Convert to Narrated Script

[anthonyhuben]

Make scripts readable by a computer narrator.

• Replace "(V.O.)" with "(voiceover)".
• Replace "(O.S.)" with "(off-screen)".
• Omit "(CONT'D)".
• Replace "SFX" with "Special effect".
• Replace "INT." with "INTERIOR - ".
• Replace "EXT." with "EXTERIOR - ".
• Replace "I/E." or "INT/EXT." with "INTERIOR-EXTERIOR - ".
• Convert character's names to Title Case.
• Add " says: " between a character's name and dialogue.

[anthonyhuben]

First attempt...

/*

Convert to Narrative Script
Copyright: Anthony James Huben
Description: Converts a script document into a narrative script format.
Version: 1.0

*/

let characters = []
let text = "\n" // We need one extra line break at the beginning to make the first line a character cue
let dialogue = false
let currentCharacter = ''

// Gather character names
for (const line of Beat.lines()) {
  if (line.typeAsString() == "Character") {
    const character = line.characterName().toLowerCase().replace(/^(.)(.*)$/, (_, firstChar, rest) => firstChar.toUpperCase() + rest)
    if (!characters.includes(character)) characters.push(character)
  }
}

characters.sort();

// Iterate through the document
for (const line of Beat.lines()) {
  if (line.typeAsString() == "Character" || line.typeAsString() == "Dual Dialogue Character") {
    const characterName = line.characterName().replace(/^(.)(.*)$/, (_, firstChar, rest) => firstChar.toUpperCase() + rest.toLowerCase() + " says, ") // Modify character name to capitalize only the first letter
    if (dialogue) {
      text = text.replace(/\n$/, '') // Remove the last newline character
      text += "\n" + currentCharacter
    }
    currentCharacter = characterName
    dialogue = true
  } else if (!line.isDialogueElement() && dialogue) {
    dialogue = false
    text += "\n\n" // Add an empty line after dialogue
  }
  if (dialogue) {
    let modifiedLine = line.string
    modifiedLine = modifiedLine.replace(/\(CONT'D\)/g, "") // Remove (CONT'D)
    modifiedLine = modifiedLine.replace(/\(V\.O\.\)/g, "(voiceover)") // Replace (V.O.) with (voiceover)
    modifiedLine = modifiedLine.replace(/\(O\.S\.\)/g, "(off-screen)") // Replace (O.S.) with (offscreen)
    text += modifiedLine // Append the modified line without a newline character
  } else {
    text += line.string + "\n" // Keep other unmodified script lines intact
  }
}

text = text.replaceAll("\n\n\n", "\n\n")
text = text.replaceAll("\n\n\n", "\n\n")

// Create the new document
Beat.newDocument(text)