How Collaboration Works

Multiple writers can work on the same screenplay at the same time. Changes sync instantly between all connected editors, and each collaborator gets a colored cursor so you can see who is writing where.

Inviting Collaborators

Open the script and click Share. In the Share modal, enter the email address of the person you want to invite and click Invite.

Ensemble sends an invitation email with a link to the screenplay, valid for seven days. When the recipient clicks the link, they are added as a collaborator and can start editing right away.

If the invited person does not have an Ensemble account, the link walks them through registration first. Once signed up, they land directly in the shared screenplay.

You can invite multiple people to the same screenplay. Each collaborator will receive their own invitation email and their own colored cursor in the editor.

The Writing Room

When two or more people have the same screenplay open, you are in a writing room. Each person's cursor appears in a distinct color with their name above it.

Changes appear in real time. When your collaborator types a new line of dialogue, it shows up on your screen within milliseconds. Ensemble uses operational transformation to merge concurrent edits, so two people can type in the same paragraph without losing anyone's work.

There is no "lock" on any section of the script. All collaborators have full editing access to the entire document at all times. You can write in the same scene or work on different parts of the screenplay at once.

Managing Collaborators

The script owner manages collaborators from the Share modal, which lists current collaborators and any pending invitations.

To remove a collaborator, click the remove button next to their name. They immediately lose editing access. If they have the script open, their session ends.

Pending invitations can also be revoked. If you invited the wrong person or the invitation expired, you can cancel it and send a new one if needed.

Best Practices

A few habits that make collaboration go more smoothly:

• Communicate before you edit. If you are about to rewrite a scene your partner worked on, give them a heads-up - a quick text, a message, or a call.
• Divide the script into zones. When both writers are online at the same time, agree on who is working on which part. This minimizes conflicts and lets each person focus on their section.
• Use Export for checkpoints. Before a major rewrite, export a JSON backup. This gives you a snapshot you can return to if the rewrite does not work out.
• Keep sessions focused. Real-time editing is best for active writing sessions. For feedback and notes, consider sharing a read-only link and discussing changes before editing.

For more detailed guidance on co-writing dynamics, see the Collaboration Etiquette guide.