Hollywood Writers Launch “Gauntlet” to Champion Human Insight over AI in Script Analysis

A group of accomplished industry professionals introduced “Gauntlet” where scripts are evaluated by professional human analysts, countering the rising use of AI in screenplay assessment.

A notable group of writers and industry professionals have launched a new platform known as the Gauntlet, in response to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Hollywood’s screenplay evaluation process. Spearheaded by prominent figures such as Shane Black of Iron Men 3, Jim Herzfeld of Meet the Parents, and Akela Cooper of M3GAN, this initiative aims to prioritize human judgment in the critical stages of screenplay assessment.

The Gauntlet was born out of a collaboration between these creatives and ScriptHop, a tech company co-founded by Scott Foster, a former head of the story department at UTA, and Brian Austin, a tech entrepreneur. Officially launching with a team of 30 freelance script analysts from prestigious entities like HBO and Lucasfilm, the Gauntlet stands as a substantial collective of professional readers.

Herzfeld, serving on ScriptHop's advisory board, envisioned a system where screenwriters could submit their scripts for a fee of $380 to undergo rigorous evaluation by a team of seasoned story analysts. The process begins with a script being reviewed by at least seven analysts to mitigate the impact of subjective opinions. Scripts that resonate with these initial readers advance for further reviews, potentially increasing their visibility among Hollywood's decision-makers.

Among the key designers of the Gauntlet were David Hayter of X-Men, Dana Stevens of The Woman King, and Jim Uhls of Fight Club, who helped shape a platform that facilitates direct engagement between screenwriters and the gatekeepers of the industry. This initiative counters the conventional, often isolating review process where a single negative assessment, sometimes by an inexperienced reader or even an algorithm, could bury a promising script.

Brian Austin expressed concerns to Variety about the diminishing role of human expertise in story departments, as AI increasingly takes on evaluative tasks. The Gauntlet aims to offer a human-centric alternative, emphasizing the value of nuanced, professional insights over algorithmic analyses that primarily rely on box-office trends and keyword matching.

Scripts that successfully navigate through the Gauntlet's three-tier system earn a certification, complete with endorsements from the analysts involved. This process is designed with transparency in mind, allowing writers to know who is reviewing their work, as the readers' profiles are publicly accessible. 

Furthermore, scripts that stand out in the Gauntlet are made searchable through a database accessible to agencies, studios, and production companies. They are also promoted through "The Gauntlet Weekend Read," a subscription service aimed at highlighting promising screenplays.

Herzfeld highlighted the Gauntlet's mission to counter the encroachment of AI in script reading, emphasizing the platform's commitment to maintaining a human touch in the film industry's creative decision-making process.