Video Screenwriting

By Jamie A. Granger

Shooting good video can be a task in and of itself, however, even the best video won’t be enough without a good script. Whether you’re writing, shooting or even editing a particular project, you must remember that you’re trying to communicate specific information that will captivate and intrigue your potential audience. No particular format will allow you to get away with a “bad” script, unless you’re shooting for a “B-film look.” So, if you’re interested in honing your screenwriting skills, strap on your thinking caps and use the following guidelines as various ways to improve your writing abilities.

· “The Outline Technique” – this technique will not inflict flashbacks of the infamous Roman numeral “outlining” structure you learned in elementary school – unless, of course, that’s what you want! Rest assured, something as simple as mapping out a temporary table of contents will fuel the fire for a solid script. However, don’t feel compelled to “use and abuse” the very first thing that comes into your head, otherwise the amount of criticism you pour into the first sentence may lead to a frustrating and short-lived experience. If you want my advice, lock yourself in a room – where embarrassing comments will fall short of second-hand listeners – and belt out any and every idea you can conjure up. Even if you fill up twenty pages with random thoughts - that pertain to the story you’re trying to tell - you can then acquaint yourself with the concepts of editing and revising after you’ve expended all possible avenues.

· “Less Is More” – Screenwriters tend to follow the cardinal rule of accomplishing a great deal with very little (meaning that lengthy dialogue and description should be avoided at all costs). It’s fairly basic knowledge that when shooting video you’re dealing with images…images that will not only assist in telling the story, but also allow you to avoid having to explain every minute detail in “voice-over” or “on-camera dialogue.” Instead of using lengthy dialogue, utilize the video medium by using different camera angles and shots to highlight the features of a particular scene.

· “Unbiased Feedback” – When searching for feedback, in my opinion, it’s never a good idea to ask a close friend or relative for constructive criticism. The replies are far beyond the realm of cliché: “Sounds great”, “Don’t change a thing”, “That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever read…can’t wait to see it.” Most of these comments will come from the heart and not from the mind, which doesn’t help much when you’re looking to improve the content of your project. Instead, find someone that is trustworthy and literate (a very important element) and take note of problem areas that are identified by more than one critic. Because people have different tastes you don’t have to take every negative comment to heart, but at least consider it.

There are several questions you can ask yourself before sending out your rough draft for review:

· Does each scene in the script advance the action and/or develop the character?

· Do all scenes, dialogue & narration serve a legitimate purpose?

· Does your writing feel and sound natural?

These are all relevant questions and if you’ve answered “no” to any of them - it looks like it’s back to the drawing board! The key thing to remember is that writing always entails rewriting (whether you like it or not). Don’t be afraid to polish your work and once you truly feel that it’s as good as it can get, it’s probably ready to GO!