How do I try a big story change without touching the original?

Short answerOpen a parallel universe. It starts as a copy of the episode list, shares every episode with the universe it came from, and only copies an episode when you change it. Every universe uses the same Render page, and you can pull footage from any other universe without re-rendering.

What a universe is

A universe is an ordered list of episodes. The original series is v0. When you open a new universe, its list starts as a copy of the one it branched from, and every episode in it is shared: it is the same episode, not a copy.

Each episode in a universe is one of two kinds:

• Own: it belongs to this universe. Edit it freely in Render; no other universe sees the change.
• Shared: it belongs to another universe. The series page marks it with that universe's name.

When you open a shared episode, the console offers to copy it into this universe first. The copy takes a few seconds, keeps the same footage and takes, and costs nothing. After that, the episode is yours to change.

Switching universes

The universe bar at the top of the series page lists v0 and every universe you made. Click one and the episode list below shows that universe's episodes in its order, each marked own or shared. Everything else (Render, Review, sign-off, covers) works the same way in every universe.

Own episodes are numbered by universe in the episode page header, for example U1·05 for the fifth episode slot of universe 1.

Re-cutting inside a universe

Four tools in the group inspector on the Render page cover what used to need a separate cut list. None of them re-renders, and the segment restitches by itself:

• Trim: cut extra seconds off the start or end of a group, on top of the silent lead-in the stitcher already removes. Set it back to 0 to restore.
• + Card: insert a silent black title card such as THREE DAYS LATER after the group.
• Move to another episode: move the group, with its footage, into another episode. Use it to split an episode that runs over 90 seconds.
• Pull from another universe: pick a group from any episode of any universe and copy it in after this one, or borrow it as a candidate take for this group.

Keep each episode between 60 and 90 seconds and end it on a hook.

Turning an old version into a universe

On the Versions page, Convert to universe turns a cut-list version into a universe. Each version episode becomes an own episode built from the same footage, with its trims and title cards. The episodes after it are shared with v0. The episodes stitch in the background within a few minutes, and the version itself stays as it was.

Delivering a universe

Make current for delivery on the universe bar makes delivery packs follow that universe's episode order, renumbered from 1. Every episode needs an episode master, and each one still has to be signed off in that universe.

Still stuck? Email support@dawnwood.ai with your account email, the series, the episode and the segment or group — see what to include.