Hi Reader,
A few days ago, I wrote about how watching the World Cup made me think about AI and screenplay analysis.
And after the last few games had more of the same kinds of problems, I want to take that one step further. The more I’ve watched the fallout around VAR, the more I think the lesson for writers is even bigger than "human readers still matter."
It’s this: good judgment is not the same as perfect data.
And that matters a lot in storytelling (and not just sports).
Reuters has been covering how this World Cup has turned officiating and technology into the tournament’s main talking point, with controversies around Croatia’s disallowed equalizer against Portugal, Egypt’s complaints after the Argentina match, Norway's camera-cable issue against England, and even wider backlash after Argentina’s progress deep into the tournament led to "VARgentina" trending online. Wired made a similar point: the real issue isn’t simply the existence of VAR, but the way interpretation, training gaps, and overreach shape how the technology gets used.
That feels very familiar to me as a writer. A screenplay or a novel can also be read in a way that is overly literal. A machine can identify page count, scene length, formatting patterns, structural beats, and other technical details. But there's a huge gap between the technical and the emotional.
Movies that work because they’re alive
Think about films like Jaws, The Silence of the Lambs, or No Country for Old Men.
A lot of what makes those films work, simply wouldn't if you looked at them too mechanically. The pauses in Jaws. The loaded conversations in Silence. The restraint and silence in No Country.
Those films breathe. They let tension sit, and they trust the audience.
More than that, they leave room for behavior, subtext, contradiction, and mood.
Let's be clear, that’s not messy by accident. It's craft in service of feeling.
And I think that’s one of the things writers need to protect right now. Not structure or polish or a "clean page." But life on that page.
The best script notes need emotional intelligence
This is another reason I still believe so strongly in experienced human feedback.
Yes, a human can catch technical issues, but more than that, a good human reader can ask better questions, such as:
- What is this scene trying to make me feel?
- Is the awkwardness here intentional?
- Is this line rough because it’s weak, or because it’s honest?
- Is this moment breaking a rule for the wrong reason, or exactly the right one?
That kind of judgment requires context, intent, emotional intelligence, and a feel for what the writer is actually trying to do.
That's very different from simply flagging what looks unconventional. And honestly, that’s true in every art form worth caring about.
A useful reminder for writers
I think this whole conversation is also a good reminder to write for more than just technical approval.
And don't get me wrong - learn structure, pacing, dialogue, character work, and scene construction. Those are all a must. But don’t become so obsessed with technical correctness that you write the life out of your own work.
The audience will forgive some roughness if the scene feels original and alive. What they won’t forgive is work that feels sterile.
In the end, what people remember is more than:
- whether the beat sheet lined up perfectly
- whether the dialogue was efficient
- whether every scene was mathematically ideal
They remember how the story made them feel.
In my latest video, I go deeper into all of this and break down exactly why VAR made me think about AI in screenwriting, and why I believe human judgment still has to stay at the center of creative decisions.
🎥 Watch the full video here: What the WORLD CUP Taught Me About AI in Screenwriting
And if you want script feedback from a real human writer who understands technique, emotional intent and audience connection, then click one of the links below:
👉 My coaching calls - great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!
👉 My coverage packages - a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!
👉 Rewrite to Greenlight - my ongoing developmental editing program for taking a script from almost there to funding or production-ready: Click here!
Remember, tools are useful, but stories still live or die by feeling.
Until next time - keep writing, and stay creative!
Neil
P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!
Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel
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Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking: www.neilchasefilm.com.
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