Planning guide

Film pre-production workflow

Try your existing screenplay in Cinevaris, then take one scene through to a shot and an export.

Best when
Use this when you are ready to begin planning from the script.
You'll leave with
A checked screenplay, a first shot, and an exported copy.
Use this resource

From script to shoot

Try your existing screenplay

You do not need to move your whole production to try Cinevaris. Start with a copy of your draft in a separate project. This walkthrough requires app access; check the current offer first.

Choose the file you bring

Prefer FDX if your writing app exports it: it carries screenplay paragraph types. Fountain is another supported, editable text format. Plain text and text-based PDFs are also supported, but inferred formatting needs checking. Scanned image-only PDFs need conversion to text first. Convert Word files to a supported format; renaming a file does not convert it.

Coming from StudioBinder? Its screenplay download guide describes opening screenplay settings, choosing Download PDF, then downloading the file. This brings the screenplay, not your StudioBinder schedule, comments, contacts, or tagged breakdown.

Screenplay transfer checklist
Keep a copyExport your screenplay from your current writing tool. Keep that original and its production files. Try the copy in a separate Cinevaris project.
Import in WriteChoose Import, select the file, and read Import Review. Check scene headings, scene count, and Conversion notes. Cancel leaves the draft unchanged; Apply Import replaces the screenplay in the current project.
Read one sceneCompare its action, dialogue, character names, parentheticals, and scene number with the original. Check the title page and the first and last scenes too.
Plan something smallOpen that scene in Breakdown and add a detail you need. In Plan, create a shoot day and add a shot in Shots. Check the scene assignments yourself.
Export a copyUse Export in Write for an editable FDX or Fountain copy, or a readable PDF. Review the PDF Print Check before Export PDF. Open the downloaded file in a compatible reader or writing app.
Return to the projectWait for saving to finish, reopen the project, and check your draft and shot. Keep independent exports before deciding to move the rest of your work.

Importing replaces the current screenplay; it does not create a new project. Existing planning lists are not rewritten to match it. Check scene assignments before sharing a call sheet. If you need to go back immediately, Undo import is available until you continue working; it is not a substitute for your original copy.

To share production material, select it in Package and preview it in Reports. Export PDF or Markdown documents for your crew. These are copies, not a live shared editing session, and they will not update after you send them.

Keep pre-production in one project.

Cinevaris keeps the script, scene notes, shots, shoot days, and documents together while you decide how the film should be made.

In Cinevaris

Do this in Cinevaris

From script to shoot

Current Cinevaris Write workspace
WriteScreenplay

Write or import the current draft and keep scene text editable.

See Write in the product tour