TELOS STORY
ARISTOTELIAN STORY ANALYSIS
We don’t just read your script.
We diagnose it.
Most coverage tells you what isn’t working. We tell you why.
A diagnostic system for story. Built on Aristotle's philosophy. Executed with AI precision. Results as fast as same day.
The Problem With Coverage
You've gotten the notes before. "The protagonist feels flat." "The second act drags." "I didn't connect."This is symptom-spotting. It tells you what went wrong, but not why. You're left guessing at the mechanics of the failure—rewriting blind, hoping the next draft lands.The problem isn't the reader's effort. It's the method. Most coverage—human or AI—lacks a diagnostic framework. It can register that something is off. It can't explain the structural reason.Telos is a diagnostic system grounded in Aristotle's philosophy, fusing his virtue ethics with his poetics — the mechanics of character and the mechanics of story. It applies 2,400 years of time-tested principles to a simple set of questions: Is this character coherent? Do their beliefs, desires, and capabilities align? Do they behave like a human being? Do they change like a human being? And does that change drive a coherent story?
"A character can break every convention and still feel undeniably true. A story can ignore every formula and still hold together perfectly."
TRADITIONAL AITraditional AI coverage asks the machine to figure out what works. It analyzes thousands of screenplays, identifies patterns, and codifies them into rules. You get feedback, but no one—not even the machine—can tell you why.The AI is a black box.
TELOSWith Telos, we input the expertise—the philosophical principles of character and narrative coherence that explain why—and the AI applies those principles to your script.The AI is the instrument. The expertise is human.
From Symptoms to Root Causes
We replace vague impressions with structural proof.
| WHAT YOU HEAR | WHAT TELOS TELLS YOU |
|---|---|
| "The protagonist feels flat." | The character defends their flaw as a strength while the story frames it as a problem — the audience expects transformation, but the structure supports tragedy. |
| "The ending didn't land." | The protagonist defeats a superior opponent without a credible bridge. Established capabilities were ignored, so the victory feels unearned. |
| "I didn't connect with them." | The character is grieving a loss rather than confronting a flaw. We're watching suffering, not growth. |
“I've used all the major script coverage services over the course of my career, and Telos is right up there with the best of them. Their analysis was fast, thoughtful, and grounded in the kind of Aristotelian story theory I love. I found it immensely helpful and would encourage any writer looking for smart, honest feedback to check them out."— Morgan, MFA in Screenwriting, NYU | Script Pipeline Contest Winner | Story Editor, Paw Patrol
Choose Your Diagnosis
$125 As fast as same day
The Verdict
Is your script working? Get a clear answer with professional ratings, a concise diagnosis, and one Diagnostic Insight that shows you the difference between symptom and root cause.
Includes:
Ratings Grid + Recommendation
Strengths & Concerns
Diagnosis (What's Working / What Needs Work)
One Diagnostic Insight (symptom → root cause)
Comparable Titles + Bottom Line
Best for: Writers who need a quality check before submission.
$425 As fast as same day
The Deep Dive
Why isn't it working, and how do you fix it? Get the complete diagnostic breakdown with dimensional analysis, full root cause mapping, and prioritized revision pathways.
Everything in Standard, plus:
Full Root Cause Analysis (5-8 items)
Revision Pathways with structural options
Character Classification + Arc Assessment
Diagnostic Summary (beliefs, desires, capabilities)
Structural Synopsis (plot mapped to arc)
Best for: Writers in active revision who need actionable diagnosis.
Actual turnaround depends on current queue. You'll receive an estimated delivery date when you order. Both products use the same rigorous verification protocol. The difference is depth, not accuracy. Standard clients can upgrade to Full Diagnosis for the difference in price.
Our ratings assess structural achievement — how well your script executes its own ambitions — not commercial viability. A traditional coverage "Recommend" filters a slush pile. A Telos "Recommend" means the architecture works.
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See the Diagnosis in Action
We don't deal in vague impressions. We deal in structural proof. See how the Telos framework diagnoses character and story.
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“Telos provided an incredible analysis and synthesis of a complex story and plot. It helped us see our own project with greater clarity and even pitched us back a better logline than we were already using. The ability to tell us where ideas are clear and where they need further development was most insightful. And not only did it identify areas for improvement, but it made great revision suggestions as well."— Kyle Smithers, Film Producer | MFA, USC Film Production
Who's Behind Telos
Telos was developed by Blake Barsan, a story analyst who spent over a decade building a diagnostic framework that fuses Aristotle's virtue ethics with his poetics. His background spans actor training at the William Esper Studio and co-founding a Grotowski-inspired performer training lab. The framework began as research for a book applying Aristotle to contemporary storytelling and evolved into the diagnostic system behind every Telos report.
Stop guessing. Start diagnosing.
Questions welcome.If you're ready for a diagnosis, include:+Your script (Google Drive or Dropbox link)
+Your preference: Standard ($125) or Full ($425) Diagnosis
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