I've had the privilege of making it a quarter way in to the 21st Century. Born in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution of automation and biotech is almost as exciting as the fortune one had during the invention of Gutenberg's printing press in the 15th Century - undoubtedly one of the single most impactful inventions in the history of mankind - yet still, we forge ahead in the modern age of artificial intelligence.

Though, how fortunate are we?

It's a contentious subject, but I suppose it varies depending on the topic of field in question. In regards to the film industry and screenwriting in particular I'd say, in short, that using the tool of artificial intelligence can be a blessing or, more often than not, a curse (depending on the individual). To elaborate simply without rambling for the sake of rambling - there's only one logical reason why screenwriters would use an artificial intelligence software, such as ChatGPT, for their screenplay: Research.

I've learned an ample amount of information that legitimizes the historical and logistical accuracy of certain places and things that would have otherwise taken much longer to find and verify. It's a great tool, really. Earlier this year I was using it to dive into a bit of quantum mechanics, physics and general relativity - none of which I've managed to really understand - but I digress. You see research, in my opinion, is only about 10% of what a screenplay actually consists of. The remaining 90% of it is quite frankly, you. The doing of it. Pen to paper. Ideas from your head to the page. Artificial intelligence cannot teach experience, nor can it know certain words or phrases you come to favor over x amount of years; it cannot teach you style nor can it teach you how to properly structure scenes. It simply cannot teach you these things because in all actuality these skills are something you acquire over years of trying to find a voice, and over years of very bad writing. That is what is required of you, unless of course you are born some kind of literary genius.

I've been writing screenplays for eight years now, and although I'm only just entering what I consider the beginning of my career as a screenwriter, my thought on the matter is clear: your reputation will die in the long grass alongside your spirit and your career if you so choose to ask artificial intelligence to write a screenplay for you. Though I must admit, I don't blame those who choose that path. When I reflect on nearly a decade of writing I see an insurmountable amount of time in agonizing solitude and stress and sacrifice and found myself wondering five years in why my writing isn't yet up to par and how I'm about one word away from blowing my brains out. To my relief, I'm at a place where I feel my writing is on its way, hence the decision to share a glimpse of my work. And despite the challenges I've faced, I would do it all over again the exact same way.

That said - if you choose to use a scene that was written by A.I. in your screenplay, verbatim - by all means. If you want A.I. to write a screenplay in its entirety because writing is too hard or there isn't enough time in the day - by all means. Or perhaps you want it to write only a quarter of your screenplay because it isn't a big deal if the ratio of what's yours and what isn't favors you - by all means. I'm not stopping you. Nor do I wish to waste my energy pleading my case to you. But I haven't an ounce of doubt in my mind that you'll walk in a room one day with a producer who will eventually realize that the only thing genuine and/or original about you and your screenplay are the words printed on the title page.. and that's me being generous.

The age of artificial writing is no threat to screenwriters because it simply cannot replicate the years of grit, perseverance and sheer mental fortitude it takes to hone the one quality that makes you the writer you embody - your voice. Unlike us sentient beings, I believe artificial intelligence does not have a voice (on the page at least) nor will it ever find one. And one might look at a screenplay written by A.I. and deem it so perfect that they go to bed in tears questioning their ability to ever write something to that effect. But history, as in many cases, has yet again proven to us that we already have - and we've done it even better:

Network by Paddy Chayefsky
All The Presidents Men by William Goldman
Sweet Smell of Success by Clifford Odets & Ernest Lehman
Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale

                                                                                                Nov. 2025