1. Outlining
Categorize the materials you have collected during
your research. Match similar information about the
subject from the different sources you found. Once
you have categorized your information, develop an
outline to use when writing the script.
2. Scripting
A script should be written for your audience to hear,
not for them to read. Your audience will be watching
whatever you put on the screen while trying to listen
at the same time. This means you want to use very
familiar words and phrases so they don’t get
confused. Compared to reading a book, watching television
does not give a person the opportunity to go back
and reread what he or she misunderstands. With TV,
you have to keep the viewer interested by using dialogue
that is easy to understand.
One technique for TV script writing is to work from
your outline, but instead of writing, speak into a
tape recorder. Transcribe the tape and add in anything
you left out.
3. Storyboarding
As you write the script, make notes of what you want
to show the audience. Once the script is done, use
these notes to produce a storyboard. A storyboard
is made up of pictures that you want your audience
to see during the production. When storyboarding,
try to visualize where you will place the camera to
get the picture and what will be included in the picture.
This technique is used to help you visualize what
will be shown on the TV screen while the script is
being read.
The storyboard will also help you decide what type
of transitions you will make between shots. In other
words, will you zoom in or out to the next picture,
or will you need to stop the videotape in order to
focus?
4. Combining the Script and the Storyboard
Once the script and storyboard are done, combine them.
This step allows you to look at how long each shot
will be on the air. You may want to add shots or subtract
script so that your production runs smoother. Once
this step is done, you will have a complete record
of what you want on the tape before you turn on the
camera.
