How to Keep Your Video Script on Target

Before you actually dig into the writing of a video script, you should sum up the objective of the video in a single sentence. You should also have the client review it so you're both on the same page (no pun intended) as to what is the goal of the video.

Example: "This video will explain to XYZ Company's support staff about changes to the warranty coverage for the Elite series of widgets."

Write the objective on a piece of paper or index card, and post it near you computer when working on the script. After you've done product research, interviewed employees or customers, written down your ideas, it can all seem a bit overwhelming, and you can easily lose the main purpose of the video script. A script outline or treatment can help clarify key points but having something short and succinct like a single sentence objective can go a long way to keeping your script on track.

Just Say No to ALL CAPS

It used to be quite common for the audio section of a video script to have narration and dialogue in all capital letters. I recommend you always use upper and lower case. All caps are more difficult to read.

In fact, the Direct Marketing Association did some research on capital letters vs. upper and lower case and found the following:

"...Upper/Lower case scores at the 90 percentile for reading and
comprehension. All CAPS score at the 57 percentile."

Writing Your Video Script - The Basics

StoryGuide: Writing Your Video Script on Howcast

Video Scriptwriting and Camera Angles

In screenwriting, writers are discouraged from including camera angles in their scripts. However, in video scriptwriting for the corporate sector, you have the freedom to add angle descriptions. (Keep in mind the director is going to bring his or her own ideas on how to shoot the various scenes, so don't surprised to see changes in the finished video.)

One recommendation I'd like to make about writing camera angles is not too worry about including them in your early drafts. I find inserting technical instructions while trying to write the visual narrative and dialogue slows me down. Get the content right first.

Below are common camera angles and their abbreviations:

CU - Close Up
ECU - Extreme Close Up
MS - Medium Shot
LS - Long Shot

See the pictures below for how a subject is framed using these camera angles. (From the excellent book The Scriptwriter's Handbook by William Van Nostran.)

Association for Video Scriptwriters and A/V Production Personnel

Established in 1968, The Media Communications Association International (formerly the International Television Association) is key organization for people involved in audio-visual creative/production for the corporate sector. The membership fees are a little steep, but their website provides some articles and training resources related to the industry.

http://www.mca-i.org/en/cms/?1641#DigitalMedia

Free Video Scriptwriting Software

When I first started writing video scripts in the 1980s, I had to write using a primitive DOS word-processing program (remember DOS? Ugh!). It was a long, hard slog. But it was still better than using a typewriter.Nowadays, scriptwriting software abounds. But most programs are for screenwriting, which has a slightly different format than video.

For the last few days, I’ve been experimenting with the free scriptwriting program Celtx (http://www.celtx.com/).

While it’s also focused primarily on screenwriting, Celtx does have a good audio-visual module. I’m impressed with the amount of features, especially since the software is free. It contains the common formatting commands found in video, including scene heading (Ext/Int.), shot, character (or narrator), and parenthetical. Celtx creates the standard dual column (Video / Audio) format when you click on the “Typeset /PDF button” at the bottom of the screen.

As well, it also has a notes, storyboard and index card function. The Celtx website has short videos that show how the various modules operate. But I found this video tutorial from another site a better overview of the Celtx audio-visual module (as long as you don’t mind a short commercial before the tutorial starts) View it here:

http://tinyurl.com/2agwl4d