Shooting script?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I finished a 15 page short script that I will film this summer as my second short film. I want to now write it up into a shooting script. Never done that before. Any suggestions on a book or url on the web to help guide me converting it into a shooting script?
 
If you're talking about shots you don't want a shooting script, you want a shot list. In my experience the shooting script is simply the original in its final draft form, with numbers if needed. Keep in mind that everyone on set has to have an identical copy of the script, otherwise page numbers won't work. No reason to bother your actors with what only you and the DP need to worry about.
 
Casalen said:
If you're talking about shots you don't want a shooting script, you want a shot list. In my experience the shooting script is simply the original in its final draft form, with numbers if needed. Keep in mind that everyone on set has to have an identical copy of the script, otherwise page numbers won't work. No reason to bother your actors with what only you and the DP need to worry about.
Click to expand...

I think a shooting script is supposed to have camera angles and such, that is what I am thinking of. I will search some of my screenwriting books, might be some info in one.
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
I think a shooting script is supposed to have camera angles and such, that is what I am thinking of. I will search some of my screenwriting books, might be some info in one.
Click to expand...

Screenwriting books and current screenwriting 'rules' tend to eliminate any 'shooting' script items, whether directly with 'CAMERA ON', or even in directly with a 'we see...'.

Here's a basic book on moving from the 'script on paper' stage to something watchable on a screen....

"Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Third Edition (Paperback)"

http://www.amazon.com/Producing-Directing-Short-Video-Third/dp/0240807359/ref=pd_sim_b_74



In this book, you see a marked up 'script' with shots, layouts for the sequences, etc. and so, you can then use this as guide for how to create your production documentation.
 
Google can do you wonders.

Here is an example from There Will Be Blood. Exactly the same as the script. A few shots in there and each scene is numbered.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/996161/There-Will-Be-Blood-shooting-script

This is the Shooting Script that was locked. If there are changes from the script. A and B pages will be generated so as the total length of the screenplay isn't affected.

Any angles off the master setup, additional shots inside the scene, will be marked internally. IE) 21, 21A, 21B.
 
Nice! Thank you!

EDIT: Here is another link to that same shooting script (without the need to sign up at as a member in order to save the script at the scribd.com site):
http://www.vantageguilds.com/twbb/FinalScript_TWBB.pdf
TWBB shooting script is exactly what I was looking for, thanks again. It has the various shots written in the script (CU, MCU, ANGLE ON, etc)

Mattykins said:
Google can do you wonders.
Here is an example from There Will Be Blood. Exactly the same as the script. A few shots in there and each scene is numbered.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/996161/There-Will-Be-Blood-shooting-script
This is the Shooting Script ...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
if you can draw I would use a storyboard to show your angles you want... a shooting script is just a list for you to worry about... doesn't really involve everybody.. there are some good storyboard programs you can get if you can't draw... you can skip the shooting script if your using a storyboard.... good luck to you
 
Burn2Earn pro. said:
if you can draw I would use a storyboard to show your angles you want... a shooting script is just a list for you to worry about... doesn't really involve everybody.. there are some good storyboard programs you can get if you can't draw... you can skip the shooting script if your using a storyboard.... good luck to you
Click to expand...

Thanks. I do have Storyboard software from Toon Boom. I hope to do some storyboarding also besides a shooting script. All new to me, never done either as this will only be my second short film. Doing a half dozen shorts is a great work to learn about doing all these other elements of filmmaking to prepare for doing a feature indie in a few years.
 
Making shorts is where you should cut your teeth for practicing to get ready for making a feature in the future. All of the advice about what you can forego because "its only a short", doesn't serve you very well to that end.

Storyboards are very useful for early planning and things like art direction. If you are not a master of camerawork, (which most people in this community are not), they do have a downside. I would strongly suggest you pick up a copy of the Hollywood Camerawork DVD series and see for yourself, (http://hollywoodcamerawork.us) why using blocking diagrams with a formal blocking notation work a hundred times better and are lightning fast for you and your DP to make and understand.
 
craigbowman said:
Making shorts is where you should cut your teeth for practicing to get ready for making a feature in the future. All of the advice about what you can forego because "its only a short", doesn't serve you very well to that end.

Storyboards are very useful for early planning and things like art direction. If you are not a master of camerawork, (which most people in this community are not), they do have a downside. I would strongly suggest you pick up a copy of the Hollywood Camerawork DVD series and see for yourself, (http://hollywoodcamerawork.us) why using blocking diagrams with a formal blocking notation work a hundred times better and are lightning fast for you and your DP to make and understand.
Click to expand...


I tend to like to previsualize what the shot will be from the camera POV... Unfortunately I have not found a 'quick and easy (oh yeah cheap...)', while still looking good, computer program for this... So, I fall back on classical paintings...

I also have picked up books like the following:

Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your Low-Budget Movie (Paperback)

or

Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know (Paperback)

(Hey, maybe I'll go into sales for Amazon... but it is a convenient site for many books...)
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
I tend to like to previsualize what the shot will be from the camera POV... Unfortunately I have not found a 'quick and easy (oh yeah cheap...)', while still looking good, computer program for this... So, I fall back on classical paintings...

I also have picked up books like the following:

Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your Low-Budget Movie (Paperback)

or

Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know (Paperback)

(Hey, maybe I'll go into sales for Amazon... but it is a convenient site for many books...)
Click to expand...


I agree with the second book (I have it) and I'm going to go down and check out the first one today. Thanks for the link!!!
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
Screenwriting books and current screenwriting 'rules' tend to eliminate any 'shooting' script items, whether directly with 'CAMERA ON', or even in directly with a 'we see...'.

Here's a basic book on moving from the 'script on paper' stage to something watchable on a screen....

"Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Third Edition (Paperback)"

http://www.amazon.com/Producing-Directing-Short-Video-Third/dp/0240807359/ref=pd_sim_b_74



In this book, you see a marked up 'script' with shots, layouts for the sequences, etc. and so, you can then use this as guide for how to create your production documentation.
Click to expand...


The book above is a very good and well worth the money for practically all new film makers and seasoned people wouldn't hurt reviewing it either. I used this as a text in courses I taught at a private college on narrative film making. It helped students do the pre-production work; pre-pro is the area most all small time indies really hurt. Getting this pre-production planning down pat will help ease your production problems and reduce on-set confusion. You'll want your energy during the shoot to go toward creative problems, not logistical problems. Good planning will help you in this area.

Another book, this is a Bible type book for cinematographer/ film makers, is Shot by Shot by Steven Katz. It's a must have.

For a shooting script, just number the pages: Final Draft/ Cetix/ Movie Magic all do this. Then storyboard after reading and studying Shot by Shot and making a shot list that conveys the story to its fullest potential.

Often scenes can be shot using a technique called coverage. This is where you approach the scene and shoot it many times over using differing angles. This gives the editor choices. Along with this you can include precise shots that you imagine, especially shots for key dramatic moments. So you need to create a shot list. A shot list is where almost, no, let me restate this, all film makers I've been around fail: they don't make a shot list. This is a sign of laziness and how hard pre-viz can be. When pre-viz is done properly it's difficult because out of the millions of choices of angles, there is one optimum angle for a particular part of a scene: the tough part it finding it.

You need a shot list. A shot list not only determines the shots needed to make your story work visually it also determines the schedule, set-ups and equipment needed to make your movie. Making a shot list is one key pre-pro element that differentiates (IMO) a director from a goof-ball wanna-be playing around with a camera and friends wasting everyone's time.

You have lots of good advice posted here to help you plan your short.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top