Imagine this scenario. You’re deep into your script, but a crucial scene feels flat. The dialogue is functional but lacks spark. You open ChatGPT and type:
“Okay, ChatGPT, I’m writing a scene for my script and I want to play with some dialogue options. I want you to role-play as the character Paul, and I’m going to play as Isaac in the scene where he is confronted by Isaac about his gambling addiction. Is that okay?”
The AI responds: “Sure, let’s do it. You can start whenever you’re ready, Isaac.”
You type: “Hey, Paul. Whoa, hang on. What’s going on with your eyes? You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
ChatGPT, as Paul, replies: “Oh, these? Nah, it’s just a new fashion statement. You know, trying to look mysterious like a movie star or something. So, what’s up?”
This interactive, real-time collaboration is just one of the powerful ways artificial intelligence is transforming the creative process for screenwriters.
đ€ AI: Your Creative Amplifier, Not Your Replacement
Let’s address the biggest concern head-on: AI is not going to replace screenwriters. The creative spirit, the nuance of human experience, the spark of a truly original ideaâthese remain firmly in the writer’s domain.
As Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, discussed in his TED talk, AI is best viewed as another tool to help creatives in their endeavors. It’s a lever to “lift up” the creative spirit, enabling writers to explore new possibilities and iterate faster than ever before.
This guide presents 10 practical, advanced prompts you can use to integrate AI into your screenwriting workflow. We’ve broken them down into the three essential phases of creation:
- Part 1: Before You Type ‘FADE IN’ (Pre-Writing & Ideation)
- Part 2: The Collaborative Draft (During the Writing Process)
- Part 3: Polishing and Pitching (Post-Writing & Revisions)
đź Part 1: Before You Type ‘FADE IN’ (Pre-Writing & Ideation)
The “blank page” is often the most intimidating hurdle. AI can act as a brilliant brainstorming partner, helping you build a solid foundation before you write a single scene.
1. Build Your Story’s Skeleton with Classic Structures
You have a rough idea, a few characters, and a cool concept. But how do you shape that into a compelling narrative? AI can instantly map your plot points onto established storytelling structures.
First, let’s define the structures we’ll ask for:
- The Three-Act Structure: The foundational model (Setup, Confrontation, Resolution) used in most Western cinema.
- Save the Cat Beat Sheet: A detailed 15-beat structure popularized by Blake Snyder, focusing on specific plot points like the “Catalyst,” “Fun and Games,” and “All Is Lost.”
- Dan Harmon’s Story Circle: An 8-point structure derived from Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey,” excellent for mapping a character’s internal and external transformation.
The Prompt:
“I have an idea for a film I’m about to start writing. I know the main plot points, but I’d like to see how it might fit into tried-and-tested structures. Please map the following idea onto a Three-Act Structure, the Save the Cat beat sheet, and Dan Harmon’s Story Circle.
My Idea: The story takes place in 1940s London. The war has suddenly ended after the Nazis released a chemical weapon that makes people ravenously hungry for human flesh (we’ll call them ‘meateaters’). We follow a small group of survivors in a network of bomb raid shelters. One survivor is Hank Wallace, a brilliant chemistry graduate, who believes he can find a cure if they can make their way to a medical institute that is overrun by the infected.”
Why This Works:
The AI will generate three complete outlines. You might find that the “Save the Cat” beats help you identify a missing “B Story” (perhaps a relationship for Hank), while the “Story Circle” reveals a flaw in Hank’s internal motivation. This isn’t cheating; it’s diagnostic. You get to see your story from three different angles, identifying plot holes and structural weaknesses before you’ve invested hundreds of hours in a draft.
The output will be incredibly detailed. For the Three-Act Structure, it might suggest:
- Act One (Setup): Opening Image: A sepia-toned, eerily quiet, ruined London. Introduce survivors. Inciting Incident: A shelter is breached, forcing Hank to reveal his plan for the cure.
- Act Two (Confrontation): The dangerous journey to the institute. They face internal conflict and external threats from the ‘meateaters’.
- Act Three (Resolution): They reach the institute, but the “cure” isn’t what they expected. Final Climax: Hank must make a choice that redefines “survival.”
This single prompt transforms a vague idea into a actionable, professional-grade outline.
2. Craft Deep, Motivated Characters with Backstories
Great stories are driven by character, not just plot. The more intimately you know your characters, the more authentic their voices and choices will be. AI can help you “discover” your character’s hidden depths.
The Prompt:
“The young chemistry graduate I mentioned is named Hank Wallace. I imagine him to be an orphan, very reserved, and although not formally stated, showing clear traits of neurodivergence (e.g., autism).
Please suggest a detailed backstory for this character that explains:
1. His fascination with chemistry.
2. A clear personal motivation (beyond general survival) for finding a cure.
3. A core trauma that informs his behavior.”
Why This Works:
The AI will synthesize these elements into a coherent narrative. It might suggest:
- The Backstory: “Hank grew up in a London orphanage after his parents died in a house fire when he was five, an event caused by a faulty gas heater (a chemical failure). The trauma and his difficulty processing emotions made him withdrawn. He found solace not in people, but in the predictable, logical systems of chemistry. He sees the world as a series of equations to be solved.”
- The Motivation: “His mother didn’t die in the fire, but from a secondary infection days laterâone a simple antibiotic, which the doctors lacked, could have cured. His obsession with finding a ‘cure’ for the ‘meateaters’ isn’t just about saving humanity; it’s a deeply personal, compulsive need to ‘fix’ his past failure and prove that logic can conquer the chaos of death.”
Suddenly, Hank isn’t just “the smart guy.” He’s a tragic figure whose greatest strength (his logical mind) is also his greatest weakness (his emotional disconnect).
Bonus Follow-up Prompt:
“That’s great. Now, give me five specific traits I can use in his communication style to show, not tell, his unique voice and neurodivergence.”
Potential Output:
- Precise, Literal Language: He doesn’t use sarcasm or idioms.
- Minimal Small Talk: He sees social pleasantries as inefficient.
- Rhythmic Pauses: He often pauses for several seconds before speaking, processing the query completely.
- Hyper-focused Tangents: If someone mentions a chemical, he might launch into a 2-minute monologue on its properties, blind to social cues.
- Avoids Eye Contact: Prefers to look at objects or a person’s hands when speaking.
This gives you a concrete toolkit to write authentic dialogue and action lines for Hank, ensuring he feels like a real person.
3. Visualize Your World with AI-Generated Mood Boards
Screenwriting is a visual medium. Before you can describe a setting, you need to see it. AI’s image generation capabilities (like DALL-E, often integrated into ChatGPT) are perfect for this.
The Prompt:
“I’m nearly ready to start writing, but I’d like visual stimulus to have open while I write actions and descriptions. Please produce a mood board, presented as a 4×5 collage, featuring:
- Battle-worn survivors in 1940s tattered clothing.
- Claustrophobic, dimly-lit bomb shelter settings.
- The ‘infected meateaters’ (desperate and feral, not classic zombies).
- A rural, post-apocalyptic English 1940s setting.
- Key elements: Gas masks, lanterns (implying no electricity), fog.
Why This Works:
Having this visual reference open as you write is invaluable. You’ll notice details in the imagesâlike the way lantern light casts long shadows or the texture of crumbling brickâthat will inspire more evocative and specific descriptions. This helps ground your writing in a tangible, atmospheric world, moving beyond generic descriptions to create a palpable sense of place and tone.
âïž Part 2: The Collaborative Draft (During the Writing Process)
You’ve done your prep. Now it’s time to write. This is where AI shifts from a planner to a real-time co-writer, helping you overcome blocks, perfect formatting, and find your character’s voice.
4. Beat Writer’s Block with a “Team of Four Writers”
Staring at “SCENE 1” can be paralyzing. What’s the best way in? How do you hook the audience immediately? Instead of agonizing, ask your AI to convene a virtual writer’s room.
The Prompt:
“I’m ready to start writing my script about Hank in 1940s post-apocalyptic London, but I’m not sure how to start Scene 1.
I’d like you to act as a team of four unique writers, each with their own distinct style and voice. I’d like each writer to suggest a different opening scene that will hook the audience in a different way. Each writer should justify why their idea is best.”
Why This Works:
This prompt forces the AI to think in terms of strategy and tone. It won’t give you one generic answer; it will give you four distinct approaches to your story.
Potential Output:
- Writer 1 (The Suspense Builder): “Gritty, atmospheric, Hitchcockian. Opening Scene: We open in TOTAL DARKNESS. The sound of distant sirens and ragged breathing. A single match flares, illuminating HANK’S face in closeup. He’s crouched in a tunnel, staring at something just out of frame. We slowly reveal a dismembered hand twitching on the concrete. Justification: This hooks with mystery, dread, and a compelling visual. It sets a claustrophobic tone and introduces our hero in a moment of crisis without exposition.”
- Writer 2 (The Humanist): “Character-driven, emotional. Opening Scene: A quiet moment in the shelter. MRS. BAKER (60s) hums as she rations out a single tin of beans. Hank is in the corner, sketching chemical formulas on slate. A child asks him a question; he answers literally, and the other survivors chuckle. Justification: This grounds the story in the characters. We care about them as people before the horror starts, making the stakes higher.”
- Writer 3 (The World-Builder): “Epic, visual. Opening Scene: Wide shot of a ruined, snow-covered London. A 1940s radio broadcast crackles, describing the ‘meateater’ plague, then cuts to static. We follow a stray dog… until it’s snatched by a fast-moving figure in the shadows. Justification: This establishes the world, the threat, and the stakes immediately.”
- Writer 4 (The Shock-Master): “Visceral, action-packed. Opening Scene: BLACK SCREEN. The sound of screaming. CUT TO: A POV shot, running through an alley. Panting. The camera whips aroundâinfected figures lurch into view. The runner slips into a shelter, bolts the hatch… and is immediately dragged back out by hands reaching through a grate. Justification: This is a pure adrenaline hook that promises a relentless, terrifying experience.”
You’re not obligated to use any of them. But reviewing these four distinct openings will almost certainly spark an idea for a fifth, better opening that is uniquely yours.
5. Instantly Convert Prose to Proper Screenplay Format
Are you new to screenwriting? Is the rigid formatting of sluglines, action, and dialogue slowing you down? Many writers think more naturally in prose. Go ahead and write your scene as a story first, then let the AI handle the technical conversion.
The Prompt:
“I’ve written the opening for my film as prose. Please convert it into a screenplay format with the correct formatting, including sluglines, action, and dialogue. Be concise in the action lines, as a script should be.”
My Prose:
“It was the worst of winters in the bitterest of times. The scene opens on London in 1940. Snow falls like ash, drifting in lazy spirals through a shattered, bomb-ravaged city. The streets are broken, and the bricks of buildings are scorched and crumbling. Every corner whispers ruin. We hear a voice, calm and steady, beginning to speak. It’s a voiceover. The voice says: ‘It was the worst of winters, in the bitterest of times. Snow fell, not like gentle feathers from heaven, but like the ash of some great furnace…'”
Potential Output:
FADE IN:
EXT. LONDON - NIGHT - WINTER (1940)
Snow falls like ash.
Drifting through a SHATTERED, BOMB-RAVAGED CITY. Streets lie broken. Scorched bricks. Crumbling ruins.
A city that whispers of death.
HANK (V.O.)
It was the worst of winters, in the
bitterest of times. Snow fell, not
like gentle feathers from heaven...
(beat)
...but like the ash of some great
furnace.
Why This Works:
This lowers the barrier to entry. It takes your narrative ideas and instantly makes them look professional. The AI understands that screenplay action should be concise and present-tense (“Snow falls like ash,” not “Snow was falling”). This gets you writing immediately, without worrying if your margins are correct.
6. Interview Your Character to Discover Subtext
Sometimes you get to a scene and you’re not sure how your character really feels. Their dialogue is on-the-nose, lacking subtext. The solution? Interview them.
The Prompt:
“I’m writing a scene where Hank confides in Mrs. Baker, an old family friend who acts as a mother to him. He’s experiencing self-doubt about finding the cure. In this scene, he needs to find his resolve.
I would like you to act as Hank. Allow me to interview you to understand how you may act and speak in this scene. I’ll ask the questions.”
You: “Hi Hank. Why are you doubting yourself?”
ChatGPT (as Hank):
“Hank shifts uncomfortably, fingers fidgeting with a sleeve. ‘Doubting? No. I am… re-evaluating the variables. The formula, the reactions… they should be working. But I… I can’t be sure. Every time I think I’m close, it slips away. It’s like trying to catch… smoke.’ (He looks down, voice barely a whisper) ‘If I can’t get this right… what happens to everyone? What happens if I fail?'”
You: “Where do you find courage when you have needed it in the past?”
ChatGPT (as Hank):
“Hank looks away, gaze distant. ‘Courage is not a… a chemical I understand. It’s not logical. It’s… just… pushing through. My uncle… he used to tell me I didn’t need to be brave. Just take the next step. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s shaky. Just… the next logical step.'”
Why This Works:
This is pure gold. You just discovered:
- Hank’s core fear (“What if I fail?”).
- His verbal tic (fidgeting, pausing).
- A new character (His Uncle!) and a core theme (“Just take the next step”).
You can now write the scene with Mrs. Baker, and instead of Hank saying “I’m scared!”, he’ll say, “I’m just… re-evaluating the variables.” And maybe Mrs. Baker, who knows him, replies, “Is this you, or your uncle talking? It’s okay to be shaky, Hank.” The subtext is now rich and informed by your “interview.”
7. Role-Play Difficult Dialogue Scenes
This is the most advanced, interactive technique. It’s the one from our intro, and it’s a game-changer. Instead of just interviewing a character, you act opposite them.
The Prompt:
“I’d like to have a go at acting out that flashback scene between Hank and his uncle. We’ll call him Uncle Tim. I’d like you to act as the uncle, and I’ll be Hank (age 10).
Character Note for Uncle Tim: He is old-fashioned and minimalist in his language. Everything he says is relevant and carries wisdom. He says a lot in very few words.”
ChatGPT (as Uncle Tim):
“Uncle Tim sits in his worn chair, the dim light from the fireplace flickering across his face. He exhales slowly, looking out the window. After a moment, he turns his eyes towards you, his voice low and steady. ‘You’re quiet, Hank. Something on your mind.'”
You (as Hank): “No… Well, yes. It’s the other boys at school. I’m not like them, am I?”
ChatGPT (as Uncle Tim):
“He leans forward slightly, hands on his knees. He lets the silence linger, then speaks slowly, each word deliberate. ‘No. You’re not like them. And that’s fine.’ (He glances at the floor) ‘They’ll always try and make you fit. But you don’t have to. You’ve got your own way… Courage isn’t fitting in. It’s knowing when to stand firm. Even if you’re standing alone.'”
Why This Works:
This is infinitely more powerful than just asking, “Write me a scene.” By role-playing, you are forced to react in your character’s voice. The AI, staying in its “Uncle Tim” persona, provides dialogue that you can literally copy and paste into your script. You are “discovering” the dialogue through improvisation, just as actors or writers in a workshop would.
đ§ Part 3: Polishing and Pitching (Post-Writing & Revisions)
You’ve finished your draft. Congratulations. Now the real work begins. AI is a tireless assistant for the brutal-but-necessary revision and pitching process.
8. Hire a “Brutal Critic” to Find Your Cliches
We all fall in love with our own writing, which makes us blind to its flaws. You need an objective, even “brutal,” critic. AI is perfect for this because it has no feelings to hurt.
The Prompt:
“I’d like you to act as a harsh but fair film critic with an extensive understanding of world cinema. I’m going to feed you my script (or a detailed summary).
Based on my story about Hank and the ‘meateaters’ cure, what are the most obvious cliches I’ve used that may draw criticism once the film is released?”
Potential Output:
The AI will be ruthless.
- The ‘Lone Genius’ Hero: “The archetype of a lone, neurodivergent, or emotionally reserved character carrying the weight of the world is a well-worn trope. It’s compelling, but predictable.”
- The ‘Nurturing Mentor’ Figure: “Mrs. Baker’s role as the surrogate mother who exists purely to pick Hank up when he’s down is one-dimensional. Does she have an arc of her own?”
- The ‘MacGuffin’ Cure: “The entire plot hinges on finding a ‘thing’ (the cure). This is a standard quest narrative.”
- The ‘Overrun Medical Institute’ Setting: “The ‘last hope’ being in an obvious, overrun medical facility is overused. It lacks freshness unless you subvert it.”
This might sting, but it’s invaluable. It highlights your script’s weakest points. Now, you can iterate.
Follow-up Prompt:
“I agree with point #4. The medical institute is boring. Can you give me three alternative locations for the ‘cure’ that subvert convention and are more thematically resonant?”
Potential Output:
- The Abandoned Theater: “Instead of a lab, they must go to an old pre-war theater. A rogue scientist was using the massive ventilation system to filter the air, and the ‘cure’ is hidden in the prop room. Theme: The artifice of hope; survival as a performance.”
- The Royal Observatory: “Hank realizes the ‘meateaters’ are guided by sound, but repelled by a specific high frequency. The ‘cure’ isn’t chemical, but a signal that can be broadcast from the observatory’s old equipment. Theme: Logic and order vs. primal chaos.”
- A Flooded Cathedral: “The ‘cure’ is in a submerged vault beneath a cathedral. Theme: A test of faith vs. science, forcing Hank to confront the spiritual.”
9. Predict Your Audience with the “Reddit Fan Theory” Engine
In the age of streaming, audiences are incredibly savvy. They predict twists miles away. Great modern shows (like The White Lotus) anticipate fan theories and deliberately subvert them. You can use AI to do the same.
The Prompt:
“I’d like you to act as a Reddit community obsessed with my story. Imagine my script is a series, and the audience has seen up to the point where Hank and the group are about to reach the final location (the medical center). They don’t know what happens next.
Write a Reddit post asking for fan theories, and then provide 10 replies with the most likely fan theories so I can see what the obvious choices are and actively avoid them.”
Potential Output:
POST: r/MeateaterChronicles
Title: [SPOILERS] Okay, what ACTUALLY happens at the Medical Center?!Hey folks, I am DYING to know what happens next. They’re finally at the institute, but this feels too easy. What are your theories?
10 REPLIES:
- “Calling it now: The medical center is abandoned. The ‘cure’ was never there. The journey was the real test.”
- “The institute is full of ‘cured’ people, but the cure is worse than the disease. Like, it makes them mindless.”
- “Twist: Hank is the cure. He’s immune. They’re going to have to synthesize a serum from his blood.”
- “Mrs. Baker is secretly working against them and has been leading them into a trap.”
- “The ‘meateaters’ aren’t infected, it’s just psychological. The ‘cure’ is not a chemical but a realization.”
- …and so on.
Theory #3 (“Hank is the cure”) is a massive cliche. Now that you see it written down, you know to avoid it at all costs. This prompt allows you to stay one step ahead of your audience and deliver a truly shocking, satisfying ending.
10. Draft a Professional Query Letter to Agents
You’ve revised your script. It’s tight, original, and powerful. Now you have to sell it. Writing a query letter to an agent or production company is a specific art form. It must be concise, persuasive, and professional.
The Prompt:
“I have completed my screenplay, titled ‘Fragments of Dawn.’ I want to send it to production companies and agents. I’m aware the letter needs to be concise and persuasive to get the reader to actually request my screenplay, but I don’t know the format.
Please draft a professional, industry-standard query letter template for me to adapt.”
Potential Output:
Subject: Query – FRAGMENTS OF DAWN (Post-Apocalyptic/Thriller)
Dear [Agent/Producer Name],
I am writing to seek representation for my feature-length screenplay, FRAGMENTS OF DAWN, a post-apocalyptic thriller that blends the intimate tension of 28 Days Later with the character-driven drama of Children of Men.
FRAGMENTS OF DAWN follows Hank Wallace, a reserved, neurodivergent chemistry graduate trapped in 1940s London after a chemical weapon turns the populace into feral cannibals. Haunted by past failures, Hank must lead a small band of survivors on an impossible journey to a besieged observatory, believing he can broadcast a sonic frequency that will stop the infectedâbut he must first confront the terrifying possibility that the ‘cure’ is not what he, or humanity, expects.
I believe this project would be an excellent fit for [Agency/Production Company Name], given your success with high-concept, elevated genre films like [Cite 1-2 of their specific films, e.g., ‘The Witch’ or ‘Ex Machina’ if writing to A24].
As per the WGA, my screenplay is registered (WGA Registration #: XXXXXX). Thank you for your time and consideration. I have attached the logline and a brief synopsis for your review and can send the full script upon request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Phone]
[Your Email / Website]
Why This Works:
This gives you a 95% complete, professional template. The AI correctly identifies the key components: a compelling logline, a “comps” section (comparing it to other films), and a professional closing. It even provides space to personalize it for each company (a critical step). This demystifies the pitching process and gives you the confidence to get your work out into the world.
Conclusion: The Future of Your Story
From the first spark of an idea to the final query letter, AI is fundamentally changing the screenwriter’s process. It’s not a magic button that “writes a script for you.” Instead, it’s a tireless creative partner.
It’s your structural editor, your character psychologist, your research assistant, your improv partner, and your administrative aide. By using tools like ChatGPT to handle the structural heavy lifting, explore new possibilities, and overcome creative blocks, you are freed up to focus on what truly matters: the art, the emotion, and the unique human voice that only you can provide.
Now, open a new chat. That blank page doesn’t look so intimidating anymore.