A script breakdown is an important filmmaking process that allows you to identify all the script elements needed to prep, schedule, and budget a film production. A breakdown happens at a scene level. The person tasked with the job will create scene breakdown after scene breakdown until a full, start-to-finish script breakdown is completed. This will be used to determine technical and creative requirements for each department.
A script breakdown element is an object, person, or process that is identified when creating a scene breakdown, such as:. You only have one first impression of the story, so give yourself a chance to connect to it. Beyond the emotional connection, the more familiar you are with the story, the more likely you will be to identify all the elements once you begin marking the script. The producer usually completes a simple script breakdown first in order to create a preliminary shooting schedule and budget.
The 1st AD then conducts a more comprehensive script breakdown to create the stripboard, scene breakdown, and production shooting schedule. The DP marks the script to generate a shot list and equipment requirements. Other department keys i. After you have read the script all the way through, read it once more, this time scanning for any formatting errors that may cause hiccups when importing the script file into scheduling software such as Movie Magic Scheduling or StudioBinder.
These changes should be saved in your screenwriting software. Divide every page into eight, 1 inch parts. This measurement is used to estimate the screen time and shooting time for a scene. Traditionally, the 1st AD would measure by eyeballing the script or taking actual printed script pages, a pen, and a ruler to mark 8ths. When you import your script, the software automatically tallies each scene by 8ths. On a typical dialogue-heavy indie production, you can expect to shoot roughly five pages per day where one page equals one minute of screen time.
Be especially conscious of the ratio of screentime : page count when it comes to musical performances. Otherwise you may not budget enough time to shoot what you need. The page count should reflect this and be rewritten as pages as well. We suggest writing out all of the lyrics as dialogue, with plenty of beats and action descriptions. This step is where we get into script breakdown nitty gritty. A script breakdown is the preproduction step that helps identify all the elements in a scene so they can be prepped prior to production and included in the shooting schedule , call sheets and various other script breakdown sheets reports.
In truth, the script breakdown process is fun, click-and-drag experience if you're using more modern script breakdown software. The software automatically categorizes it scene by scene, so a lot of the heavy lifting is done for you. Highlight each element you want to tag and choose from a pull-down list of 22 categories or create a custom category. You can raise the number in the software to make it easy to track. You might consider creating more tailored element categories and colors for your script breakdown format.
Create new categories in your script breakdown software — as many as you need. If you are shooting a horror film you may want to define all the elements related to prosthetics. If you are shooting a western, you may need to add categories for horses and weapons.
Need to give clarification or special instructions about a particular scene? Want to find out if an element can be changed or eliminated? Add a note for you and your collaborators to see. Making a script breakdown is fun, right? It also gets you questioning how important each element really is which opens up important creative decisions. Done with the first scene breakdown? Break down the next scene, and the next scene. Break down the whole script.
We still have to make reports. This is a script breakdown sheet, a summary list of all the elements in a scene. There are two ways to achieve this. The downside? There is no automation. Still, it works. For instance, the art department will take meticulous notes on both props and set design. Doing this allows you to estimate the screen time of each scene and how long it will take to shoot. Although this is only an estimate, it is helpful when it comes to scheduling.
In general, one page of a screenplay is one minute of screen time. Then make a note of how long each scene is on your script breakdown.
On a professional film set, the 1 st AD will break a script down into eighths as well as the script supervisor. Now that you have broken down your script into elements and eighths, you will be able to schedule and organise your production. As a result of breaking down a film script, you will have detailed notes on every script scene. These notes will allow you to see what elements you need to gather before production.
Additionally, you can use these notes to create a budget estimate and an initial schedule. A script breakdown lets you see at a glance how many resources actors, locations, props etc. By using this information, you can begin to create a film budget breakdown. You can also use your breakdown to create an initial schedule. For example, if you have several scenes taking place in one location. You might choose to shoot all of these scenes in one production day.
Once again, you can do this by printing off-script pages and making a schedule chart via pen and paper. But often these days scheduling software is used. After you have a preliminary production schedule, you can process to the other stages of film pre-production. Starting with the creation of a camera shot list. Also, check out our library of other free production templates. Picture vehicles may include:. Script breakdown software can make it easy to tag these elements. As a general rule, an object is considered a prop only if a character interacts with it.
Instead, just list an effect as your element, and let your special effects supervisor work their magic. Special effects are achieved on a set as opposed to being created during post-production. As bigger productions span a lot of script days, costumes can present an organizational challenge. Create a system for labeling every wardrobe element that at least includes:. Large animals that would need their own vehicle for transportation are considered livestock.
Examples include:. Separate from the soundtrack, the music category is used for characters listening to or performing music. Although greenery is similar to set dressing, these components get their own category because they will require different maintenance and care.
Greenery includes:. This is where you put your doorway dolly or camera crane. Any unusual equipment that the director will need to achieve their vision goes here. You may need to include security if you have expensive props. High-profile actors may also require security. Optical or visual effects include VFX such as green screens.
A rocker that shakes an elevator so it looks like the elevator is shifting back and forth would be another example of a mechanical effect. After your first read, go through it again so you can scan for formatting errors.
Errors can create problems when you import a script into scheduling software like Movie Magic Scheduling or StudioBinder. You must know how to format a script properly to do this. This measurement lets the director of photography , director, and assistant director estimate screen time as well as the shooting time needed for the scene. You can either do this the old-school way by using a pen and ruler or use script breakdown software that tallies every scene by 8ths automatically.
Pay special attention to the screen time to page count ratio for any musical performances. Page count should reflect the time you will actually need to do the shoot. Writing out lyrics can help get an accurate measurement. Identifying every element will open you up for creative decisions as you will question the importance of every element as you go along. Once you break down one scene, move onto the next.
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