Introduction
If you dabbled in screenwriting a little (or a lot!), you’ve likely heard of Celtx. In fact, you may know us as a reliable screenwriting software used to format scripts, flesh out ideas, and manage your creative projects from start to finish.
But what if we told you that there’s a whole lot more to Celtx than meets the eye? Well, today, you’re cordially invited to rediscover Celtx and unlock its full potential. In the words of Jay Z: Allow us to reintroduce ourselves…
Celtx
[pronounced: KELL-tix. Often misspelled as celtix and celtex]
Definition:
An industry leader in online scriptwriting and media production planning software. Used in over 180 countries by filmmakers, educational institutions, storytellers, and creatives.
A Celtx Refresher
Celtx is an all-in-one platform designed for creators like you. Whether you’re brainstorming your next great screenplay, fine-tuning your latest draft, or tackling the nitty-gritty of pre-production, Celtx’s features are here to elevate your workflow and most importantly turn your vision into reality.
In today’s blog, we’ll explore some of Celtx’s lesser-known features, discover why they’re 100% worth your time, and see how they can supercharge your creative process. If you like Final Draft, you’ll love Celtx!
Let’s get started!
Why Explore Lesser-Known Features?
While you may already be familiar with Celtx’s core proficiencies, like script formatting and cloud-based access. So, why should you bother digging any deeper? Well, the true magic of Celtx lies in the features that go beyond the basics.
These tools are designed to not just save time, but to bring a new level of insight, collaboration and efficiency to your creative process!
The first question is, what do you stand to gain from Celtx’s offerings?
For starters, you’ll find working with writing partners, peers and mentors a breeze with streamlined collaboration. No more clunky back-and-forth communication!
Everyone wants to be more productive because let’s face it, there’s never enough time in the day. Celtx offers tools that help you work smarter, not harder.
Finally, and most crucially, we support you in building your creative confidence with features that provide deeper insights into your project, helping you refine your work.
By unlocking everything that we have to offer here at Celtx, there’s no reason why you cannot go from being a good writer or producer, to a great one!
Start your free 7-day trial of Celtx today!
7 Celtx Features to Try
Whether you’re writing, collaborating, or gearing up for production, these tools can take your projects to the next level.
Of course, these are in no particular order; there are no favorites here at Celtx!
1. Read Through
If you’ve read some of our other blogs, you may remember us harping on about reading your screenplays aloud. By hearing your script come to live off the page and hear the words spoken, it’s a lot easier to identify any errors or inconsistencies, such as:
- Spotting awkward phrasing or unnatural dialogue.
- Ensure character voices are distinct.
- Assess the overall rhythm and timing of scenes.
Celtx’s Read Through feature allows you to conduct real-time script read-throughs directly within the platforms. Assign roles to collaborators or use automated voices to get a sense of pacing, dialogue flow, and character dynamics.
This feature is particularly useful when you’re prepping for table reads or if you simply want a better feel of your story.
To access the Read Through feature on your Celtx dashboard, make sure you have it enabled in your tool list. You may need to toggle this feature on from the ‘View’ menu > ‘Tools’.
2. Script Drafts
Every great script goes through multiple revisions. Use Script Drafts in Celtx to easily track and compare your revisions without losing your earlier work. You can save every draft, all appearing in your side bar for future reference.
With these versions of your script, you can easily:
- Avoid losing valuable ideas or changes.
- Quickly revert to an earlier version.
- Compare drafts to analyze how edits impact your story.
Remember, screenwriting is a process, so keeping multiple drafts organized like this is a game-changer! Even better if you’re a writer juggling feedback from multiple collaborators.Check out our video below breaking down how you can use Script Drafts for your next project.
f you found that helpful, then our YouTube channel has even more for you to explore. From top screenwriting tips to all you need to know about Celtx, make sure to subscribe for all our updates!
3. Live Tracking of Changes
While film production is a collaborative process, when you’re not necessarily always with those you work with, it can certainly be a challenge.
With Celtx’s Live Tracking, you can see updates in real time as your collaborators edit, comment, or refine your script. With everything and everyone working in one place, you can:
- Prevent overlapping or conflicting edits.
- Foster seamless communication with the team.
- Maintain a clear record of who makes what changes.
The intuitiveness of the script editors enables even new users to easily translate their thoughts into words. An added and unique feature of Celtx is the ability for two or more writers to collaborate simultaneously, regardless of their location, and even via mobile devices, which has been an invaluable tool…
Brian Levant (Hollywood writer, director, and producer)
With this feature, you can easily see who else is writing with you by their cursor icon:
That’s not all. Easily see whereabouts your colleagues are in the script by clicking their avatar at the top of the page.
To find out more about collaboration in Celtx and how to share your script with your co-writers, directors, and producers, the video below has everything you need to get started.
4. Script Insights
As writers, data may not seem like a natural companion to our creativity. Let Celtx’s Script Insight do all the numbers for you, with all the analytics you could need on your script. From scene length, dialogue distribution to character screen time, we have you covered.
Analysis like this can be great for:
- Identifying pacing issues by analyzing script length.
- Ensuring your main characters are getting enough screen time.
- Spotting dialogue imbalances or repetitive patterns.
To find your insights, first go into your project, then click View in the top menu bar.
Next, select Script Insights from the drop-down menu.
Your Script Insight window will then appear, noting the script’s overall statistics.
If you continue to scroll down, you’ll find the dialogue and setting distribution in easy-to-read pie charts, color-coded for each character and location. Use the arrows under each list to toggle through.
For more on Script Insights in Celtx, here’s a handy video!
You might also like: 10 Essential Filmmaking Techniques and Tips to Succeed as a Filmmaker || Routledge.com
5. Custom Goals
Every writer knows the struggle of staying motivated. Our Custom Goals feature helps you set and track progress, whether it’s writing a certain number of pages per day or completing a draft by a specific deadline – you decide!
Setting goals are instrumental to:
- Breaking large tasks down into manageable milestones.
- Staying accountable and focused on your goals.
- Celebrating progress as you hit key achievements.
Remember, screenwriting is a marathon, not a sprint, so setting goals can turn the often-daunting creative process into a structured and rewarding journey.You’ll find Script Goals above Script Insights in the View menu.
You’ll then see a small pop-up in the bottom left corner of your window.
As you can see, our current word count goal for today is set at 250 words, with no progress made so far.
Say you wanted to increase your word count goal to 500 words, simply click on the white box and amend the number.
Our Advanced tools allow you to set your total word count goal and a deadline. Simply click on Advanced to access and amend these as often as you like.
6. Pre-Production Tools
Scriptwriting is just the beginning. If you’re moving into production, Celtx’s suite of pre-production tools, including budgeting, scheduling, call sheets, and shot lists, may be just what you’re looking for!
Make sure to choose Celtx if you’re looking to:
- Keep all aspects of your production organized in one place.
- Create detailed budgets and schedules that can be easily adjusted.
- Plan out scenes visually with shot lists and storyboards.
Integrate all these tools into your workflow to ensure your transition from script to screen is as smooth as can be.Check out our pre-production page for all you need to know to kickstart your next project like you’ve never kickstarted it before!
7. Interactive Tutorials
New to Celtx or looking to master its more advanced features? Our platform’s Interactive Tutorials guide you through the software, teaching you how to use every tool step-by-step. Tutorials are perfect if you’re looking to:
- Learn as you go without feeling overwhelmed.
- Discover hidden features you might not otherwise stumble upon.
- Build confidence in your ability to use the platform to its fullest.
Even if you’re a seasoned Celtx user, you too can benefit from the tutorials; there’s always something new to learn as we’re always looking for ways to improve what we offer!
For a full list of Interactive Tutorials with articles for everything you could possibly want to know about the ins and outs of Celtx, check out our Help Center. Our YouTube channel also has mountains of tips and tricks to help you make the most of our software.
How These Features Improve Your Workflow
So now we’ve taken a deep dive into everything Celtx can do for you as a writer, director, producer and crew member, let’s take a step back and look at the big picture.
It’s great having all these intuitive features and all, but how do they come together to improve your creative process?
Enhanced Collaboration
Features like Live Tracking of Changes and Read Throughs ensure that everyone on your team stays on the same page (literally and figuratively). No more miscommunication or wasted time!
Informed Decision-Making
With Script Insights and Script Drafts, you can approach your work with confidence, knowing you have the data and revisions to back up your creative choices.
Increased Efficiency
Custom Goals and Pre-Production Tools help you work smarter, eliminating inefficiencies and giving you more time to focus on your story. But don’t just take our word for it as we hear from some renowned users of Celtx below!
Celtx isn’t just for one type of creative. We’re here for:
Writers
Track your progress, refine your dialogue, and analyze your script like a pro!
When it was time to write the screenplay, Celtx was a huge factor in the drafting phase. Utilizing the Celtx Revision [tracking] feature was very effective…the Read Through feature with different character voices was great to use.
Kiyoka Rhodes (Emmy-nominated writer, producer, director and award-winning filmmaker)
Directors
Visualize scenes with shot lists and collaborate seamlessly with your crew.
Last year, I was summoned out of retirement for one last feature. Now I think of all the films I made without Celtx and wonder how on earth I managed to do it – what a brilliant innovation! As we all learn to work more remotely and independently, Celtx keeps everyone on the same page without sacrificing the benefits of a collaborative and shared experience that all good filmmaking should be. Celtx offers a single point of reference for all cast and crew, updated in real-time. Bravo!
David Rolfe (BAFTA award-winning director and producer)
Producers
Use budgeting and scheduling tools to keep projects on track and under budget.
From the moment we started using Celtx, we realized it was the perfect way to standardize client communication and facilitate a good flow of feedback.
Chema Bazán (Owner, Lucentum Productions)
Ready to Unlock More with Celtx?
The tools we’ve highlighted are just the beginning. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your creative journey, Celtx has something to offer you, and more. Look no further than ScreenwritingScribe’s fantastic walk-through video, exploring our full range of features and how you can make the most of them. Take your projects to new heights and streamline every step of the process.
‘So, what are you waiting for? Dive into Celtx today. Start a free trial, explore these powerful features, and unlock your creative potential. The story you’ve been dreaming of is closer than you think!
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- Writing Subtext: How to Say More by Saying Less
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- Film Budgeting: Tips for Every Production Scale
