| While this may seem like a dilemma, choosing between free-form
and fixed-form, actually, even a scripted or storyboarded project has the
same creative flow taking place.
It is the scripted form which is a more refined concept of the brainstorming
and creative juices put to paper for others to review and evaluate. Certainly
it is a great feeling to be able to make up dialogue and action on the spot,
but does this have to be done during the production of the project?
During production you'll need a camera, tape or film for the camera, lights,
microphones, props, the necessary actors to tell the story, people to help
behind the scenes and definitely other costs will appear no matter how much
you plan. When you have all these in the same room, is this the time to "just
make it up"? While there may be some new side of the script that was not
realized in rehearsal and you may have a few minutes to "see what happens",
the production stage (which follows the development stage) is the time to
be efficient and not waste money or time.
The creative part is best applied in rehearsal.
Here many ideas and thoughts can be tested as the actors find out who their
characters are and what are their characters' motivation. Once this is refined
and put on paper, a.k.a. - the script, then it is time to call upon the
production team to capture that which has been refined .
An excellent method is to tape the rehearsal, edit it, show it to the actors
to help them realize the end product and then shoot the real one using the
best equipment and people you know or can afford. This "storyboard" video
is like making all the mistakes before the really event. |
|
The creation of a project can be summarized as:
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Development of the idea and theme with a script created.
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Pre-production is the time to schedule and plan the production of the script.
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Production is the capturing of actions onto film or tape.
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Post production is the editing or piecing together of the best clips from
production.
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Exhibiting is showing the final project.
How does scripting differ from story writing?
The key is only the spoken words and absolutely necessary actions are written
in the script. While in a story format, you may read pages about the scene,
with every detail laid out for you to visualize.
The script provides the skeleton for the story. It has a beginning or opening
which tells of the conflict or problem to be solved by the end of the story,
a middle or body for the story to develop and an end where the conflict or
problem is solved or concluded. Yet a script does not need to go into the
detail that a novel would.
It is up to all the creative departments to add their touches to make the
scene come alive. From the Director coordinating the actors and framing the
scene, to the Director of Photography determining where to add light and
any special colors to the Costume Designer selecting wardrobe and Production
Designer selecting background and props to be used, it takes many people
behind the scenes to create those memorable moments where we recall our favorite
actors.
In brief, scripting should tell a story and tell it in the most word conserving
way possible. I won't go into detail, as there are many books written about
scripting, but do select your words carefully, describing as much as possible
with as little as possible.
Write like the wind! |
