"Federated learning: out of reach no matter how close",Oleksandr Lapshyn
BEST PRACTICES FOR WRITING VIDEO SCRIPTS
1. Amy DeLouise @brandbuzz GV Expo 18
HOW TO SCRIPT:
BEST PRACTICES FOR
WRITING YOUR VIDEO
Video examples from live
presentation have been removed
2. Today
Defining Goals
The Act of Writing
Story Infrastructure
Narrative Arc
Writing Tools & Strategies
Scripting for Animation
Scripting for Interviews: Workflow
from Pre-Interview to Post
7. Develop Your Own Process
Where you write matters
When you write matters
How you write matters
Don’t start with a blank page
Creative Brief
Goals
Outline!
Writing Prompts
8. Outlining
Just do it.
Formal or informal.
Tools:
https://workflowy.com/ - for outlining
https://evernote.com/ - for compiling research
Or just use a napkin. As long as you do it!
10. Know Your Characters
Not too many
3-4 max in a 5-minute piece, 1 protagonist best
5-6 characters in long form
A company or product might be a character
Setting can also be a character
Primary character v. supporting or validators
11. Supporting Characters
“Validators” audience can relate to
Someone who can serve as narrator
An authority on the subject
Expert, physician, historian, author, etc.
Not a requirement if a strong main voice
12. Pre-Interviews Matter
Conduct by phone if possible
Record with permission
Gives you a personal connection before you meet
Gives you a sense of the narrative flow
Know the obstacles in advance
Develop asset lists and shot lists
13. Define Your Style
Doc vs Commercial
Cutty vs Deliberate
Animated vs Live Action
Re-enactments
Archival materials
Music and Audio considerations
14. Determine Setting
Location informs the story
Establishing shots and interview settings
Pro’s and Con’s of Green-screen
Example: Safety Dance
Solving an issue of setting AND characters
Achieving an educational goal
19. Hook
Pulls in the viewer
Connects to the climax
Many options:
A fast-paced visual montage
An aerial shot zooming into main character
Audio without picture, setting the scene
21. Challenge
Obstacle to be overcome
For corporate…
For nonprofits…
For docs…
For a profile…
22. Climax
Turning point
Character changes his/her mind
Character takes action
Something critical changes
Hoarder decides to start unloading baggage (for ex)
Volunteer makes a decision to get involved
Drug addict decides to go into treatment
Customer purchases product and uses it for the first time
23. Conclusion
Wrap up loose ends
May contain a Call to Action
May contain an embedded link
25. Key Elements of Shooting Script
Time of Day
Locations
Scenes
Settings
Dialogue or talking points
Interstitial elements
26.
27. Key Elements of Editing Script
Script Notes
Timecode/Transcript Selects
Time of Day timecode can help match up to
shoot log
B-roll options
Interstitial elements options
28. Managing the Rewrite
When to involve
Decision-makers
Focus groups
Production team
Post team
Using goals to
navigate challenges
29. Animation Workflow
Creative Brief- Story Goals, Look, Style Frames
Proof of Concept – Animated Style Frames
Keyframes Tied to Key Moments in Script
Revisions to Keyframes
Audio track locked
Animating begins
30.
31. Interview Workflow
Conduct Pre-Interviews at least 2 wks prior to shoot
Record Pre-Interview (with permission)
Map out story arc
Reverse engineer interview questions
Consider other platforms/versions
Elicit “evergreen” answers
When and how to share your questions
32. Interview Workflow
Transcripts
Highlight best takes
Embed PDF w/footage for future needs
First draft—all in
Later drafts—delete, delete, delete
Respect interview content/tone, even when editing
36. What We’ve Covered
Know Your Story Goals
Build Your Story Infrastructure
Create a Narrative Arc
Use Tools to Help You
Define Script-to-Screen Workflow
Have Fun!