Importing Screenplays

Produciesta can import screenplays from multiple formats. This guide covers how to get your scripts into the app.

Supported Import Formats

Fountain (.fountain)

Fountain is an open-source markup syntax for screenplays. It’s the recommended format for best results.

How to import:

  1. Click Import or drag the .fountain file into the app
  2. Produciesta will parse the file automatically
  3. Review the detected characters and scenes

Tips:

  • Fountain files import most accurately
  • Make sure your file follows Fountain syntax
  • Character names should be in UPPERCASE

Final Draft (.fdx)

Final Draft is industry-standard screenwriting software. Produciesta can read .fdx files directly.

How to import:

  1. In Final Draft, save your screenplay (no export needed)
  2. Import the .fdx file into Produciesta
  3. All formatting and character information will be preserved

PDF Screenplays

Produciesta can parse properly formatted PDF screenplays.

How to import:

  1. Import the PDF file
  2. Produciesta will use OCR if needed
  3. Review the parsed results and make corrections if necessary

Limitations:

  • PDF parsing is best-effort and may require manual corrections
  • Scanned PDFs may have lower accuracy
  • Standard screenplay formatting works best

Plain Text (.txt)

For simple scripts or drafts, you can import plain text files.

Formatting requirements:

  • Character names should be in UPPERCASE and centered or left-aligned
  • Dialogue should follow the character name
  • Scene headings should start with INT. or EXT.

After Import

Once your screenplay is imported:

  1. Review Characters: Check the Characters tab to ensure all characters were detected correctly
  2. Check Scenes: Browse through scenes to verify the dialogue was parsed accurately
  3. Make Corrections: Use the edit tools to fix any parsing errors

Troubleshooting

Characters not detected

  • Ensure character names are in UPPERCASE
  • Check that dialogue follows character names without blank lines

Scenes missing

  • Verify scene headings start with INT., EXT., or similar
  • Scene headings should be in UPPERCASE

Dialogue attributed incorrectly

  • Check the original file formatting
  • Use the edit tools to manually reassign dialogue

Best Practices

  1. Use Fountain format when possible for best results
  2. Keep formatting consistent throughout your screenplay
  3. Preview before generating to catch any parsing issues early