I've been on the hunt for a good (free) tool for collaborating with another screenwriter. This week, I learned of Etherpad, an online, open-source, realtime text editor. Basically, an open source Google Docs.

Out of the box, Etherpad doesn't have much advantage over Google Docs for screenwriting. It doesn't have any screenwriting-specific features like autocomplete for characters' names or scene headings.

But here's what's cool: Etherpad is customizable via plugins.

Could some enterprising developer write plugins that makes Etherpad into the best collaborative software for screenwriters? I think this could work!

These are the plugins that already exist that would be useful for screenwriters:

• Align
• Heading
• Markdown
• Spellcheck
• Comments page
• Desktop notifications
• Ether-o-meter (displays metrics, could be good for sprints)
• Table of contents

Someone would have to build a few screenwriting-specific plugins to make this work for Fountain. Basically the features we find in Better Fountain, which makes Visual Code Studio into a good screenwriting app.

• Smart autocomplete for recurring characters and scenes, as well as title page keys.
• Go straight to writing dialog after a parenthetical by pressing enter, while the cursor is still inside it
• Maybe a way to generate real-time previews, the way that Better Fountain does.

What do you think?

I'm writing a script in Fountain. I usually write alone, but this time I'm collaborating with a co-writer. What's a good way for us to work on the script together?

We tried a Google Doc, but it's missing so many good screenwriting features like autocomplete that it's kinda frustrating.

I'm aware of WriterDuet. It sounds pretty good, but is there another option that's free? One of my favorite things about Fountain is how versatile it is; I'm hoping that that versatility leads to a good free collaborative solution.

Thanks!

I'm looking for feedback on my original screenplay. It is a sixty-second-ish long trailer for a Christmas-themed horror movie. This is an update on my screenplay idea I posted on lemmy a couple years back. (lemmy.ml link because I still haven't learned how to link to posts cross-instance, doesn't seem to be in the docs.)

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Open with a scene of a man alone chopping wood on a snowy day. He is large-bodied and looks visually menacing, it should be clear that he is the villian. He sings an eerie and discomforting tune: "Da Da Da Da Da Da Da"

The next thirty or whatever seconds build up a horror movie featuring the aforementioned villain and a hero named John, a boy around 17 years old, as well as a couple friends around the same age who support him. A couple times cut back to the opening woodchopping "Da Da Da Da Da Da Da" scene.

Nearing the end of the trailer, scene with John and his couple friends walking through the city on a snowy day. The townsfolk jeer and yell obscenities at them. John narrates: "Before the incident, we were treated just like anyone else. But now, whenever we go out, the people always shout."

(words flash on the screen, large font)

JOHN

Very brief scene of a terrified scream

JACOB

chop "Da Da Da Da Da Da Da"

JINGLEHEIMER

Frantic sprinting through a snow-covered forest

SCHMIDT

Scene of John in an attic, which is illuminated only by the candle he holds in one hand. With the other hand, John lifts up and examines a dusty old photo of the villain. "Oh my God. His name is my name too." Candle blows out.

(smaller font)

PREMIERES CHRISTMAS EVE

David is a researcher in a lab. He is generally told only what is needed to focus on his tasks. He eventually realizes he is working to make a virus more infectious. One day he meets a girl in a bar who happens to work for the same company but in a different lab location. She is studying what makes a virus more deadly to targeted populations. They soon realize they are working on developing a bioweapon.

David has a family and is very dependent on this job. He is afraid of what is going to happen but also afraid of what will happen to him if he speaks out in China where he lives.

He comes up with an idea to poke a hole in the safety equipment of his boss. After he catches it and spreads it, it will blow the lid off what they are doing, minimize the damage, and not bring a big risk to himself. So he thought.. He did not realize what would happen next.