Script Evaluator / Flatness Detector

Script Evaluator / Flatness Detector

Review a video script, presentation, or rendered scene code and identify exactly WHY it's boring and HOW to fix it. Works on scripts, storyboards, and Remotion/code-based video scenes.

Evaluation: 6 Dimensions (score each 1-10)

1. TENSION - Does the viewer feel something?

Score	Description
1-3	No enemy/problem. Features listed without context. "We do X, Y, Z" tone
4-6	Problem mentioned but vague ("saves time"). Some contrast but generic
7-10	Specific visceral enemy. Clear before→after. Viewer thinks "that's me!"

Fix: Name the specific pain. Use customer language. Show the "before" state - make it ugly. Add a number to every claim.

2. SPECIFICITY - Is it concrete or vague?

Red Flag	Fix
"Saves time"	HOW MUCH? "Saves 45 minutes per photo"
"Better quality"	WHAT metric? "Original DPI, pixel-to-pixel"
"Innovative solution"	WHAT innovation? "Neural retouching with layer output"
"AI-powered"	What does the AI DO? "Detects and removes 12 types of artifacts"
"Trusted by thousands"	WHO? "Used by 500+ jewelry studios including [name]"

Rule: Replace every adjective with a number or example.

3. EMOTIONAL ARC - Does it go somewhere?

Score	Description
1-3	Same energy start to finish. Feels like a slideshow of facts
4-6	Some variation but no clear peak/valley
7-10	Identifiable beats. At least one DOWN (tension) and one UP (relief). Last scene feels different from first

Fix: Map scenes to an emotional curve. Must have at least one DOWN (problem) and one UP (amazement/relief). The CTA should feel like resolution, not another slide.

4. HOOK STRENGTH - Will they keep watching?

Score	Description
1-3	Starts with logo, "We are [company]...", or decorative intro with no information
4-6	Has information but doesn't create urgency or curiosity
7-10	First frame has surprising information. Creates curiosity gap. Uses customer language. MUST see next scene

Fix: The hook is your ad for your ad. Read the first 3 seconds aloud. If it sounds like a corporate intro, rewrite. Try: stat, question, bold claim, customer quote, visual shock.

5. CUSTOMER VOICE - Does it sound human?

Score	Description
1-3	"Leveraging cutting-edge technology." "Seamless integration." "World-class results."
4-6	Reasonable language but still "written by marketing" feeling
7-10	Actual customer phrases. Sounds like describing to a friend. Simple, direct, concrete

Fix: Find 3 customer reviews. Copy their EXACT words. Replace marketing copy with their language.

6. VISUAL VARIETY - Is it visually dynamic?

Score	Description
1-3	Same layout every scene. All text, no imagery. Same animation everywhere
4-6	Some variation but key moment doesn't stand out visually
7-10	2+ visual styles. Pacing matches emotion. Most important scene looks DIFFERENT

Fix: Alternate scene types. After text-heavy scenes, do a visual scene. The most important scene should have a unique visual treatment.

Scoring

TENSION:        _/10
SPECIFICITY:    _/10
EMOTIONAL ARC:  _/10
HOOK:           _/10
CUSTOMER VOICE: _/10
VISUAL VARIETY: _/10
────────────────────
TOTAL:          _/60

VERDICT:
  50-60: Ship it
  40-49: Good, minor tweaks needed  
  30-39: Needs work on weakest dimensions
  20-29: Major rewrite - go back to Product Brief
  <20:   Start over with Product Meaning Extractor

5 Common Flatness Patterns

1. "Feature Parade"

Symptom: Scene 1: Feature A. Scene 2: Feature B. Scene 3: Feature C. CTA. Why flat: No narrative tension. It's a list, not a story. Fix: Add a problem scene BEFORE features. Features answer a question - ask the question first.

2. "Logo-First"

Symptom: Opens with 3-5 seconds of logo animation. Why flat: Nobody cares about your logo yet. They care about their problem. Fix: Move logo to the END. Open with the hook.

3. "Generic Superlatives"

Symptom: "The best solution." "Revolutionary technology." "World-class results." Why flat: Every product says this. These words carry zero information. Fix: Replace with specifics. "4x faster" beats "Revolutionary speed" every time.

4. "Missing Middle"

Symptom: Good hook, good CTA, flat middle that walks through features. Why flat: No emotional peak. The demo section needs a WOW moment. Fix: Find the single most impressive thing the product does. Build to it. Make it visually different from everything else.

5. "Uniform Energy"

Symptom: Every scene has same pacing, animation speed, text size. Why flat: No rhythm. Like music at one volume. Fix: Vary tempo: fast cuts → slow hero shot → medium features → fast proof → slow CTA.

Usage

After writing a script or coding scenes:

"Evaluate this script/video using the script-evaluator skill.
Score each dimension 1-10 and give specific fixes for anything below 7."

Also useful for comparing versions:

"Evaluate V1 and V2 side by side. Which is stronger and why?"

Gotchas

• A high total with one dimension at 2 = video still feels broken. Fix the weakest link first.
• Tension is #1 predictor of engagement. Always fix this first.
• Don't over-optimize "interesting" at expense of clarity. Confusing > flat, but clear + engaging > both.
• This evaluator works on: scripts, storyboards, Remotion TSX code, and even finished videos (describe what you see).