Two-column script formatSources:

William J. Bolduc, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communication Studies, UNCW Willmington.http://people.uncw.edu/bolducw/COM%20280/Powerpoints/3.%202%20Column%20Script.ppt,

Robert L. Hilliard, Writing for Television, Radio, and New Media, 7th ed. (Wadsworth, 2000).

Video ScriptsVideo Scripts A variety of script formats are used. A variety of script formats are used. Most follow certain guidelines but may vary Most follow certain guidelines but may vary

depending upon the organization. depending upon the organization. Screenwriting, Broadcast Journalism and Screenwriting, Broadcast Journalism and

Writing for Electronic Media cover writing in Writing for Electronic Media cover writing in much more detail.much more detail.

Brief overview of 2 column formatBrief overview of 2 column format

Two-column script Helpful means of organizing shots and video ALL VIDEO information goes in the left column ALL AUDIO information goes in the right

column Be as detailed as possible Use the ‘table’ function of your word processor

to create a 2-column table

Video  Video  AudioAudio

VIDEO VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS INSTRUCTIONS ALWAYS GO HERE.  ALWAYS GO HERE.  BE AS DETAILED AS BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE.  VIDEO POSSIBLE.  VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN ALL CAPS.ARE IN ALL CAPS.

The audio portion ofThe audio portion of

the script goes on the the script goes on the

right hand side and is right hand side and is

double spaced.double spaced.

Video  Video  AudioAudio 2-COLUMN FORMAT 2-COLUMN FORMAT

TIP: TIP: CREATE A 2-CREATE A 2-COLUMN SCRIPT BY COLUMN SCRIPT BY USING THE USING THE TABLETABLE FUNCTION IN YOUR FUNCTION IN YOUR WORD PROCESS.  WORD PROCESS.  CHOOSE A 2-COLUMN CHOOSE A 2-COLUMN TABLE WITH 15-20 TABLE WITH 15-20 ROWS.  ADD ROWS AS ROWS.  ADD ROWS AS NEEDED.NEEDED.

Any additional Any additional directionsdirections

should be listed in should be listed in parentheses before the parentheses before the copy.copy.

Also, indicate who isAlso, indicate who isspeaking: narrator,speaking: narrator,character, etc…character, etc…

Video  Video  AudioAudio

EACH BOX IN THE EACH BOX IN THE LEFT COLUMN LEFT COLUMN SHOULD CONTAIN SHOULD CONTAIN NO MORE THAN A NO MORE THAN A SINGLE SHOTSINGLE SHOT

EACH SHOT MUST EACH SHOT MUST EXACTLY MATCH EXACTLY MATCH THE AUDIOTHE AUDIO

(Special instructions (Special instructions include details about the include details about the audio: e.g., UP, audio: e.g., UP, UNDER, ESTABLISH)UNDER, ESTABLISH)

ExampleExample______________________

(Theme music up,(Theme music up,

establish, then under)establish, then under)

Narrator: Water - the Narrator: Water - the

single most importantsingle most important

element on earth. element on earth.

Video  Video  AudioAudio ALSO IN THE LEFT ALSO IN THE LEFT

COLUMN: SPECIFIC COLUMN: SPECIFIC VISUAL DIRECTIONS VISUAL DIRECTIONS (CUTS, DISSOLVES), (CUTS, DISSOLVES), GRAPHICS, TITLES, GRAPHICS, TITLES, SPECIAL EFFECTS, SPECIAL EFFECTS, Lower Thirds (NAME Lower Thirds (NAME AND TITLE).AND TITLE).

Be as detailed as Be as detailed as possible with possible with instructions, music instructions, music and sound effectsand sound effects

Write out everything Write out everything just as it is meant to just as it is meant to be spoken aloud.be spoken aloud.

Keep script Keep script conversationalconversational

VIDEOVIDEO AUDIOAUDIO

XLS - HOGGARD HALL, XLS - HOGGARD HALL, CANNON IN CANNON IN FOREGROUNDFOREGROUND

(MUSIC UP: Faber (MUSIC UP: Faber College Theme)College Theme)

DISSOLVE TO MS, DISSOLVE TO MS, BURNEY FOUNTAINBURNEY FOUNTAIN

MUSIC CONTINUESMUSIC CONTINUES

DISSOLVE TO CU DISSOLVE TO CU SPIRIT ROCKSPIRIT ROCK

(MUSIC UNDER)(MUSIC UNDER)

NARRATOR: “One of the NARRATOR: “One of the best kept secrets in higher best kept secrets in higher education, the University education, the University of North Carolina at of North Carolina at Wilmington, has been…Wilmington, has been…

Sample Script Page

Scripting notes

Narration, dialog should be as conversational as possible and appropriate for the characters

Strive for natural flow and read copy aloud once written

Contractions, informal verbiage acceptable if appropriate for topic

Scripting notes

A great deal of information can be communicated in 30 seconds

Scripts must be 30 seconds, no more (read them aloud)

Scripting notes

TV is a visual medium, don’t be afraid to exploit this and create visually stimulating messages

Music and sound effects are also of incredible importance, use them when appropriate

In advertising, one key goal is to “break through the clutter”

StoryboardStoryboard

•Visual representation of the script

•Pictures are added to the script to ‘show’ what the video/film scenes will look like

•Usually 4 or 6 to a page - key visuals in the ‘box,’ key audio on the lines below or next to the frame

StoryboardStoryboard

•Range from single page for a 30 second PSA hundreds of frames for a film.

•May be on standard paper or on foam-core posterboard.

•Useful means of envisioning the concept.

•Range from rough sketches to polished drawings or photographs.

Client: UNCW Student Productions Campaign: “You Need Us”Title: Full Service Sept. 17, 2002

Theme music, UP, then UNDER. “UNCW Student TV productions”

“Narr.: Your one-stop video production source.

From planning to editing …

…we can get your message across.

UNCW Student Productions - a full service company

Because so much is riding on your video.” (A subsidiary of Gene’s Tire and Auto)

Storyboards

Adjust format as needed Print or Handwrite/draw on 8.5x11” paper

for this course (commercial presentations may differ)

Be enterprising in making your storyboard look professional - it also must be persuasive