Topicut plans YouTube documentaries with source records and shot lists

Topicut is a documentary planning workspace for creators who want to keep a script, shot list and media sources in one project. A free account can save briefs, edit scripts, review sources and plan shots. The public site also shows finished examples with production notes.

How does it track sources?

Topicut’s workflow starts with a brief and an editable script. You can search Wikimedia Commons or add archive links yourself. Each source can remain with the project while you review it and match it to a shot. The publisher describes keeping rights notes and revisions alongside the media records, so a later edit has the same material to refer to.

The examples illustrate why that history can be useful. A viewer can open production notes and see which source was used for a shot or check where a saved version has a visual limitation. The examples describe saved outputs, and the site says generation times and results vary.

What can you do with a free account?

The public tools can be used without an account. The free account adds saved briefs, scripts and shot planning. Topicut’s pricing page describes paid plans starting at $29 USD per month with production credits. A creator interested in a finished production can send a brief to the team and review availability and the quote before using credits.

Is rendering available?

Topicut’s pricing page says self-serve rendering and scheduled publishing are currently closed. Its workflow describes reviewing saved films and exporting available video, captions and evidence. YouTube upload is done through the creator’s own channel. If you already have a topic, the useful starting point is the planning workspace. You can revise narration and review the archive material while you decide how the film itself will be made.