2. 8
Scriptwriting

3. Objectives
Identify each of the program formats presented and summarize the unique characteristics of each.
Identify the expected components of a program proposal.
Explain the format of a program treatment.
Recall the elements in each type of script used in television production.

4. Program Formats Lecture, BTF (big talking face), talking head
Lecture demonstration
Panel discussion
Interview
Documentary
Newscast
Magazine
Drama
Public service announcement (PSA)/Ad
Music video

5. Lecture Also known as BTF (big talking face) or talking head
Lack of camera movement & talent action
Dull, uninteresting
Lowest viewer retention of information
Amateurish
Script may be simple outline

6. Lecture/Demonstration
More interesting to watch
Includes action and many props
Examples:
Cooking show
Infomercials
How-to shows
Script will need more detail due to multiple cameras or action

7. Panel Discussion Often called “talk shows”
Program driven by content–not action
Too many people on panel creates shot too wide for shape of the screen
Script may be outlined with just topics for moderator to throw out to the panel

8. Interview Often shot with only one camera
Shoot interviewee answering questions
Later shoot interviewer asking questions
Shoot nod shots
Edit them together to make seamless conversation
Script may be just questions, or there may be no script at all

9. Documentary Can take many forms
Topic researched, information outlined, script written
Shot sheet developed to support audio
Audience interest can vary with topic
Script generally is detailed because the entire documentary is pre-planned

10. Newscast Each story produced by different people
Each story may have unique style of script

11. Magazine
Also collection of stories produced by several production teams
Stories are not news or timely
Stories are usually longer than those in newscasts
“60 Minutes” generally has four stories in 60 minutes

12. Drama Includes comedy and drama Generally includes storyboards
Nearly all require completely detailed scripts for actors to memorize

13. Public Service Announcement (PSA)
Scripts are fully detailed with storyboards

14. Music Video
Concert style music video
Story style music video
Hybrid

15. Visualization Taking daydream or vision from your head, then:
Transcribing it to paper (now others can join in your vision)
Converting the vision to reality on screen

16. Program Proposal Basic idea of program Applicable program format
Message to be imparted to audience
Program’s intended audience
Budget considerations
Shooting location considerations
Rough program shooting schedule

17. Storyboards Resemble comic books
Rough sketches to indicate viewfinder images to help plan shots
Rough scripting under sketch
Computer programs available to do storyboards that allow “click and drag” of picture elements—no actual drawing ability is necessary!

18. Storyboards (Cont.)

19. Basic Outline for Program Formats
Dramas, lectures, lecture demonstrations, and documentaries use the same basic outline
Each major point/event on different line
As few words as possible
Each line indicates location
No dialogue

20. Basic Outline for Program Formats (Cont.)

21. Outline for Panel Discussion or Interview
List at least 20 questions that do not elicit one word or short answers
Interviewer/host may stray from list but list provides “starters” if conversation lags
Interviewer/host is free to initiate questions and follow-ups that are not on list
Not every question must be asked

22. Music Video Outline Concert style does not need outline
Story style and hybrid style need outline similar to drama outline

23. Music Video Warning!
Pay particular attention to copyright law–see Chapters 12 and 13
Lyrics of some songs may cause issues with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) if broadcast over public airwaves
Your school or facility may also have regulations on lyrics

24. Expanding Outline
Take each line of the basic outline and try to divide it into 5-7 smaller detail lines
If each line is a scene, expand to 5-7 more details (sub-topics) that must occur in the scene

25. Expanding Outline (Cont.)

26. Treatment Not all programs will require treatment
Usually drama, music video story style, PSA
Entire outline is converted to paragraph-style narrative with little or no dialogue
Each scene is a complete paragraph
After reading treatment, a person understands program’s story

27. The Script Television scripts are in two columns
Left column contains video and camera notes
Right column contains audio and stage directions for performers
Use word processor if possible
Save every revision as a different file

28. The Script (Cont.)
Break up video or audio however necessary in order to make them line up with each other
Do not write/print on both sides of page!
In video column, use abbreviations as much as possible
For example: ZO-2S Brian/Mike

29. Discussion
What are the advantages of using a word processor to write scripts?
Easy to revise without rewriting entire pages, easy to keep revisions, easy to read, easy to lay out so both columns remain even
When pages are in a 3-ring binder the back of the previous page is on the left side of the binder – a perfect place to place notes for the current page on the right side of the binder. Also, when revisions are needed, it prevents 2 pages from having to be reprinted if writing is only on one side of the page. Finally, it is easier to read.

30. Discussion
Why should you not write on both sides of a page?

31. Types of Scripts
Word-for-word script
Outline script
Format script

32. Word-for-Word Script
Used for drama, music video, lecture, documentary, PSA/Ad
Audio column written first, contains audio and stage direction for actors
Visualize camera angles and switches
Content specialist verifies
Then video column written, contains video/camera direction, sound cues, and lighting cues
Plan to change shots about every seven seconds

33. Outline Script
Used for lecture/demonstration, some interviews, how-to shows
For interviews: list of questions
For lecture/demo: major points of process listed
Plan to change shots about every seven seconds
This requires many shots of B-roll

34. Format Script
Used for panel discussions, talk shows, game shows, and other programs where format does not change from episode to episode
Lines and talent change but from production point of view, each show is nearly identical

35. Discussion
What are the three types of scripts? Give an example of a program currently on the air that would use this type of script.
Word for Word – Law and Order. Outline Script – Any cooking show, such as Iron Chef. Format Script – The Tonight Show

36. Writing Style Write the way people speak Use informal language
Do not use formal language with complex sentences
Use shorter sentences than those written for print

37. Montage
Use the shot sheet example from the montage section of the chapter just before “Wrapping Up”

38. Career Page Screenwriters Federation of America
Formerly Screenwriters Guild of America
Training opportunities, networking, feedback, and mutual aid for screenwriters

39. Review Question
Given the steps needed to write a script (research, outline, expanded outline, treatment, script) why should executive producer approval be obtained before moving to the next step? Because e.p. may not approve up to this point, causing scriptwriter to do re-write before he can proceed.
Because, the Exec. Prod. may have input which if you go ahead without his approval may cause you to do a tremendous amount of work that the producer does not approve of. The scriptwriter will have wasted much energy and emotion. Scriptwriting is an emotional activity and once someone has done much writing there is a strong emotional reluctance to let go of it and move into another direction. Take things one step at a time.

40. Review Question
Name the 10 program formats. Lecture, lecture/demonstration, panel discussion, interview, documentary, newscast, magazine, drama, PSA/Ad, music video

41. Review Question
What are the three kinds of music videos? Concert style, story style, hybrid

42. Review Question
What information should be in a program proposal? Basic idea, format, message, audience, budget, locations, rough shooting schedule

43. Glossary
actors: Individuals who participate in a drama or comedy program, performing as someone or something other than themselves.
concert style music video: A type of music video in which the audience sees the band perform the music that is heard.

44. Glossary
documentary: A program format that is essentially a research paper for television. The audio in the program may include both on-camera and off-camera narration. The video footage used in the program is determined by the topic research and should support the audio of the program.

45. Glossary
drama: A program format that includes both dramas and comedies and requires actors to portray someone or something other than themselves.
format script: A program script that is very brief and used for programs in which the order of events is predetermined and the sequence of each episode is consistent.

46. Glossary
interview: A program format that involves a conversation between an interviewer and an interviewee.
lecture: A program format in which the talent speaks and the camera shoots almost entirely in a medium close-up. Also known as big talking face (BTF) and talking head.

47. Glossary
lecture/demonstration: A program format that provides action and makes use of props in addition to lecture. Examples of this format include cooking shows, how-to shows, and infomercials.
magazine: A program format comprised of feature packages, each addressing a different story for seven to eleven minutes.

48. Glossary
montage: A production device that allows a gradual change in a relationship or a lengthy time passage to occur in a very short amount of screen time by showing a series of silent shots accompanied by music.
music video: A program format in which all or most of the audio is a song.
newscast: A program format that is a collection of individual news stories.

49. Glossary
nod shots: A cutaway shot often used in interview programs and usually recorded after the interviewee has left the set. In a nod shot, the interviewer does not say anything, but simply “nods” naturally as if listening to the answer to a question.

50. Glossary
outline script: A program script that usually has a word-for-word introduction and conclusion, but an outline for the body of the script.
panel discussion: A program format that presents a group of people gathered to discuss topics of interest. Daytime talk shows are an example of this format.

51. Glossary
program proposal: A document created by the scriptwriter that contains general information about the program, including the basic idea, applicable format, message to be imparted to the audience, intended audience, budget considerations, shooting location considerations, and rough shooting schedule. Used to present the program to the executive producer to obtain permission and funding for the production.

52. Glossary
public service announcement (PSA): A program that is 30 or 60 seconds in length and aims to inform the public or to convince the public to do (or not to do) something in the interest of common good.
script: An entire program committed to paper, including dialog, music, camera angles, stage direction, camera direction, and computer graphics (CG) notations.

53. Glossary
story style music video: A type of music video in which the audience hears the music, but does not see the band perform. Instead, actors act out a story line that is supported by the lyrics of the song.
storyboards: Sketches that portray the way the image on television should look in the finished program.

54. Glossary
treatment: A narrative written from a program outline that tells the program’s story in paragraph form.
visualization: The ability to mentally picture the finished program.
word-for-word script: A program script in which every word spoken by the talent is written out.