Step 1: one message
Complete this sentence before you write anything: “After this film, the viewer should…”. If the sentence needs the word “and”, you have two films. Most weak scripts try to say everything the company does.
Step 2: write for the ear
A script is spoken, not read. Use short sentences, one idea in each, and everyday words. Round numbers, because nobody remembers 4,862 from a voice. Read each line aloud and cut what you stumble on.
Step 3: split it into shots
Use two columns: what is heard and what is seen. Each shot carries one idea. If the picture just repeats the voice, change one of them.
| Shot | Voice | On screen | Sound | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The line, exactly as spoken | What the viewer sees | Music or effects | Seconds |
| 2 |
Step 4: time it
Read the whole script aloud with a stopwatch, at the pace you want in the film. The speed of speech differs by language and by voice, so a word count only gives a rough idea.
Three mistakes that waste a film
Opening with the company instead of the viewer’s problem. Putting three messages in one film. Repeating the voice in on-screen text. Each makes the film longer and weaker.
