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Import a Script or Content

If you already have a screenplay, treatment, outline, or other written content, ACT3 AI can import it directly and convert it into a structured project. The importer reads your file, parses scene headings and character names, and automatically populates the Script view, Outline, and Scene cards.

When to Use This Approach​

Choose Import when:

  • You have a finished or draft screenplay in Final Draft, PDF, plain text, or Markdown
  • You have an existing outline or treatment you want to expand inside ACT3 AI
  • You are adapting an existing project from another tool
  • You are resuming work on a script that was written outside the platform

If you do not have a script yet, see Empty Project to write one from scratch, or Plot Wizard to build a structure with AI assistance.

Supported Import Formats​

FormatExtensionNotes
Final Draft.fdxFull formatting preserved — scenes, sluglines, dialogue
Plain Text.txtACT3 AI detects scene headings and character names automatically
Markdown.mdScene headings mapped from ## headers
PDF.pdfOCR-based extraction; formatting may require cleanup
Fountain.fountainOpen screenplay format fully supported
CSV Outline.csvScene title + description columns mapped to scene cards

Step 1 — Create the Project​

  1. From the Dashboard, click New Project
  2. Enter a Project Name
  3. Select Import Script or Content as the starting point
  4. Click Create Project

The project opens to the Import dialog.

Step 2 — Upload Your File​

  1. In the Import dialog, click Choose File or drag your script file into the upload area
  2. Select the file format if ACT3 AI does not detect it automatically
  3. Click Import

ACT3 AI processes the file and maps it to the project structure. This typically takes 5–15 seconds for most screenplay lengths.

Step 3 — Review the Import​

After importing, ACT3 AI shows a preview of what was parsed:

  • Scenes detected — Each scene heading from the script becomes a scene card
  • Characters found — All character names encountered in dialogue are listed
  • Acts — ACT3 AI proposes an act division based on script structure (you can adjust this)

Review the preview to confirm the import looks correct. Common things to check:

  • Scene count matches your script
  • Character names are correctly capitalized and not duplicated (e.g., "DETECTIVE CHEN" and "CHEN" treated as two different characters)
  • No extra scenes were created from scene description text

Click Confirm Import to apply it to your project.

Step 4 — Clean Up and Fill In​

After import, walk through the project and fill in any gaps:

Scenes — Add descriptions, set references, and mood notes to each scene card as needed.

Characters — In the Actor Library, create or assign digital actors to each imported character name. See cast actor in scene for the full casting workflow.

Acts — Adjust act boundaries if the AI-suggested divisions do not match your story structure.

Beats — If your script has marked beats or key moments, verify they imported correctly. You can add beats manually at any point.

Step 5 — Add Shots​

With scenes in place, add shots to each scene:

  1. Open a Scene card
  2. Click + Add Shot
  3. Build out your shot list — camera angles, movement, framing, and prompts

The imported script content populates the scene context, making it easier to write shot prompts that reference specific lines of dialogue or action.

Importing an Outline or Treatment (Non-Script)​

If your content is an outline rather than a full screenplay:

  • Import it as plain text or Markdown
  • Each major section heading becomes a scene
  • After import, expand each scene in the Script view with dialogue and action
  • Use the AI Writer (Write with AI button in the Script view) to draft dialogue from your outline notes

Re-importing After Revisions​

If you revise the original script file outside ACT3 AI and want to sync it back:

  1. Open Project Settings
  2. Go to Script → Re-import
  3. Upload the revised file
  4. Choose whether to merge (preserve existing shots and notes) or replace (overwrite everything)

The merge option is recommended — it keeps all your shot work and only updates script content that changed.

Other Ways to Start a Project​

  • Empty Project — write your script from scratch in ACT3 AI
  • Plot Wizard — AI-assisted story development from a concept or premise