Video Script Formats

1
(No Transcript)
2
Video Script Formats
3
(No Transcript)
4
A variety of script formats are used to create
television and film programs. Most follow certain
guidelines but vary depending upon the
organization. Below are some of the major script
styles.
5
(No Transcript)
6
News - documentary scripting
7
(No Transcript)
8
News scripts generally use 2 columns, the left
for video directions, the right for audio.
9
(No Transcript)
10
Story/Package/Documentary Script  
11
(No Transcript)
12
News package script -  used after tape is shot in
the field but before editing. A detailed
organization of visual and aural material to be
included in a "stand alone" package. That is, it
should be able to be played from beginning to end
as a complete story. 
13
(No Transcript)
14
Goal organize visual/aural material before
editing the piece together. Will be inserted into
a newscast on a VTR. Since virtually all of the
material in a package is being dubbed from tape
that was shot earlier, "VTRs" are not usually
indicated in the video portion of the script,
just the shot description. It is assumed that all
transitions, unless otherwise indicated, are
cuts.
15
(No Transcript)
16
In practice, news story scripts are rarely fully
typed-out. Most are written on note pads and
created in the editing suite. Most times, the
audio is laid down first along with anchor
stand-ups, with the video being laid over the
audio to make sure the times match-up.
17
(No Transcript)
18
News program script - oriented toward organizing
the live news production. Detailed technical
elements including anchor scripts, indications of
where completed packages run, in and out cues for
packages, "live" video from other locations
(i.e., on location, or in the newsroom), which
VTRs have which packages, keys/titles and
graphics. Goal make sure the live program runs
smoothly. Usually does not contain the specific
script elements from each package, only the
in/out cues and length of each package. (this
will be addressed in Studio Production I).
19
(No Transcript)
20
Documentary script - portions can be developed
far in advance depending upon the production
style.  If a narrator is to be used, much of the
narration script, which introduces the topics and
segments may be written well before production
begins. However, this is usually an interactive
process with the following steps  1) topic is
researched, 2) outline is developed for the
program, 3) draft script is written, 4) as visual
and sound elements are captured and reviewed, the
script is likely to be adjusted accordingly.  
21
(No Transcript)
22
Documentary scripts depend  a great deal upon the
production/direction style of the director.  Some
directors prefer to let the screen action,
interviews and the nat. sound tell the story as
is (verite').  Others prefer to explain what is
happening in great detail with a voice-over
narrator (e.g., Ken Burns).  It is important to
choose the style which best matches the content. 
As is the case with most Ken Burns productions,
their historical perspective almost demand
extensive voice-over narration to explain the
context and nuances of the historical situation. 
23
(No Transcript)
24
Documentary production often requires extensive
research to learn about the subject prior and
during shooting (Some documentaries are shot in a
day, some over years.).  Once interviews and
b-roll video (cutaways) have been recorded, the
director must review and log all footage
including each shot and the details of each
interview.  The transcript of the interviews will
be used to construct the final script. 
25
(No Transcript)
26
     
27
Video  Audio
28
VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS ALWAYS GO HERE.  BE AS
DETAILED AS POSSIBLE.  VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN
ALL CAPS.
29
The audio portion of the script goes on the right
hand side and is double spaced.
30
(No Transcript)
31
2-COLUMN FORMAT TIP CREATE A 2-COLUMN SCRIPT BY
USING THE TABLE FUNCTION IN YOUR WORD PROCESS. 
CHOOSE A 2-COLUMN TABLE WITH 15-20 ROWS.  ADD
ROWS AS NEEDED.
32
Any additional directions should be listed in
parentheses before the copy (see the next box).
33
(No Transcript)
34
EACH BOX IN THE LEFT COLUMN SHOULD CONTAIN NO
MORE THAN A SINGLE SHOT, NO MORE. 
35
(Special instructions include UP, UNDER,
36
(No Transcript)
37
ALSO IN THE LEFT COLUMN SPECIFIC VISUAL
DIRECTIONS (CUTS, DISSOLVES), GRAPHICS, TITLES,
SPECIAL EFFECTS.
38
 
39
(No Transcript)
40
Narrative Scripting
41
(No Transcript)
42
Dramatic and comedic stories use a variety of
script styles depending upon the phase of the
production.
43
(No Transcript)
44
Concept/story idea/premise/synopsis thumbnail
sketch of the story, used to provide a producer
with a quick way of evaluating the story idea. A
"good" concept can often be expressed in one or
two lines.
45
(No Transcript)
46
Scene outline list of scenes in numerical order
with brief descriptions of each scene. Little, if
any, dialogue -- a brief expansion of the
original concept. Used to explain and clarify the
progress of the film/show.
47
(No Transcript)
48
Treatment a prose description of the story,
reads like a short story. Includes detailed
visual imagery, characters, settings, actions and
motivations. Range from 5-12 pages.
49
(No Transcript)
50
(No Transcript)
51
Master Scene Script
52
(No Transcript)
53
translation of the treatment into script form.
Based on general scenes rather than specific
shots. Includes headings for each location (INT.
CLASSROOM, DAYTIME). Scenes may be numbered.
Below heading, a description of the setting,
characters and the action. No detailed shot or
camera instructions. Dialogue is generally
indented 2 tabs on each side. Character
direction the character's name is centered above
each of their lines of dialogue and are in all
caps, directions may be included under their name
in parentheses.
54
(No Transcript)
55
(No Transcript)
56
(No Transcript)
57
SCENE 1
58
(No Transcript)
59
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
60
(No Transcript)
61
It is a cold and rainy fall day as students enter
the classroom for their college class. The
classroom is a typical "theater" style room with
a slanted floor and rows of seats in a
semi-circle facing the small "stage" area. There
is a chair and podium on the stage and a
blackboard on the wall. Students are filing into
the room and chatting, getting ready for class.
GREG is a college junior majoring in history, he
sits down next to his friend MIKE. There is an
assignment due today and the class looks a bit
haggard.
62
(No Transcript)
63
GREG
64
(No Transcript)
65
Did you finish typing your paper last night?
66
(No Transcript)
67
MIKE
68
(No Transcript)
69
You mean this morning. It was an all-nighter
again. I've got to stop doing this or I'll be
dead before I graduate.
70
(No Transcript)
71
GREG
72
(No Transcript)
73
No chance, man. You couldn't get a paper done in
advance if your life depended on it.
74
(No Transcript)
75
 
76
(No Transcript)
77
GREG laughs as MIKE shakes his head.
78
(No Transcript)
79
PROFESSOR SUMNER enters the room and gets
prepared to teach. The students turn to the front
of the room and get their notebooks ready. There
seems to be a tension in the room, PROFESSOR
SUMNER seems tense as he readies his lecture
notes, the class falls silent as they realize
something is not right.
80
(No Transcript)
81
 
82
(No Transcript)
83
 
84
(No Transcript)
85
Shooting Script
86
(No Transcript)
87
final stage of scriptwriting, specific
settings, characters, dialogue AND camera angles,
movement and position, and transitions between
shots. Each shot within a scene is listed in
order. Each shot is numbered and technical
details are added.
88
(No Transcript)
89
(No Transcript)
90
SCENE 1
91
(No Transcript)
92
EXT. CLASSROOM - DAY
93
(No Transcript)
94
FADE UP
95
(No Transcript)
96
1. HIGH ANGLE of students entering a college
classroom building, rushing through the rain. It
is a cold and rainy fall day and students are
covering their heads with books and jackets
trying to stay dry. The campus is "traditional"
looking with red bricks and lots of trees. CAMERA
PANS SLOWLY to follow students into the building.
OPENING THEME plays over the scene.
97
(No Transcript)
98
INT. CLASSROOM.
99
(No Transcript)
100
 
101
(No Transcript)
102
2. LOW ANGLE MS of doorway to classroom door as
students enter for class.
103
 
104
(No Transcript)
105
3. MS - LOW ANGLE (below the desktops only, no
faces or heads are seen) of a row of seats with
students preparing, chatting. Feet shuffle as
students take their seats, bags are placed on the
floor and books are taken out of the bags. There
is an assignment due today and the class looks a
bit haggard. THEME MUSIC FADES.
106
 
107
(No Transcript)
108
4. TWO SHOT of GREG and MIKE. GREG is a junior -
he looks studious but not a stereotypical nerd,
he sits down next to his friend MIKE, basically a
slob who has brains, but doesn't put out much
effort.
109
(No Transcript)
110
GREG
111
(No Transcript)
112
Did you finish typing your paper last night?
113
(No Transcript)
114
MIKE
115
(No Transcript)
116
You mean this morning. It was an all-nighter
again. I've got to stop doing this or I'll be
dead before I graduate.
117
(No Transcript)
118
 
119
(No Transcript)
120
5. CU GREG
121
(No Transcript)
122
GREG
123
(No Transcript)
124
No chance, man. You couldn't get a paper done in
advance if your life depended on it.
125
 
126
(No Transcript)
127
6. CU MIKE
128
(No Transcript)
129
GREG laughs as MIKE shakes his head and rolls his
eyes. MIKE sees the PROFESSOR enter and shakes
his head, as if to tell GREG to look at PROFESSOR
SUMNER.
130
 
131
(No Transcript)
132
7. HIGH ANGLE LS - PROFESSOR SUMNER entering the
room from the rear of the classroom. The
classroom is a typical "theater" style room with
a slanted floor and rows of seats in a
semi-circle facing the small "stage" area. There
is a chair and podium on the stage and a
blackboard on the wall. The students turn to the
front of the room and get their notebooks ready.
There seems to be a tension in the room.
PROFESSOR SUMNER is a traditional "liberal arts"
teacher -- in his mid-fifties, thin, wearing a
tweed coat, sweater and a tie.
133
 
134
(No Transcript)
135
8. CU - STEADICAM of PROFESSOR as he walks to his
desk. CAMERA PANS AND FOLLOWS professor as he
walks to the podium. CAMERA MOVES around the
front of the professor's desk maintaining a CU,
moves around the other side of the professor as
the he pulls his notes from his satchel and
settles on an OTS of the class.
136
 
137
(No Transcript)
138
9. TWO SHOT - GREG AND MIKE, they look at each
other, shrug as if to acknowledge the tension but
not understanding its origin, then forward at the
professor.
139
 
140
(No Transcript)
141
10. CU - LOW ANGLE of Professor Sumner as he
removes his reading glasses from his pocket,
places them on his nose. He raises an envelope
which has been opened into the frame and takes a
letter out.
142
 
143
(No Transcript)
144
11. OTS - CLASS. Entire class is silently looking
at the professor sensing that something is just
not right. The letter is in the frame -- it is
written on very nice letterhead stationery.
145
 
146
(No Transcript)
147
12. CU - LOW ANGLE of Professor Sumner, reading
the letter.
148
 
149
(No Transcript)
150
PROF. SUMNER
151
(No Transcript)
152
Does anyone know what this is? (PAUSE) I received
it in the mail this morning.
153
(No Transcript)
154
(No Transcript)
155
(No Transcript)