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🔗 Script Template file links:
Script Template 2021 Excel File Format .xlsx
Script Template 2021 Numbers File Format .numbers
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General Remarks
I have tried in this document to replicate the experience of an interview where one would sit down and define a project, and translate the idea into a production script that can be used as a master plan. In the video production pipeline, it sits at the start of Pre-production.
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🔹 Pre-production
- Production script (plan)
- Scheduling
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🔹 Production
- Audio / Video Shooting
- Graphics creation
- Gathering Assets
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🔹 Post-production
- Editing
- Render
- Broadcast and Marketing
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I believe it is important to go through these considerations in order.
Purpose of video
Every video should have a purpose. What is it that we want to say? The more succinct this answer can be, the better.
Who is the audience?
It is important to consider the audience for each video. Where will the audience watch this video, and for what reason. We should try to predict and imagine the audience's experience.
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💡 I often use particular real people that I know, just one or two per video, and use them as a representative of my audience. Then I ask myself how that person would respond to the tone I am using for the video. It's hard to imagine what everyone would think about a video, but easy to imagine what one person that I personally know will think.
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General types of video
- Hype video This type of video benefits from a short format of 1-3 minutes and it is used to communicate broad ideas, and cultivates enthusiasm, identity, and participation.
- Concept Overview video This is a useful type in education that teaches concepts, ideas, and best practices. This video benefits from a modular approach with a 10 min to 20 minute range. This length helps both in the creation of content that is discrete enough to be created and updated separate from other conceptual videos. This means that one concept video isn't dependent on others, since different subjects may be faster to produce than others. It also helps in how the audience will consume the material. A 15 minute video is a common and accessible size for content that can allow for people to manage their own study rhythms.
- Tutorial & Step-by-step In this type of video the steps involved will define the length of the video. It will basically be as long as it needs to be. Although if the script were to be longer than 30 minutes, there may be some benefit in considering splitting up the content.
Format
Based on the considerations above, let's now look at format options and match the message to the format.
- How many minutes long will it be? It can always change for good reason, but let us always start with a specific number.
- What screen shape should the video have? 16:9 is the traditional 4k/HD video ratio and the most common answer, but other video shapes like 1x1 for Instagram exist.
- What will be the delivery technology? Youtube, website, email, link, presented at an audience, etc.
- What is the context of the video? What other media is going to be used around it?