“Writing is rewriting” — a cliché that holds true for a reason.
The essence of good writing lies in the iterative process of refining and polishing ideas until they truly shine. However, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about a significant shift in this age-old adage. With AI tools at their disposal, writers can now dive straight into the rewriting process, bypassing the daunting blank page and the dreaded writer’s block.
AI technologies, such as ChatGPT-4 and Claude 3 Opus, have become the writer’s new best friend. These advanced language processing tools offer unparalleled support in generating ideas, developing plots, and fleshing out characters. By leveraging the power of AI, writers can quickly iterate and refine their concepts, accelerating the journey from initial spark to polished masterpiece.
These are tools that allow you to write — faster.
If you try to get AI to write for you — you will lose.
Now remember, the evolution of screenwriting has been a fascinating journey, from handwritten scripts to typewriters, and now to the era of AI-assisted writing. Each technological advancement has brought about new possibilities and efficiencies in the writing process. Today, AI stands as the latest frontier, promising to revolutionize the way writers approach their craft.
The relationship between the writer and AI is fundamentally synergistic. AI serves as a catalyst, enhancing the iterative nature of writing and enabling writers to explore a multitude of possibilities in a fraction of the time. Again, with AI by their side, writers can bid farewell to the blank page and embrace a world of endless inspiration and rapid iteration.
To illustrate the power of AI in the writing process, let’s take a look at a sample of a silly brainstorming session with ChatGPT-4:
ME: I have the kernel of an idea I’m calling, “The Dangerous Cat”. It’s about a cat burglar who used to be an Olympic gymnast. I want it to be a thriller type movie — can you give me 3 ideas for a potential plot?
ChatGPT: Certainly, Matt! “The Dangerous Cat” is a compelling title with lots of potentials. Here are three plot ideas for your thriller movie centered around a former Olympic gymnast turned cat burglar:
Plot Idea 1: The Heist of the Millennium
Title: Vaulting Ambition
Summary:
Elena Moreno, once an Olympic gymnast with a vaulting specialty, falls into despair and debt after a career-ending injury and turns to high-stakes burglary. Using her athletic prowess and insider knowledge of security from her brief stint as a celebrity security consultant, she targets the “unbreachable” Corvinus Vault, located in the heart of New York City.
Plot:
- Act 1: We meet Elena as she dodges the fallout from her latest heist-gone-wrong. She’s approached by an enigmatic financier, Mr. Wright, who offers her the chance to clear her debts with one last job — stealing a priceless artifact from the Corvinus Vault during the annual Met Gala.
- Act 2: Elena assembles a team of experts, including a cynical hacker, a fast-talking con artist, and a retired gymnastics coach familiar with Elena’s unique skills. They meticulously plan the heist, using Elena’s gymnastic abilities to surmount physical security measures.
- Act 3: During the heist, unexpected complications arise. Betrayals and realizations lead Elena to a deeper conspiracy tied to her financier. Using her wits and gymnastic skills, Elena must outmaneuver her backers and the law, securing not just the artifact but her freedom.
Themes: Redemption, trust, and the duality of identity.
Plot Idea 2: The Feline’s Escape
Title: Twists of Fate
Summary:
Max “The Cat” Catalano, a charismatic and daring former Olympic gymnast turned cat burglar, targets wealthy criminals’ homes, redistributing the wealth to the less fortunate. His morality-driven crusade is put to the test when he is framed for murder, and he must use his skills to escape law enforcement and the actual killers.
Plot:
- Act 1: Introduce Max as he completes a high-profile heist, escaping with a combination of acrobatic flair and tactical genius. His latest target, however, a corrupt billionaire, is found dead, and Max is framed for the murder.
- Act 2: Max must navigate the dual threats of the police and the real murderer’s henchmen. He seeks help from a skeptical ex-girlfriend who is a current FBI agent. Together, they uncover a plot that implicates high-level financiers and officials in a money-laundering scheme.
- Act 3: Using a public gymnastics exhibition as cover, Max plans to expose the villains. After a thrilling chase through an urban landscape, using gymnastics and street-smarts, Max clears his name and brings the true criminals to justice.
Themes: Justice, the corruption of wealth, and redemption.
Plot Idea 3: The Gilded Cage
Title: The Balance Beam
Summary:
Sophia “Phoenix” Phan is a disgraced Olympic gymnast who turns to burglary to sustain her family after being wrongfully stripped of her medals due to a political conspiracy. As she becomes more notorious, she attracts the attention of an underground syndicate interested in her skills for an international heist that could set her family up for life — or destroy them.
Plot:
- Act 1: Sophia’s background as a gymnast and her fall from grace are showcased. She commits breathtaking heists, each more daring than the last, using her gymnastic skills to evade high-tech security systems.
- Act 2: Recruited by a charming but ruthless syndicate leader, Sophia is drawn into a complex plot to steal a priceless collection of artifacts during the Olympics in Tokyo. The job promises enough money to restore her life and clear her name.
- Act 3: As the heist unfolds, Sophia discovers the artifacts are sacred national treasures, leading her to question her choices. In a high-stakes finale, she must outmaneuver both the syndicate and the law, deciding between her family’s future and preserving historical legacies.
Themes: Integrity, the weight of legacy, and personal versus familial loyalty.
Each of these plots offers a different angle on the theme of a gymnast-turned-burglar, providing rich ground for a thrilling, action-packed storyline that could definitely capture the audience’s imagination. The technical skills and moral complexities of your protagonist can drive the narrative forward in exciting ways!
ME: That’s great! I like number 3, but I want to have a really dangerous villain who’s a former UCF champ named “Kid Kill” and I want Sophie to be blind from a recent car accident — can you make those changes and show me what that log line and short summary looks like?
ChatGPT: Absolutely, Matt! Adjusting Plot Idea 3 to include a more dangerous villain and altering Sophia’s backstory to being blind adds deeper layers of tension and challenge. Here’s how that would look:
Plot Revision: The Gilded Cage
Title: Echoes of Silence
Logline:
A blind former Olympic gymnast, embroiled in a world of crime to provide for her family, is coerced into a final heist during the Tokyo Olympics by a nefarious former UFC champion; she must navigate this treacherous path not only to secure her family’s future but to preserve her country’s heritage.
Short Summary:
Sophia “Phoenix” Phan, blinded in a tragic accident that ended her gymnastic career, uses her other heightened senses to continue her life of high-stakes burglary. Known for her precision and grace, she is forced into an impossible heist when she crosses paths with “Kid Kill,” a brutal former UFC champion turned criminal mastermind. Tasked with stealing sacred artifacts during the Tokyo Olympics, Sophia must outsmart her ruthless adversary to protect national treasures and secure her family’s future, all without her sight.
Expanded Summary:
Act 1: Introduction to Phoenix
- Sophia’s New Life: Once a celebrated Olympic gymnast, Sophia’s life turns upside down following a car accident that leaves her blind. Adapting to her new reality, she utilizes her heightened remaining senses and gymnastic prowess to perform heists, targeting corrupt individuals to support her struggling family.
- Encounter with Kid Kill: During a seemingly routine heist, Sophia steals from a powerful figure under the protection of “Kid Kill”, a feared former UFC champion with a penchant for violence and strategic cruelty. Recognized for her unique skills, Sophia is blackmailed into participating in an international crime syndicate’s plot.
Act 2: The Heist Planning
- Recruitment: Under the tight surveillance of Kid Kill and his henchmen, Sophia is forced to plan the theft of ancient, priceless artifacts scheduled to be transported during the Tokyo Olympics.
- Preparation: With help from a select few trusted former contacts, including a tech-savvy old friend, Sophia meticulously plans the heist, accounting for her visual impairment and utilizing her other senses to their fullest.
- Training: Sophia undergoes rigorous physical and mental training, redefining her gymnastic techniques to perform without sight, turning her disability into her biggest advantage.
Act 3: The Heist Execution
- D-Day: As the Olympics proceed, Sophia and her team execute the heist amidst the chaos of the games. Kid Kill’s true intentions unfold, revealing a deeper, more sinister plot to sell the nation’s heritage to the highest bidder.
- Confrontation: Sophia faces Kid Kill in a tense showdown, using her gymnastic skills and new adaptations to outmaneuver him. Realizing the gravity of her actions, she makes a critical decision.
- Resolution: Sophia manages to secure the artifacts, thwart Kid Kill’s plans, and use the syndicate’s resources to anonymously return the treasures during the closing ceremony, proving her loyalty to her country and heritage.
Themes: Resilience, adaptation in the face of adversity, and the powerful clash between cultural preservation and personal redemption.
Sophia’s blindness, combined with the menacing presence of Kid Kill, creates a narrative full of physical and psychological challenges, making her journey a compelling testament to the human spirit’s ability to adapt and overcome. This film would not only thrill with its high-stakes action but also resonate emotionally with its exploration of loss, identity, and heroism.
ME: This is great, but my producer wants Sophia to have a 2 year old toddler named “Pete Baby”. This toddler is defined by his huge appetite and not being potty trained. Can you add this detail into this already great idea please?
ChatGPT: Certainly, Matt! Incorporating Sophia’s toddler, Pete Baby, into the narrative adds a profound layer of personal stakes and vulnerability. Here’s how the plot could be adjusted to include Pete Baby and the challenges Sophia faces as a single mother to a young child.
Revised Plot: The Gilded Cage
Title: Echoes of Silence
Logline:
A blind former Olympic gymnast turned burglar must pull off a high-stakes heist during the Tokyo Olympics, coerced by a dangerous former UFC champ, while navigating the challenges of caring for her demanding toddler.
Short Summary:
Sophia “Phoenix” Phan, blinded in a car accident, uses her remaining senses to conduct burglaries to support her son, Pete Baby, a two-year-old with a boundless appetite and no potty training. When the ruthless “Kid Kill”, a former UFC champion, forces her into stealing sacred artifacts during the Tokyo Olympics, Sophia must balance the heist’s demands with her son’s needs, all while attempting to thwart Kid Kill’s plans and protect her country’s heritage.
Expanded Summary with Pete Baby:
Act 1: Sophia’s Dual Life
- Life as a Blind Burglar: Sophia has adapted to blindness, using her gymnastic finesse and heightened senses to continue her burglary spree. Her son, Pete Baby, is both her weakness and her strength, motivating her through his relentless energy and innocent needs.
- Encounter with Kid Kill: Sophia inadvertently steals from a dangerous target protected by Kid Kill. Recognizing her unique skills, Kid Kill blackmails her into participating in a plot to steal priceless artifacts, using Pete Baby’s wellbeing as leverage.
Act 2: The Heist and Motherhood
- Challenge of Motherhood: Planning the heist, Sophia faces the extra challenge of managing Pete Baby, whose energetic and messy antics provide both comic relief and real obstacles.
- Building a Team: Sophia recruits a team that includes a former gymnastics coach who helps adapt her skills to her blindness and a tech expert who also assists with Pete Baby, creating gadgets to keep him entertained and safe.
- Training and Preparation: As Sophia trains for the heist, she also juggles taking care of Pete Baby, whose presence at the training facility leads to humorous and tender moments, showcasing her multifaceted life.
Act 3: High Stakes at the Olympics
- Executing the Heist: The heist unfolds against the backdrop of the Tokyo Olympics, with Sophia navigating crowded and complex locations while synchronizing with her team remotely to manage Pete Baby’s needs.
- Kid Kill’s Betrayal: As the plot deepens, Kid Kill’s intentions to sell the artifacts become apparent, forcing Sophia to rethink her strategies. In a pivotal moment, she uses a distraction caused by Pete Baby to gain the upper hand.
- Climactic Battle and Resolution: Sophia confronts Kid Kill in a dramatic showdown, using her gymnastic prowess and a makeshift slingshot diaper. After securing the artifacts, she uses the confusion at the Olympics’ closing ceremony to safely return them. The film ends with Sophia gaining a new sense of purpose and hope for her and her son’s future.
Themes: The dual demands of motherhood and a professional life, the power of resilience, and the balance between personal needs and greater good.
Incorporating Pete Baby into the plot not only heightens the emotional stakes but also adds a layer of relatability and humor, enhancing Sophia’s character development as she navigates the complexities of her dual roles. This setup promises a rich blend of action, suspense, and heartwarming moments, ensuring “Echoes of Silence” resonates well with diverse audiences.
This entire interaction took less than five minutes.
So, as demonstrated in this example, AI can help writers quickly generate and refine ideas, adapting to new inputs and requirements with ease. The back-and-forth conversation with ChatGPT showcases the iterative nature of the writing process, with AI serving as a tireless collaborator, ready to assist at every turn.
In conclusion, the era of AI-assisted writing is upon us, and it promises to revolutionize the way writers approach their craft. By embracing AI tools like ChatGPT-4 and Claude 3 Opus, writers can bid farewell to the blank page and dive straight into the rewriting process. The synergistic relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence is set to redefine the writing landscape, making the cliché “writing is rewriting” more relevant than ever before.