concepts
Story Intelligence
Five structural checks that run on the plan before any render credit is spent. Advisory, never blocking.
Last updated 2026-07-10
What it does
Story Intelligence evaluates a proposed shot plan against five structural tests. Each test returns pass or advice; nothing is ever blocked. You, or your agent, decide whether to act on the notes.
| Check | Question it answers |
|---|---|
| Hook test | Does shot one earn the next three seconds? |
| Before and after | Does the end state actually differ from the start? |
| Shot purpose | Does every shot carry narrative weight, no filler? |
| Mute test | Does the sequence read with the sound off? |
| Attention cuts | Does every cut change movement, emotion, or information? |
When to use it
It runs automatically inside every generation. You can also call it standalone as a free API tool to iterate on direction without spending: see get_story_intelligence_report.
Why advisory
The user is the director. Cadenza surfaces the weakness and the reason; it never refuses to generate on story grounds. Safety policy is the only thing that blocks, and that is a separate system.
Billing implications
Story reports are free. They exist so bad ideas die before they cost anything.