Origin Draft Writer Survey

Help us build the screenwriting tool you actually want

Time to complete: 15-20 minutes

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in Origin Draft!

This survey helps us understand your screenwriting process and build the tool you actually need. Your answers directly shape what we build.

As a Thank You, You'll Get:

  • ✓ Exclusive access to the Origin Draft Insider Hub
  • ✓ Deep-dive previews of features in development
  • ✓ Early look at our product roadmap
  • ✓ Ability to provide feedback and shape the product

Your Commitment:

  • ✓ Complete this survey
  • ✓ Use Origin Draft at least weekly
  • ✓ Submit monthly 5-minute reports
  • ✓ Report bugs and feedback

Let's get started!

Your Professional Profile

Your Current Workflow

Your Professional Context

Your Needs Assessment

For each statement below, rate TWO things:

  1. How IMPORTANT is this to you? (1=Not important, 5=Extremely important)
  2. How SATISFIED are you with current solutions? (1=Very unsatisfied, 5=Very satisfied)

There are no wrong answers - we want your honest opinion!

Section 1: Research & Ideation (6 questions)

Minimize the time it takes to find and reference a piece of research (e.g., an image, a note, a location detail) while writing

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the time spent switching between my research/notes and my script document

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of storing and organizing research material (images, PDFs, web links, character photos) in one centralized place

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the flexibility of visually brainstorming and connecting ideas (like using index cards, whiteboards, or mind maps)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the effort required to link research material directly to specific scenes, characters, or locations in my script

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of building and maintaining complex world details for fantasy, sci-fi, or period pieces (locations, timelines, rules)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 2: Outlining & Story Structure (6 questions)

Maximize the ease of visually structuring and re-structuring my story beats, plotlines, and acts

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the effort required to keep my outline and script synchronized when I make changes to either one

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of tracking multiple plotlines (A-plot, B-plot, character arcs) simultaneously across my story

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of applying proven structural models (Save the Cat, Hero's Journey, Three-Act Structure) to validate my story

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the time and effort required to rearrange scenes or beats and see the impact on my overall structure

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the speed of identifying structural problems in my script (e.g., late inciting incident, underdeveloped subplot, pacing issues)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 3: The Writing Experience (6 questions)

Minimize the likelihood of losing work due to a software crash, sync error, or computer failure

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ability to write in a distraction-free, aesthetically pleasing environment that keeps me in flow state

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the accuracy and industry-compliance of screenplay formatting without manual intervention

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the time required to jump to a specific scene, character appearance, or location in a long script

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ability to write seamlessly across multiple devices (desktop, laptop, tablet) without file transfer hassles

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the visibility of writing progress metrics (page count, scene count, daily word count, time spent writing)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 4: Managing Notes & Feedback (8 questions)

Minimize the time spent collating and organizing notes from different people and different file formats (PDFs, emails, text messages, voice notes)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of tracking which stakeholder (producer, director, exec) gave which specific note

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of identifying and resolving conflicting notes from multiple stakeholders (e.g., Producer wants X, Director wants opposite)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ability to privately categorize notes (e.g., "Actionable," "Discuss," "Ignore," "Already Fixed") without stakeholders seeing my decisions

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the speed with which I can convert approved notes into an actionable to-do list linked to specific script pages or scenes

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the effort required to track which notes have been implemented and which are still pending

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of inviting readers to leave inline comments on specific lines or scenes without needing them to own expensive software

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the political friction of managing stakeholder expectations by documenting who requested which changes and when

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 5: Version Control & Experimentation (7 questions)

Maximize my confidence that I can experiment with a major rewrite (new plotline, character changes) without compromising or losing my main draft

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the time it takes to identify ALL the differences between two separate drafts of my script (line-by-line comparison)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of selectively merging specific changes from an experimental draft back into my main draft (cherry-picking the good ideas)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the confusion of tracking multiple versions with meaningful labels instead of cryptic file names (Script_v4_final_FINAL_new.fdx)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of restoring a specific scene, dialogue, or character detail from an older version without affecting the rest of my current draft

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the visibility of my script's complete history (all changes, timestamps, and who made them) without cluttering my workspace

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize my ability to prove when I wrote something (timestamped proof of authorship for copyright protection)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 6: Real-Time Collaboration (6 questions)

Maximize the ability to co-write with another writer in real-time (like Google Docs) without losing work or experiencing conflicts

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the cost barrier of sharing my script with collaborators (they shouldn't need to purchase expensive software to read or comment)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the granularity of permission control (e.g., some people can edit, some can only comment, some can only read)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the clarity of seeing who changed what when collaborating asynchronously (not in real-time)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the friction of sharing my script with a simple link (no file attachments, downloads, or format conversion required)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ability to work offline and have my changes automatically sync when I reconnect (for remote locations or flights)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 7: Series Bible & Story Database (5 questions)

Minimize the manual effort required to maintain a series bible (the app should automatically track characters, locations, props as I write)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of querying my story (e.g., "Show me all scenes with Character X," "Where is this prop mentioned?")

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ability to visualize and track character arcs across a TV series (multiple episodes or seasons)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the effort required to ensure continuity (character details, timeline consistency, prop tracking) across long-form or episodic work

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of sharing a living series bible with a writers' room team so everyone has access to the same source of truth

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 8: Pitching & Selling Your Project (4 questions)

Minimize the effort required to create a visual pitch deck from my script (logline, character bios, synopsis should auto-populate into templates)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the risk of my pitch materials becoming outdated when I revise my script (changes should automatically update the pitch deck)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize access to professional, customizable pitch deck templates designed for film/TV industry standards

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of exporting pitch materials in multiple formats (PDF, PowerPoint, web link) for different submission contexts

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 9: Production Prep & Breakdown (6 questions)

Minimize the time and effort required to update my script breakdown, schedule, and budget after making script revisions

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the accuracy of automatically identifying and tagging all production elements (cast, props, wardrobe, vehicles, special effects)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the speed of generating an intelligent shooting schedule from a locked script (grouping by location, time of day, etc.)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the visibility of how script changes impact my production budget in real-time (as a writer-producer or indie filmmaker)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ease of exporting specialized reports for different departments (cast list, location list, prop list, costume breakdown)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize compatibility with industry-standard production tools and workflows (importing/exporting to scheduling and budgeting software)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 10: On-Set Revisions & Distribution (3 questions)

Minimize the time and complexity of managing script revisions during production (automatic colored page tracking per industry standards)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the certainty that all cast and crew members have the latest script version (push notifications, auto-updates, or read receipts)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the clarity of showing exactly what changed between script revisions (highlighted changes, change logs) for on-set teams

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Section 11: Localization & Translation (3 questions)

Maximize the ease of comparing an original script and its translation side-by-side with synchronized scrolling

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Maximize the ability to document cultural adaptations and localization notes (why a joke was changed, idiom substitutions) for international productions

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Minimize the effort required to prepare scripts for ADR/dubbing (dialogue timing, character cues, translation alignment)

Not ImportantExtremely Important
Very UnsatisfiedVery Satisfied

Alpha Program Commitment

Maximum 500 characters

Maximum 1000 characters

🎉

Thank You!

Your responses have been submitted successfully.

What Happens Next:

  • ✓ We'll review your responses within 5 business days
  • ✓ Check your email (including spam folder)
  • ✓ If selected, you'll receive alpha access instructions
  • ✓ You'll get a Discord invite to join the community

Questions? Contact us at alpha@origindraft.com