Skip to main content

Start from an Empty Project

Starting from an empty project gives you a blank canvas — no pre-built structure, no imported content. You define everything: the story, the acts, the scenes, the shots. This is the right choice when you have a clear creative vision and want full control from the start.

When to Use This Approach​

Choose an empty project when:

  • You are writing an original screenplay directly in ACT3 AI
  • You already have a story concept but no existing script to import
  • You want to build structure manually as the project evolves
  • You prefer to design act and scene structure yourself before writing dialogue

If you have an existing script file or want AI help developing a plot, see Import a Script or Plot Wizard instead.

Step 1 — Create the Project​

  1. From the Dashboard, click New Project
  2. Enter a Project Name
  3. Select Empty Project as the starting point
  4. Set your production format:
    • Movie
    • TV Episode
    • Short Film
    • Marketing / Commercial
    • Social Clip
  5. Set Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (cinema/YouTube), 9:16 (vertical/social), or 1:1 (square)
  6. Set Target Duration in minutes (used for pacing guidance — not enforced)
  7. Click Create Project

The project opens to the Script view with an empty document.

Step 2 — Write Your Script​

The Script view is a full-featured screenplay editor that 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
  • On the next line, type action description in plain prose
  • Press Tab to switch between action, character name, and dialogue formatting
  • Character names entered once appear in autocomplete as you continue writing

You can also write unformatted prose or rough notes first and clean up formatting later. The script does not need to be final before you start creating shots.

Step 3 — Add Acts and Scenes​

As your script grows, organize it into structure:

Adding Acts:

  1. Open the Outline panel from the left sidebar
  2. Click + Add Act
  3. Name the act (e.g., Act 1, Setup, Confrontation)
  4. Assign scenes from your script to the act by dragging them into it

ACT3 AI will suggest a 3-act structure by default. You can use 2-act, 5-act, or any structure you prefer.

Adding Scenes manually:

  • Every Scene Heading in the script editor automatically creates a Scene card in the Outline
  • Or click + Add Scene in the Outline to create an empty scene not yet tied to script content

Step 4 — Add Shots​

Once scenes are defined, add shots to each:

  1. Open a Scene card in the Outline
  2. Click + Add Shot
  3. Choose a shot type (close-up, wide shot, medium shot, etc.)
  4. Write a shot description or prompt
  5. Assign actors and set

See Shots and Your First Project for the full shot creation walkthrough. Use set up a shot to configure camera type and framing.

Step 5 — Cast and Configure Actors​

Before rendering, assign digital actors to each character — see create a digital actor to build one from scratch:

  1. Open the Actor Library tab
  2. Create actors or select from presets
  3. Assign each actor to the corresponding character name in your script

Step 6 — Generate Video​

With shots in place, submit them to the Render Queue to generate video. Start with draft quality to check composition, then finalize with full-quality renders once the cut is locked.

Tips for Empty Projects​

  • Start with a rough logline at the top of the script document — it keeps the vision clear as you build
  • Use the Outline panel to sketch act and scene structure before writing full dialogue
  • Add shots early — even rough placeholder shots help you visualize pace and flow
  • The Story Arc panel is available for character planning even before the script is complete

Other Ways to Start a Project​