Chapter 8 Scriptwriting
185
Wrapping Up
Organizing your ideas and developing a script, however brief, helps to
focus your thoughts. Never shoot a program without a script of some kind.
When this rule is broken, the crew inevitably ends up reshooting on location
because the fi rst shoot lacked a plan. Few people would attempt a cross-
country auto trip without planning the trip on a map ahead of time. At the
same time, people don’t often strictly adhere to the original plan. Traffi c
backups, taking side trips on a whim, and road construction are just some
of the things that may sidetrack a journey. The same is true for a script.
Few scripts are shot exactly the way they are written. They do, however,
provide the backbone structure to hold the director’s creative vision together.
Deviations from the script are common during the shooting process, but the
basic structure of the program is constant because a script exists.
Review Questions
Please answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Do not
write in this book.
1. What are nod shots? How are they used?
2. What items are included in a program proposal?
3. What is a script outline?
4. How is a program treatment developed?
5. List the three types of scripts used in television production and the
unique characteristics of each.
6. Why are television scripts written using informal language?
7. What is a montage?
Activities
1. For each of the program formats listed below, name a television show
currently on the air that serves as a format example:
• Lecture
• Lecture/Demonstration
• Panel Discussion
• Interview
• Newscast
• Magazine
• Drama
• Music Video
• PSA
Be prepared to explain the characteristics of the selected television show
that qualify it as an example of the corresponding program
2. Record an episode of your favorite sitcom and create an outline the
program. Remember that an outline for this type of program breaks each
major event in the story into the fewest number of words possible and
progresses chronologically.
e lected tele vision sho w
p rogram fformat..tro ma
ate an outline ffor or the
program breaks each
w ords possib le and
STEM
Curriculum
Science
Technology
Mathematics
Engineering
Integrated
Chapter 16 Studio and
R emote Shooting
345
STEM and Academic Activities
1. Evaluate the environmental impact of a typical remote shoot. What envi-
ronmental aspects should be considered when performing the location
survey (pollution, waste disposal, etc.)?
2. Identify some advances in technology that have affected remote shoots
in terms of effi ciency, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.
3. Design the fl oor plan for a television news studio. Indicate the placement
of all production equipment and specialized areas.
4. Compare the costs involved in shooting a program in the studio to the
costs of shooting the same program at a remote location.
5. Watch several evening news programs and list instances of ENG footage
and EFP footage used in news stories. Explain why each piece of foot-
age is ENG or EFP.
6
Wrapping Up. Each chapter
concludes with a summary of or
brief discussion related to the topics
presented.
STEM and Academic
Activities. Student activities
that integrate chapter
topics and concepts with
STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and math) areas,
as well as social science and
language arts.
Review Questions. Questions
designed to reinforce the chapter
material are presented at the end of
each chapter.
Activities. End-of-chapter activities
provide students with an opportunity
for additional experience with
chapter concepts.