Software comparison

Storiara vs Movie Magic

Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting are built for detailed, multi-unit work. Storiara covers the path from script to call sheet for smaller shoots in one web app.

Written by the Storiara team, so read it with that in mind. Movie Magic details were checked against its public website in September 2026.

Quick verdict

Pick Storiara if you are a small team starting from a script and want the breakdown, stripboard, budget, and call sheets in one web app. Pick Movie Magic if you need custom fringes and globals, a report builder, or boards for multiple units.

Storiara at a glance

Breakdown: From the scriptAI fills in characters, locations, props, and wardrobe after upload. You review and edit the lists.
Budget: Sync, not retypeLine items use the rates on your cast, crew, gear, and locations. Manual edits stay put when you sync.
Price: $39.99/moProducer plan. The Beginner plan is free for one story.

Storiara and Movie Magic, feature by feature

A check means the product has the feature; a dash means it doesn't. The notes matter more than the marks.

Script breakdown

Storiara

Upload a PDF, Word, or Final Draft script. AI fills in locations, characters, props, wardrobe, and music and effects for you to review.

Movie Magic

Breakdown sheets in Movie Magic Scheduling.

Stripboards

Storiara

Drag-and-drop stripboard of scenes, shots, and day breaks.

Movie Magic

Drag-and-drop boards, split-screen views, and sub-boards for multiple units and cross-boarding.

Day out of days

Storiara

Cast only, filled in from the schedule, with manual code overrides.

Movie Magic

On-screen report that includes rehearsals, fittings, and travel.

Schedule checks

Storiara

Blocks strips that push a day past its maximum length or overlap in time. Availability shows in a sidebar.

Movie Magic

Conflict detection for overlapping schedules.

Budgeting

Storiara

Top sheet with fringes, contingency, and an optional completion bond, calculated from your rates. No actuals or cost reports.

Movie Magic

Custom fringes, cutoffs, and globals, with a drag-and-drop report builder.

Schedule to budget

Storiara

Sync pulls rates and cast paid days into the budget. Manual edits are kept.

Movie Magic

Elements transfer from Movie Magic Scheduling into Movie Magic Budgeting.

Exports

Storiara

Budget exports to Excel. Schedules, DOOD, and lists print or save as PDF from the browser.

Movie Magic

Schedules export to Excel (.xlsx) and PDF.

Storiara and Movie Magic feature comparison
Feature	Storiara	Movie Magic
Script breakdown	Upload a PDF, Word, or Final Draft script. AI fills in locations, characters, props, wardrobe, and music and effects for you to review.	Breakdown sheets in Movie Magic Scheduling.
Stripboards	Drag-and-drop stripboard of scenes, shots, and day breaks.	Drag-and-drop boards, split-screen views, and sub-boards for multiple units and cross-boarding.
Day out of days	Cast only, filled in from the schedule, with manual code overrides.	On-screen report that includes rehearsals, fittings, and travel.
Schedule checks	Blocks strips that push a day past its maximum length or overlap in time. Availability shows in a sidebar.	Conflict detection for overlapping schedules.
Budgeting	Top sheet with fringes, contingency, and an optional completion bond, calculated from your rates. No actuals or cost reports.	Custom fringes, cutoffs, and globals, with a drag-and-drop report builder.
Schedule to budget	Sync pulls rates and cast paid days into the budget. Manual edits are kept.	Elements transfer from Movie Magic Scheduling into Movie Magic Budgeting.
Exports	Budget exports to Excel. Schedules, DOOD, and lists print or save as PDF from the browser.	Schedules export to Excel (.xlsx) and PDF.

The same prep, step by step

How each stage of prep gets done in each product.

Workflow comparison
Step	In Storiara	In Movie Magic
Script breakdown	Extracted from the uploaded script	Breakdown sheets in Scheduling
Stripboard	Strips dragged into days by hand	Boards with sub-boards for units
Budget	Calculated from rates in the project	Built in Movie Magic Budgeting
Schedule data into the budget	Sync button on the budget page	Element transfer from Scheduling
In short	One web app for small shoots	Deeper scheduling and budgeting

Where Storiara is different

Start from the PDF
Upload a script and the scene list, page counts in eighths, and element lists are filled in before you open the stripboard.
Incentives in the budget
Match your locations and shoot days against the built-in incentive list, then apply the estimate to see a net total.
Crew in the project
Invite collaborators by email and give each one a role. Cast and crew fill in availability on a form that needs no login.

Frequently asked questions

Is Storiara a Movie Magic alternative?

For smaller productions it can be. Storiara covers the breakdown, a drag-and-drop stripboard, a cast Day Out of Days, a budget, and call sheets. Movie Magic goes further on scheduling and budgeting, with custom fringes and globals, a report builder, and sub-boards for multiple units.

Can Storiara import Movie Magic files?

No. Storiara imports scripts as PDF, Word (.docx), or Final Draft (.fdx) files. It can't import or export Movie Magic Scheduling or Budgeting files.

See what your script turns into

Upload a PDF, Word, or Final Draft script and look at the breakdown before you commit. Beginner is free for one story.

Start free

See all software comparisons, or the free production templates.