Story Workshop The prep you need: Vidder Maker Workshop
The quest:  Select  a story path best suited to your interests.  Follow the path to make a video story.     VidTech FAQ

 

Shooting script  You can't tell a story without a script.  You may be able to work with a script in your head if the story is simple and you are working by yourself.  For more serious work you will need a shooting script. If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up someplace else.
Since you are telling a story in sight and sound, you will need a script that tell you how to make the sights and sounds that will go into your video.  Here are the main elements of a shooting script. My thanks to Kronos Kerkorian introducing these concepts of directing to me. This may include a dialog script, but you need a lot more.
Recall your goals. You may want stick them on the wall in front of you.  
Back story and scenario. For examples of shooting scripts in various stages of development, see:
Virtual Fashion

Last Chance Bar

Scene list.  Make a separate scene each time the story changes location.  You may want to make separate scenes at important changes in who is shown or in the camera viewpoint.  
Story board.  Describe or picture the key events that you want the scene to show.   
Scene plan.   One page for each scene.  The scene plan is derived from the storyboard, but carries more detail.  It is a checklist of what you need to be ready to shoot the scene. Below are semi-structured panels to help with you planning. See:
Semi-Structured Brainstorming
Shot list.  Details about the camera work for each shot.   
Review each scene.  Is it needed for you goals?  Does it meet your goals?  

 

Storyboard Scene 1 (I have listed the things you will probably want to include in a story board.
Open:   
Images:   stills (.jpg) of key events  
Location Character;
Props:   Action
Audio:   Notes:

 

Scene 1, plan (What does the director need to check on to be sure everything is ready for shooting this scene?

Location:

Director/camera (What must the director check on before starting the scene?  Some common checkpoints are listed below.)

Actor:
Lighting

Set UI (ctl alt 1) and Busy

Avatar:

Props Wear
  Notes
Close scene: (Any cleanup needed for polite use of land) Start:

 

Shot list:  Scene 1.   Action:  What do you want the camera to see?  What do you want your actors to do to let the camera see that?
 
Instructions to cameraman to get the shots you want.
 
No. Scope POV Look at Tag Notes
  Wide, medium, close, low, eye level, high, GEV (on high), behind x, beside x, from x's eyes The important thing in the scene Yes, no
Camera tips
Specific advice to director/camera.  Specific action, reason for shot, length if important.  Examples:  At least 30 sec, see train in background. glance shot, cutaway shot.  Cut away shot is a shot of something in the scene, not the actor. It allows editing to jump (break continuity) from one take to another.  A glance shot is similar and may be used in the same way, but is also part of the story.  For example, the character notices something in the scene that advances or supports the story.
           
The Thinkerer 06/15/2008
Copyright (c) D. F. Dansereau & S. H. Evans

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