FADE IN

INT.  MOVIE SET – EARLY MORNING

Bob and Sue enter frame. Bob is tall and gawky. He wears dark-rimmed glasses held together by white tape, is dressed in dark blue pants, that are a few inches too short and is wearing a dingy white short sleeve shirt with a pocket protecter. Sue is everything Bob is not.

BOB

(to the camera)

It may come as a surprise to you, but a video script has so much more to say…

(smiling)

than what it says.

SUE

(shaking her head in disbelief)

That’s why a Word document with a lot of dialogue, is not a script.

BOB

That’s right. A “real”

(makes quote sign)

script tells you where to shoot, what to shoot, when to shoot, how to shoot, and

(pointing hand as a gun at Sue)

who to shoot.

SUE

This is a video script format. And even though the blog below conveys a lot of information, it is not a video script.

BOB

The point of all of this is to help you read and understand a real video script by explaining it’s 6 elements. So, here we go.

SUE

By the way, to make it a little easier to read this as a blog and not a script, we’re transitioning back to our standard blog format now.

BOB

In other words, for your “viewing pleasure” we’re returning to your “regularly scheduled programming”.

SUE

(shaking her head in disbelief)

CUT TO

1. Scene Heading

A scene heading tells you 3 important things about the scene:

  • whether the scene is being shot inside, INT., or outside, EXT.
  • where the scene is taking place: JOHN’S CAR, THE ROSE GARDEN, etc.
  • when the scene is being shot, ie: The time of day – DAY, NIGHT, etc.

So now you know that our script above is being shot inside, INT, on A MOVIE SET, EARLY IN THE MORNING.

TIP – Scene headings are always capitalized.

2. Action

Action is just a description of the scene and who is present. Always written in present tense, the action includes the physical actions taking place in the scene.

3. Character

Characters always appear just above the dialogue each time a character speaks. Minor speaking characters without names use descriptions like: DRIVER, FBI AGENT ONE, etc.

TIP – Character names are always capitalized.  

4. Dialogue

You probably already know this, but dialogue is just what the character is saying.

5. Parenthetical

Parentheticals are used to clarify who the character is speaking to or how they are speaking. Parentheticals have their own line and are inside parenthesis.

6. Transitions

Transitions tell you how a change from one scene to the next occurs. These include:  FADE IN, FADE OUT, CUT TO, DISSOLVE TO, etc.

DISSOLVE TO

INT.  MOVIE SET – CONT’

BOB

(surprised)

Oh uh, welcome back.

SUE

If the Creative Brief is the foundation of your project…

BOB

(excitedly interrupting)

then the script is the blueprint of your project.

SUE

Without a script your production company…

BOB

as good as they are

(winking to the camera)

SUE

can’t determine the size of the cast and crew needed, the location, the sets, the number of days your video will need to shoot

BOB

and certainly not the budget.

SUE

But all you have to remember is this – the script is the basis for everything that follows.

BOB

Now that you know the 6 elements of a “real” video script you too will be able to read along and see your script long before it’s shot.

Sue and Bob walk off screen as she elbows him for being so goofy.

FADE TO BLACK

QUESTION: What have you found helpful in understanding video scripts?