Screenwriting : Problems with AI screenwriting by Göran Johansson

Göran Johansson

Problems with AI screenwriting

I read a screenplay, written with the help of AI, because the writer wanted comments from me. So I have suggestions to those who want to write with AI.

AI wants to create scenes by adding cliché to cliché. Bad. So I suggest that you contact those members you network with. Tell that you are willing to write comments or their screenplays. When you read their screenplays, look for clichés. The more you learn to find clichés in screenplays written by others, the more easily will you be able to delete clichés from your own screenplay.

In the screenplay I read, there were multiple errors which show that AI doesn't understand what the audience can see. So I suggest that you contact your local group with no-budget filmmakers. Tell them that you are willing to help them when they film. That will force you to read the screenplay they use, and learn how to film it. That will help you to find details in your screenplay which can't be filmed.

What advice do the rest of you have for those who want to use AI for screenwriting?

Lauren C. Brits

I'd advise that people use AI for story ideas but actually write the screenplay themselves and, absolutely, read scripts, read the good ones and the bad ones. There are many sites where people can download scripts to read and learn the craft. AI could help you with refining your story but you shouldn't rely on it to write it for you.

Drew Anderson

I wouldn't trust AI as a reliable source, writing words is easy, but a good story or a story in general takes imagination, inspiration, and seeing something that others don't see. Also as mentioned AI comes up with cliché scenes, a genuine writer comes up with fantastic monolugues, infamous phrases, and emotions.

A story is not a program.

Lauren C. Brits

Yeah. AI definitely can't write with heart.

Dan MaxXx

My advice: if you havent done jack of actually making movies or tv shows, or winning strangers over with writing, or surrounding yourself with a circle of peers & mentors, AI is not gonna help you at all. You will always be behind because your craft- your foundation- is junk.

Victoria Brooks

I think AI is an incredibly useful tool, if you know how to wield it well. With that said, AI writes toward averages, so what it puts in there will be the most likely scenario - cliches. I have used AI for research and for ideas, but the execution is reliant on me. Besides, if AI writes the entire screenplay, why would anyone hire you when an AI subscriptions is free - $20?

I've used it to understand what challenges my character could potentially face and write in those scenes. I've used it to understand controversies so I can create scenarios to force my character to make decisions. I've also had it write me a script from scratch. Then, I had it do it again, and they were nearly identical. Can you imagine running a screenplay competition and having nearly same scripts over and over again in an industry that wants same but different?

It's more of a foundational tool with the writer at the helm, making creative decisions then executing. AI can be helpful with certain tasks like editing, but I would recommend regular AI rather than generative AI (which might take your ideas and spit them out elsewhere). Here's a cliche written without the held of AI, "There is no free lunch."

To be good at something means doing the work. In writing, doing the w

ork, learning, and iterating will teach you the process. Then, you can bring yourself, your knowledge, and your humanity and earn. The most beautiful part of having AI as a tool is learning and understanding what makes us human, IMO.

David B. Wright

AI is a reverse Turing test. If you ask it unintelligent questions it will give you unintelligent (cliche) answers. If you master prompting for style, dialog subtext, and tone it can be useful to improvise scenes from detailed scene narratives which you can cherry pick or prune to get reasonable first draft scenes. Here a YouTube contest to see if you can tell which is the human and which is the AI script. https://youtu.be/gg5xdLXmlCY?t=980

CJ Walley

What advice do the rest of you have for those who want to use AI for screenwriting?

Use it for robotic tasks, use it for getting a different perspective, use it for inspiration. Basically, use it for anything that turbocharges your creativity, motivation, and efficiency.

Writers are supposed to love writing, so anyone even considering getting AI to replace the artistic side need to have a good think about where their passion lies.

Likewise, those dismissing AI also need to think hard about if they are really out-performing it. There are plenty of writers out there producing derivative work that's full of cliches, lacks any kind of unique voice, and says nothing new.

Göran Johansson

Dear friends, It was most interesting to read your comments.

With my background in the academic research world, I have sometimes been a pioneer when it comes to using new technology. So I know that new technology may be useful, but not for the reason which appears most intuitive.

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