SCRIPTS
A script is something that is very important during pre-production of films. It give everyone working on the film the narrative and characters. A script consists of written words that create a story, fiction and non-fiction. Usually for films a screenwriter will write up a script, either an original script or change one that already exists. A script will include dialogue, movement, locations, times (day or night) and expressions.
A script format that I have looked at is column/table (see the above example). This format is set out into columns consisting of; locations, video, audio and sometimes time. The script is good because it is a clear layout. For example, everything will be aligned, when the dialogue starts its clear that the video should start at the same time. It is done like that so it is easy for the cast and crew to follow when on set and know when things need to be synchronized.
Some advantages of the column/table format is that it will be easier for everyone on set to follow, also they can just focus on their section of the script easier. However, a disadvantage is that the editor might get annoyed that people are doing their job for them and they can't be creative and make decisions like a editor should.
Another advantage that if there is a smaller crew and people are doing more than one role in the crew that they know the layout easier and they don't have to do as much and worry about time. This is why I believe that these scripts are better for short films. Another disadvantage is that industrial film scripts are what's mostly used in Hollywood films therefore, if people get used to them scripts they might find it hard to adjust to a column/table script, and visa versa.
Lastly, one advantage of a column/table format is that if the crew is from a short budget which may mean that they are inexperienced, it will be easier for them to follow and get their head around. Compared to the disadvantage that it may be easy for someone to forget that something needs to be in sync with something else at a certain time because its on the other side of the page.
Another film script format I have looked at is an industrial film script format. This script is what is mainly used in Hollywood. They consist of lines of words that include a slugline, the shot, the attention element, character name, dialogue, and a transition element.
The advantages of using a script like this is, most Hollywood films use scripts like this so if you hire experienced people then they are able to easily work with the script and will not have to adjust to a new one. Another advantage of an industrial film script is if someone learns how to work on a film set with an industrial film script format then they do not have to adjust and re-learn a new format of script if they go onto bigger projects. Lastly, on an industrial film script each page comes out to 60 seconds of footage, therefore when producing the script you know how long your end product is going to be.
A disadvantage of an industrial film script format is that, if you are working on a film with a small budget and people have more than one role in the crew, when following the script finding their roles could be more time-consuming than a column/table script would be. Another disadvantage is that things in the script may be easily missed because to someone who prefers working with visuals they might find it hard to focus on just written text. Lastly, a disadvantage with an industrial film script is that if you have an inexperienced crew, they might find the script hard to work with because they don't have as much guidance that a column/table script might give you.
Most filmmakers know scripts follow a very particular format, but do they know why they do?
Most scripts are produced in the same way mainly because of cheap and easy accessible programs to get when writing a script, especially when you are a new filmmaker or writer. Although, these scripts all need to have slug lines, action and dialogue, it always needs to be clear because when people come to work on your film they will then be able to follow it easily and know what you as a writer or filmmaker want the end product to be like.
However, when you use software's like; final draft, celtx and writer duet, then the writer can easily write the script but not fully learn how to do one, therefore when writing a script they will always go to software's.
When using software's they also help you because that then means that you are guided on how to write a script and have everyone on your crew understand it. When writing a script you also have to be careful because if your script is made into a film it has to be clear to the director and everyone else on the crew.
A script format that I have looked at is column/table (see the above example). This format is set out into columns consisting of; locations, video, audio and sometimes time. The script is good because it is a clear layout. For example, everything will be aligned, when the dialogue starts its clear that the video should start at the same time. It is done like that so it is easy for the cast and crew to follow when on set and know when things need to be synchronized.
Some advantages of the column/table format is that it will be easier for everyone on set to follow, also they can just focus on their section of the script easier. However, a disadvantage is that the editor might get annoyed that people are doing their job for them and they can't be creative and make decisions like a editor should.
Another advantage that if there is a smaller crew and people are doing more than one role in the crew that they know the layout easier and they don't have to do as much and worry about time. This is why I believe that these scripts are better for short films. Another disadvantage is that industrial film scripts are what's mostly used in Hollywood films therefore, if people get used to them scripts they might find it hard to adjust to a column/table script, and visa versa.
Lastly, one advantage of a column/table format is that if the crew is from a short budget which may mean that they are inexperienced, it will be easier for them to follow and get their head around. Compared to the disadvantage that it may be easy for someone to forget that something needs to be in sync with something else at a certain time because its on the other side of the page.
Another film script format I have looked at is an industrial film script format. This script is what is mainly used in Hollywood. They consist of lines of words that include a slugline, the shot, the attention element, character name, dialogue, and a transition element.
The advantages of using a script like this is, most Hollywood films use scripts like this so if you hire experienced people then they are able to easily work with the script and will not have to adjust to a new one. Another advantage of an industrial film script is if someone learns how to work on a film set with an industrial film script format then they do not have to adjust and re-learn a new format of script if they go onto bigger projects. Lastly, on an industrial film script each page comes out to 60 seconds of footage, therefore when producing the script you know how long your end product is going to be.
A disadvantage of an industrial film script format is that, if you are working on a film with a small budget and people have more than one role in the crew, when following the script finding their roles could be more time-consuming than a column/table script would be. Another disadvantage is that things in the script may be easily missed because to someone who prefers working with visuals they might find it hard to focus on just written text. Lastly, a disadvantage with an industrial film script is that if you have an inexperienced crew, they might find the script hard to work with because they don't have as much guidance that a column/table script might give you.
Most filmmakers know scripts follow a very particular format, but do they know why they do?
Most scripts are produced in the same way mainly because of cheap and easy accessible programs to get when writing a script, especially when you are a new filmmaker or writer. Although, these scripts all need to have slug lines, action and dialogue, it always needs to be clear because when people come to work on your film they will then be able to follow it easily and know what you as a writer or filmmaker want the end product to be like.
However, when you use software's like; final draft, celtx and writer duet, then the writer can easily write the script but not fully learn how to do one, therefore when writing a script they will always go to software's.
When using software's they also help you because that then means that you are guided on how to write a script and have everyone on your crew understand it. When writing a script you also have to be careful because if your script is made into a film it has to be clear to the director and everyone else on the crew.
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