marc Nelson. Here's a recent post about Causality: www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Causality-Screenwriting-App

Also, I suggest using a screenwriting program to write your scripts. Microsoft Word won't format your scripts correctly. I use Final Draft 12 to write my scripts. I also use WriterDuet as backup.

Marc Nelson

Thanks Maurice Vaughan. I evaluated both Final Draft and Causality and found Causality to have a much nicer interface. I'm going through my script and manually putting it into Causality. It has already allowed me to see simpler ways to write some action scenes and the research area is a great aspect of the program.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Marc Nelson. I might try Causality. Final Draft has an outlining feature, so I'll probably try that first.

Göran Johansson

Please explain. What exactly does Causality do? Does the program write a scene if one gives it a few sentences with ideas? Or what does it do?

Marc Nelson

It does a lot. But you write it yourself. There are options to ask it to rewrite parts, to build a synopsis for each beat. It's quite a visual way of building a script. There's too much to say here really. There's a free trial we're you can use it to build 10 pages of a script. I'd recommend watching the tutorials first.

Göran Johansson

Dear Marc, many thanks. I should take a look at the program.

George Abney

I am new to Stage 32 and am excited about what is available.

Maurice Vaughan

Oh ok, Matthew Kelcourse. So Causality is an AI writing program. I thought it was just an outlining app. I won't be using it. Thanks.

William Joseph Hill

I've dabbled with Causality -- It can be helpful if you want to outline your story before writing, and for using it the way you do. And you can move scenes around. It can really help you with structure. Another program I've played with in the past is Dramatica. If you're the kind of writer who likes to outline and look at structure, these are great tools to help you see your script broken out structurally.

Dan MaxXx

Casuality's been around for 8-9 years. Maybe now with AI hype booming, they will make an impact. Anyone know of tv shows using casuality or any pro writers endorsing this?

Marc Nelson

I think its mis-leading to say Causality is an AI program. Its a writing program like any other but has different features. For one it's installed on your device, not Web based and it saves your work on that device not over the in. Yes it has some lookup features which does use the Web but that doesn't mean it'd AI. Microsoft word looks up dictionaries online so do a lot of programs.

This program will not write your scripts for you. I come from a computer programming and developing software and I have to say that this program is well designed and is helping me rewrite a script.

Everyone's welcome to their opinions but I personally would not class Causality as an AI program.

Sam Rivera

Hi Marc Nelson I've never heard of this software before but if you're looking into the AI inentertianment I highly recommend checking out Tyler Winther's Exec Hour with the Writers' Room where he discusses his use of AI, if you don't have a membership, you can always activate a free membership here!>www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

Marc Nelson

Hi @samrivera, I'm not looking into AI I was just trying to make it clear that Causality should not be considered an AI program in my opinion. I was looking for a program to help me write scripts rather than using Microsoft word. Thanks for the information though.

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