Product Introduction
dr.aft is an AI-powered screenwriting editor specifically engineered for professional screenwriters that natively understands and preserves Fountain markup language throughout the writing process. It integrates context-aware AI suggestions directly into the editing interface while maintaining strict adherence to industry-standard screenplay structure. The tool guarantees production-ready formatting at every stage and includes specialized capabilities like custom style steering, distraction-free composition modes, and Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) support for flexible AI model integration.
The core value proposition centers on eliminating creative friction by merging human storytelling with AI augmentation in a purpose-built environment that prioritizes format integrity and workflow efficiency. It accelerates script development from initial concept to polished draft through intelligent automation of structural elements like sluglines, dialogue blocks, and scene spacing. By preserving Fountain's plain-text portability while adding production-grade validation, it ensures scripts remain compatible with industry tools throughout development cycles.
Main Features
Fountain-native architecture ensures all editing operations and AI interactions strictly comply with .fountain file specifications, automatically generating correctly formatted sluglines (e.g., INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY), dialogue blocks, and action elements without manual formatting. This technical foundation guarantees scripts meet Hollywood standards for pagination, margins, and element positioning throughout drafting and revision stages. Export functions maintain pristine structural integrity in both Fountain and PDF outputs for seamless handoff to production tools.
Context-aware AI augmentation analyzes preceding scenes and character dynamics to generate tone-matched dialogue suggestions, plot developments, and scene enhancements that align with existing narrative elements. The system references recent pages for continuity, allowing writers to request contextual expansions like "barista drops tray" interruptions that logically extend established scenarios. Users retain full control through model-switching options and BYOK integration for custom AI providers.
Hierarchical project organization enables episode/draft/scene management within unified workspaces, allowing instant navigation between structural components like acts or sequences. The system tracks multiple script versions with draft comparison capabilities while maintaining strict version control. This architecture supports complex television series structures with episode-level branching and scene-specific revision histories.
Distraction-free composition mode implements focus-optimized UI principles by dynamically hiding non-essential interface elements during active writing sessions. Customizable layout presets minimize visual clutter while retaining immediate access to critical tools like format validators. The environment enforces flow state preservation through configurable typewriter scrolling, session timers, and selective notification suppression.
Cross-platform export system generates industry-compliant PDFs with precise pagination mirroring Final Draft output, alongside version-controlled Fountain files that preserve all markup semantics. Export profiles include production-standard watermarking, revision tracking, and scene-numbering options. All outputs undergo automatic format verification against professional screenplay benchmarks before finalization.
Problems Solved
The product eliminates screenplay formatting corruption during collaborative editing and AI-assisted writing, which commonly occurs when standard text processors improperly handle specialized elements like parentheticals or transition cues. It prevents disruptive reformatting incidents by embedding Fountain validation directly into the editing core, automatically correcting deviations during composition. This ensures writers maintain creative focus without constant manual adjustments to meet production standards.
Professional screenwriters and television writing rooms constitute the primary user base, particularly those working in Fountain-compatible pipelines requiring strict adherence to industry pagination rules. The tool also serves independent filmmakers needing production-ready outputs without expensive software licenses, and writing partners collaborating on series with complex episode structures. Development executives reviewing multiple drafts benefit from consistent formatting across revisions.
During drafting phases, writers use the AI to overcome blocks by generating contextual scene extensions that maintain established tone and character voices, such as adding comedic interruptions in dialogue-heavy sequences. When restructuring episodes, the hierarchical view enables rapid scene reordering while preserving proper formatting continuity. Production teams validate final scripts through automated format checks before PDF distribution to departments like scheduling and budgeting.
Unique Advantages
Unlike general-purpose AI writing tools, dr.aft maintains screenplay-specific syntax integrity during all operations through deep Fountain integration, whereas competitors often corrupt formatting during AI generation or file exports. The context-aware suggestion system references narrative continuity elements that generic writing assistants ignore, producing relevant scene extensions rather than disconnected fragments. BYOK support offers model flexibility absent in closed-system alternatives.
The hierarchical script architecture implements unique episode/draft/scene management optimized for television writing workflows, enabling non-linear navigation unavailable in most screenwriting software. Format-preserving AI operates through specialized suggestion channels that inject content without disrupting structural elements like character cues or action blocks. Real-time format validation provides instant visual feedback on industry compliance during composition.
Competitive differentiation stems from the uncompromising Fountain implementation that guarantees file interoperability across production ecosystems while adding AI capabilities. The tool's lightweight architecture outperforms resource-intensive alternatives in collaborative environments, particularly for long-form series development. BYOK support creates cost advantages for high-volume users through direct cloud provider integration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does dr.aft protect screenplay formatting during AI-assisted writing? The editor embeds Fountain syntax validation at the kernel level, intercepting all input operations to enforce structural rules before content reaches the document. AI suggestions generate within constrained templates that respect element boundaries, preventing formatting corruption during insertion. Continuous background validation scans for deviations, automatically correcting spacing and alignment issues in real-time.
What AI models are compatible with BYOK implementation? Users can integrate any API-compatible large language models including OpenAI GPT-4, Anthropic Claude, or self-hosted alternatives through standardized key authentication. The system routes requests directly to user-specified endpoints while maintaining format encapsulation around generated content. Model performance metrics are visible in the control panel for optimization.
How are unused Pro plan credits managed? Unused AI credits automatically roll over as bonus credits for subsequent billing cycles, accumulating up to 150% of the monthly allowance. The system prioritizes rollover credits before deducting from the new month's allocation, with usage tracking visible in the account dashboard. Bonus credits never expire while subscription remains active.
Can the tool handle complex television series structures? Yes, the hierarchical organizer supports multi-tiered episode/act/scene architectures with unlimited nesting depth. Writers create series master files containing season arcs, then branch into individual episode drafts while maintaining cross-references. Scene-level versioning tracks revisions across parallel narrative strands with visual comparison tools.
What validation occurs before PDF export? The format check system runs 47 industry-standard compliance tests covering element positioning, pagination rules, and Fountain semantics. Errors display with precise location markers and automated correction options. Production exports include watermarking with revision dates and configurable scene numbering synchronized with scheduling software requirements.
