So you’ve got a script!

What do you do next if you’re making a film and ALL you have is the SCRIPT?

STAGE ONE

On our project, KIRK and EMMA who are working as PRODUCTION COORDINATORS on the two short films will have to find a way of working out all the things they need to make the film’s happen.

HOW?
Easy!
Take a copy of the script you are responsible for and a set of coloured marker pens!

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE YOU’VE FOUND ALL THE ‘PHYSICAL ELEMENTS’ that’s is, all the things that have to be on set for the cameras to turn over. (Film!).

You set yourself a key - one colour for each heading. So for example – RED for character. Then you go through the whole script with a red marker and mark each time a character appears.

SO what headings – what do we mean?

WELL, I’d go for these headings on this project:

Colour marker: Subject:
RED Character
GREEN Location
BLUE Costume
YELLOW Props (these are items associated with a character)
PINK Set dressing (these are all the other items like – a lamp)
PENCIL (DRAW CIRCLE ROUND) Effects (animation!)

There can be other colours and other headings – it depends on the script.

The main thing is to find a way to identify all the items that are needed. Once the script is marked up you simply make a list of each – here we would have six lists. Or a TABLE for each scene with six columns listing the six headings above. (Do both, as you need them for different things).

NEXT I’LL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO with them NOW YOU HAVE THE SIX LISTS.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, AN INDUSTRY – PRODUCTION BREAKDOWN.

Good colouring!

Peter M. Kershaw, director/producer