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Starting Your Project

BeatBandit offers three distinct approaches to begin your screenplay project. Choose the method that best fits your current situation and creative process.

1. From Scratch​

Perfect for new stories and fresh ideas.

When to Use​

  • You have a new story concept
  • You want complete creative control
  • You prefer building step-by-step
  • You're learning the screenwriting process

How it Works​

  1. Create New Project - Start with a blank movie template
  2. Begin with Logline - Craft your story's one-sentence essence
  3. Develop Characters - Create your main characters
  4. Build Treatment - Outline your narrative structure
  5. Create Beat Sheet - Plan your story beats
  6. Write Scenes - Develop individual scenes
  7. Generate Screenplay - Format your final script

Getting Started​

  1. Click New Project on your dashboard
  2. Choose Movie template
  3. Start with the Logline stage
  4. Follow the Quick Start Workflow for detailed guidance

2. Using AI Wizards​

Leverage AI-powered templates to jumpstart your project.

Available Wizards​

Beat Wizard​

  • Purpose: Generate complete story structure
  • Best For: Writers who want a solid foundation
  • Process: Answer questions about your story, get structured beats

Scene Wizard​

  • Purpose: Create detailed scene outlines
  • Best For: Writers with a story concept who need scene development
  • Process: Describe your story, get scene-by-scene breakdown

Treatment Wizard​

  • Purpose: Develop comprehensive story treatments
  • Best For: Writers who need detailed narrative outlines
  • Process: Input basic story elements, get full treatment

Import Wizard​

  • Purpose: Bring in existing work and enhance it
  • Best For: Writers with existing scripts or outlines
  • Process: Upload content, AI analyzes and organizes it

How to Access Wizards​

  1. From your dashboard, look for wizard options
  2. Choose the wizard that matches your needs
  3. Follow the guided prompts
  4. Review and refine the AI-generated content
  5. Continue development in the full interface

3. Importing Existing Work​

Bring your existing screenplay into BeatBandit for continued development.

What You Can Import​

  • Existing screenplays in various formats
  • Story outlines and treatments
  • Character descriptions and notes
  • Scene lists and beat sheets

Import Process​

  1. Prepare Your Content

    • Ensure your work is in a supported format
    • Organize any additional materials

  2. Use Import Wizard

    • Access from your dashboard
    • Upload your files or paste text content
    • Let AI analyze and organize your work

  3. Review and Organize

    • Check that content was properly categorized
    • Adjust any misplaced elements
    • Fill in any gaps with AI assistance

  4. Continue Development

    • Use BeatBandit's tools to refine your work
    • Add AI-generated suggestions
    • Develop missing elements

Supported Import Methods​

  • File Upload: For formatted screenplays and documents
  • Text Input: Copy and paste existing content
  • Structured Import: Organize content into specific stages

Choosing Your Approach​

Start from Scratch if:​

  • You have a completely new idea
  • You want to learn the full process
  • You prefer building organically
  • You have time for full development

Use Wizards if:​

  • You want AI assistance from the start
  • You have basic story elements but need structure
  • You want to explore different approaches quickly
  • You're looking for creative inspiration

Import Existing Work if:​

  • You have existing screenplay material
  • You want to enhance previous work
  • You're migrating from another tool
  • You have research or notes to incorporate

Next Steps​

Regardless of which approach you choose:

  1. Familiarize yourself with BeatBandit's stage-based workflow
  2. Explore AI features to enhance your writing process
  3. Learn about exporting to share your work in various formats
  4. Practice regularly to master the platform

Need Help Deciding?​

  • New to screenwriting? Start with the Quick Start Workflow
  • Have existing work? Use the Import Wizard to bring it in
  • Want AI assistance? Try the Beat Wizard or Scene Wizard
  • Need comprehensive guidance? Follow our detailed workflows

Ready to begin? Choose your approach and start creating your screenplay today!