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Script Panel

The Script Panel is the built-in screenplay editor inside the ACT3 AI editor workspace. It is where you write, import, and edit your script — and where every line of dialogue and every scene heading connects directly to the rest of your production. Changes in the Script Panel instantly update scene cards, character assignments, and shot metadata.

Accessing the Script Panel​

The Script Panel appears in the left column of the editor workspace by default. If it is not visible:

  1. Click View in the editor toolbar
  2. Select Script from the panel options
  3. Or press Cmd+1 / Ctrl+1 to focus the Script Panel

You can resize the Script Panel by dragging the column divider. Switch the left column to a different panel at any time from View → Left Panel.

Writing in the Script Panel​

The Script Panel auto-formats as you type:

  • Type INT. or EXT. at the start of a line and press Enter — ACT3 AI formats it as a Scene Heading and creates a new Scene card in the project Outline
  • Press Tab to cycle through element types: Action → Character → Dialogue → Parenthetical → back to Action
  • Type a character name you have used before and it appears in autocomplete
  • Press Enter twice from a Dialogue line to return to Action

You do not need to think about formatting — just write, and the panel handles it.

Element Types​

Every line in a screenplay belongs to one of these element types. The Script Panel formats each type differently on screen and treats it differently in the production pipeline.

Element Type Dropdown​

To change the element type of any line:

  1. Click the line you want to change
  2. Click the Element Type dropdown in the Script Panel toolbar (shows the current element type name)
  3. Select the new type from the list

You can also right-click any line and select Element Type from the context menu.

The Element Types​

Element TypeWhat It IsFormat in Script Panel
Scene HeadingLocation and time of day. Starts with INT. or EXT.ALL CAPS, bold, full width
ActionDescription of what the camera sees — events, movement, environmentNormal text, full width
CharacterThe name of the person who is about to speakALL CAPS, centered
DialogueWhat the character saysCentered, narrower column
ParentheticalActing direction for a line of dialogue, in parenthesesCentered, indented, inside the dialogue block
TransitionCUT TO, DISSOLVE TO, SMASH CUT, etc.ALL CAPS, right-aligned
ShotCamera direction embedded in the script (non-standard; used in shooting scripts)ALL CAPS, bold
NoteInternal production notes — not included in exported scriptsItalic, highlighted background
BeatMarks a key dramatic moment — ties to the story arc systemHighlighted, links to Beat card in Outline

How Element Types Connect to Production​

  • Scene Headings automatically create Scene cards in the Outline
  • Character names are registered as cast members and link to Actor Library entries
  • Dialogue lines feed into the TTS and ElevenLabs voice generation systems — each character's lines are available for audio generation
  • Beat markers create Beat cards in the story structure and appear in the Story Arc timeline
  • Note elements are stripped from all exports — they are for internal use only

Auto-Detection on Paste​

When you paste content into the Script Panel from an external source (Final Draft, plain text, a word processor), ACT3 AI analyzes the pasted text and auto-assigns element types:

  • Lines beginning with INT. or EXT. → Scene Heading
  • ALL CAPS lines following action lines → Character
  • Lines following a Character element → Dialogue
  • Everything else → Action

If auto-detection gets a line wrong, click the line and change the Element Type using the dropdown.

Script Panel vs. Outline View​

The Script Panel and the Outline work together:

  • The Script Panel is the prose view — full screenplay text, formatted as a readable script
  • The Outline is the structural view — scenes, beats, and shots as cards and lists

Changes in either view sync to the other. Editing a scene description in the Outline updates the corresponding action block in the Script Panel. Adding a Scene Heading in the Script Panel creates a new Scene card in the Outline.

Find and Replace​

Press Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to open Find. Press Cmd+H / Ctrl+H for Find and Replace. Useful for:

  • Renaming a character throughout the script (replace "DETECTIVE CHEN" with "DETECTIVE LEE")
  • Fixing a recurring formatting error
  • Locating all instances of a specific location name

Find operates across the full script, not just the visible portion.

Script Panel and the Shot List​

Shots in ACT3 AI are associated with specific script lines. When you add a shot to a scene, you can pin it to the specific action line or dialogue cue it represents. In the Script Panel, a small camera icon appears on the left margin next to lines that have associated shots. Clicking the icon opens the shot card directly.

Importing Into the Script Panel​

To bring in an existing script:

  • Final Draft: File → Import → Script → Final Draft (.fdx) — see Final Draft Integration
  • Plain text / Fountain: File → Import → Script → Text (.txt) or Fountain (.fountain)
  • Markdown: File → Import → Script → Markdown (.md)
  • PDF: File → Import → Script → PDF (.pdf) — uses OCR; review formatting after import

Exporting From the Script Panel​

File → Export → Script. Choose the format:

  • Final Draft (.fdx) — for professional screenwriting tools
  • PDF — for distribution and printing
  • Plain text — for simple sharing
  • Fountain (.fountain) — open format compatible with many tools