Actual Idea (2) - Script

Originally, I decided to write a script to get a basic understanding of the variety of shots and narrative my short film will follow. I firstly drafted my ideas just writing it all out before typing it up on the computer to make it neater and more understandable. On the original copy, "Shannon" was "Jess" but I was able to amend this easily with a simple 'find and replace' option.

I then realised that I needed to create a Shooting Script and because I was unfamiliar with the layout, I decided to research into it before adapting my original script into a shooting script.

RESEARCH (taken from the book "Basics, Film-Making by Robert Edgar-Hunt"):
Conventions for a shooting script;
- script is presented as a final draft. No page number ammendments.
- header with the date and script reference.
- scenes are numbered alongside headers.
- (CONT...) is used at the bottom of a page where dialogue / scene continues over to the next page.

Pages:
- when amendments are made, you need to produce these on revision pages. These are additional sheets. It's more easy to slip between versions without the catastrophic effects later in the shoot.
- if your changes move beyond a single page then they begin to be marked A, B, C ...
- if you delete a page of script then issue a blank page with 'DELETED' or 'OMITTED' on it, otherwise that rogue page might stay there in error.
- when you issue revisions, it is convention to do so on different coloured paper each time to give a quick visual clue.
- when a line is changed, it is worth noting it with an asterisk in the far right.
Scenes:
- when a scene is added, do not change the scene numbers, use A, B, C ...
- if a scene is removed, mark it as 'DELETED' or ' OMITTED' and never reuse the scene number.
Script Considerations:
- Who are the characters?
- Are the characters characterised correctly?
- Is the tone of delivery of speech clear?
- Do the physical descriptions of characters work?

- Are settings / locations fully explained and explored?

- Are there any subtexts that you need to explore or draw out?
- What is the central theme or meaning?
- What is the cause and effect relationship between events?
- Do the scene transitions work effectively?
- What is the plot?

Also for my research, I looked at an example of a screenplay, taken from the same book. I decided to type it out which has helped me with how I should be setting mine out.

My shooting script turned in to 10 pages long from the original 7. I kept the scripts almost identical with minor changes throughout, i.e. instead of shot reverse shot constantly I kept with a mid-shot or over-the-shoulder shot.