UPDATE
Silly me clicked post comment twice because it was reacting slow the first time I clicked it and I thought I might have missed clicking it properly

i7-3770 3.4GHz CPU 16 GB Ram   
GeForce GTX1080 TI 11GB
Windows 10 Pro 64bit

Hmmmm I haven't gotten far enough to discover causalities limitations yet. 
That may cause me to give up on it.
So far everything is OK for what I do with it

i7-3770 3.4GHz CPU 16 GB Ram   
GeForce GTX1080 TI 11GB
Windows 10 Pro 64bit

I have had causality ever since I saw its recommendation in the forum by whoever it was that posted it but only really started to use it now. 
I cant say much about it because I am still learning to use it. I only know its basics at the moment.

However I am using it for my story for that story I am doing to show the magic particles and I am thinking it is going to help me in any future stories as well. I need to get better with using it fully before I can actually decide that but I like it so far. For this video I am working on I'm not using it to do the full story. I'm using it more like a storyboarder but its text instead of images. 
I use Arc for each scenes I want to make. Group for the events, characters etc in the scene and  story point for adding idea's and details for the event
Whether that is a good idea or not I haven't decided yet but again I think it is helping me with this story?

I am also using another project in it it to write notes, comments and ideas I get for each of the particle effects. 
An Arc for each particle. In each arc I put some groups for points I want to describe. EG PROPERTIES, USES, etc
and in each of those I add story points to describe how to do it.

Because of that I am thinking this might be a good tool for more than just story telling. I think I might be able to use it for things like workflow layouts, maybe even building a workflow of story writing for myself.
I think that having these will help me with remembering the order of my workflow for some things. Help me discover and add improvements to a workflow.
grrrrrrrrrr, going beyond what I wanted to say. These are just ideas I'm getting. Whether they are good ideas for me or not I need to try it to find out.


i7-3770 3.4GHz CPU 16 GB Ram   
GeForce GTX1080 TI 11GB
Windows 10 Pro 64bit

I downloaded and used the free version of Causality awhile back, but it is limited (10 pages I think?) and you can't print, so it wasn't much value to me.  I wasn't ready to plunk down $279 or whatever the going rate was for the full version, so I just re-read my "Save the Cat" e-book instead.

Reallusion Certified Director / Reallusion Best Visual Award / Reallusion Certified Content Developer
See all the G-Tools Plug-Ins available for iClone here: G-Tools Plug-Ins

@Sean,

Good comments.

I don't remember the tool being tied to a specific structure, such as a 3-act format or anything like that.  My recollection of the Causality tool (based on their videos, not personal hands-on experience) is mostly that it can help you rearrange your script, and you can insert place-holders. 

For example, you could put something like "Hostage negotiation" when you are brainstorming and outlining your script.  Later you can fill in the actual dialogue and stuff like that.

But one of the key things is "Cause and Effect" (thus, "Causality").  Back several pages in this thread, I mentioned "Because of that..."  If you have linked your scenes (or "beats" or "elements", whatever you want to call them), then the software can help ensure key things happen in the correct order.  If working on two story lines - the primary action story and the love story - you might rearrange parts many times to improve the flow and the pace and the emotion of the movie.  But you need to remember that John and Jane meet because the bread burned into the oven... Because of that, Jane called the fire department, and because of that, Jane met John, the handsome fireman.  So it helps you keep things like in their logical sequence when arranging many events.  You could also, potentially, notice that some things lack their triggering event, but only if you really commit to using the tool.

SeanMac (1/22/2018)

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I recommend products that I have worked with and therefore know a little about. I scan the forum for advice because like many another here, I realise that I have to do all the jobs that are in the credits at the end of a movie. I can use all the advice that will help me. I have always assumed that this advice was not motivated by any dishonourable motive. May I assume that you do the same?

I would like to be crystal clear, if that wasn't already the case - I was not questioning anyone's motives or ethics.  (ToyStoryLab, Sean Mac, etc.)

Sometimes people "recommend" or suggest a tool that they've heard of, but don't necessarily know a lot about.  I'm pretty sure I've done that myself, but I hope I always remember to make it clear if I've actually used it or not.  "Causality" is a good example.  I did some modest research on it, and in a conversation I might think of it and mention is as something a person might want to look into.  On the other hand, I actually use Substance Painter and can recommend it based on my experience.  So that's why I was curious if you actually used Storyboarder or not.  It wasn't intended as a negative question.


P.S.
About the mind-reading version... I used to quip about that with my customers.  When they wanted some really, really easy-to-use software magically perform complex business or engineering tasks, I always told them the mind-reading module costs extra.  So thinking about the Causality application triggered that latent memory to resurface.

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iClone 7... Character Creator... Substance Designer/Painter... Blender... Audacity...
Desktop (homebuilt) - Windows 10, Ryzen 9 3900x CPU, GTX 1080 GPU (8GB), 32GB RAM, Asus X570 Pro motherboard, 2TB SSD, terabytes of disk space, dual  monitors.
Laptop - Windows 10, MSI GS63VR STEALTH-252, 16GB RAM, GTX 1060 (6GB), 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD

I was just joking because of the "free version doesn't read your mind" line (although I've looked at that software and, IMHO, it's basically what's wrong with Hollywood today.  I would never use that but that's just me).

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Alienware Aurora R16, Win 11, i9-149000KF, 3.20GHz CPU, 64GB RAM, RTX 4090 (24GB), Samsung 870 Pro 8TB, Gen3 MVNe M-2 SSD, 4TBx2, 39" Alienware Widescreen Monitor
Mike "ex-genius" Kelley

@justaviking  "

 I remember lookinginto Causality the last time someone mentioned it (maybe it was you [likely was. SM]).  Itlooks very interesting, especially if working on a large story.  I watchedmost, maybe all of the videos on their web site.  One thing to be aware ofis most of the "magic" is not free, meaning you need to properly andconscientiously enter all the data that drives the software.  You need tocorrectly label and tag all the events, etc.  If you do that, then Iexpect it can be a wonderful tool.  But I'm pretty sure it doesn't readyour mind (at least not the free version)."

I got the impression from using Causality that the software did tend to force the writer into an  'and then, because of that...' , and the Three Act Structure so worshipped by Hollywood. For me it is a template that works but it is not the only one. However if you are committing to an extended period of work, it is as well to accept structures which are generally accepted by the trade. Causality reminds me very much of a book on screenwriting by Brian McDonald, Invisible Ink. You often hear that screenwriting is all structure and this is what both the software and McDonald's book takes as a route in to a screenplay.

@KT. You said that,  "The paid version not only reads your mind, it takes yourcash out of your wallet and closes your bank account." I hope and assume you were just being flip.

I am not someone who deals in internet scams. I own several software packages from Per Holmes and respect his expertise but I have no financial, or other relationship with the man or his company. And AFAIK there is, as yet, no paid-for product involved here. Apologies if this turns out not to be true. My recommendations are by way of a thankyou for all the help that has been given me and others in these pages.

I recommend products that I have worked with and therefore know a little about. I scan the forum for advice because like many another here, I realise that I have to do all the jobs that are in the credits at the end of a movie. I can use all the advice that will help me. I have always assumed that this advice was not motivated by any dishonourable motive. May I assume that you do the same?
 

"

A little review of Storyboarder:



Toystorylab on Vimeo :     Crassitudes (my "Alter Ego") on Youtube: 

The paid version not only reads your mind, it takes your cash out of your wallet and closes your bank account.

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Alienware Aurora R16, Win 11, i9-149000KF, 3.20GHz CPU, 64GB RAM, RTX 4090 (24GB), Samsung 870 Pro 8TB, Gen3 MVNe M-2 SSD, 4TBx2, 39" Alienware Widescreen Monitor
Mike "ex-genius" Kelley

Thanks.

I try to be prudent, but I'm not usually that cautious.  For some reason, I hesitated this time when they asked for my email.  I do have my "hobby" email (and a couple others), but I  don't have a "junk" email address even though I've thought about it a couple of times.

Regarding the recommendation, some people will "recommend" something because it looked interesting, but haven't actually used it.  I think I'll give it a try.

SeanMac (1/22/2018)

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For those interested in storyboarding and screenwriting generally you might try hollywoodcamerawork's Causality application.

AFAIK it is free at the moment and can be downloaded from https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/causality.html

I remember looking into Cuasality the last time someone mentioned it (maybe it was you).  It looks very interesting, especially if working on a large story.  I watched most, maybe all of the videos on their web site.  One thing to be aware of is most of the "magic" is not free, meaning you need to properly and conscientiously enter all the data that drives the software.  You need to correctly label and tag all the events, etc.  If you do that, then I expect it can be a wonderful tool.  But I'm pretty sure it doesn't read your mind (at least not the free version).

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iClone 7... Character Creator... Substance Designer/Painter... Blender... Audacity...
Desktop (homebuilt) - Windows 10, Ryzen 9 3900x CPU, GTX 1080 GPU (8GB), 32GB RAM, Asus X570 Pro motherboard, 2TB SSD, terabytes of disk space, dual  monitors.
Laptop - Windows 10, MSI GS63VR STEALTH-252, 16GB RAM, GTX 1060 (6GB), 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD