Most short film scripts die from the same problem—they're written like miniature features instead of tight visual punches. You can't just compress a three-act structure into three minutes and expect it to work.
Short Film Script Doctor tackles this differently. It diagnoses structural issues specific to the 1-5 minute format. Then it rewrites scenes to fit actual shooting constraints.
Your script runs through what's called a Surgical Diagnostic Terminal. You'll see flags like "Inciting incident delayed (00:58)" or "Stakes clarity low in Act 2 pivot." Line-specific notes show where compression needs to happen. It doesn't just highlight problems—it rewrites scenes in an iterative loop. Pacing tightens. Motivations clarify.
Analysis breaks down into percentages and star ratings. Dialogue vs Action Balance might show 68% dialogue when you need more visual storytelling. Pacing Efficiency could flag a 55% score if your opening drags (or your climax arrives too late). Film students working on festival submissions will find the runtime estimation particularly useful. Going over five minutes often means disqualification.
Two workflow modes exist here. Generate + Refine Loop builds scripts from scratch—compressed Hero's Journey logic baked in. Paste + Diagnose takes existing scripts (up to roughly 2000 words) and tears them apart structurally. Both modes focus on shootability. Your action lines need clarity. A DP should visualize them easily.
It's in beta. Won't touch feature-length work or anything outside the 1-5 minute window. No integrations with other screenwriting software yet.
