Writing

 your  script  
 
Before  you  start  writing  the  script  for  your  final  video,  ensure  that  you  have  selected  
a  focus.  This  could  include  Sailing  in  the  SSMP,  Endangered  species  -­‐  Beluga  whales,  
Biodiversity  in  marine  ecosystems  etc.  Also  think  of  an  audience  you  want  to  tell  this  
story  to.  Think  of  the  age  group  you  want  to  reach  and  what  would  interest  them.  
Using  the  playback  mode  on  the  camera,  look  at  interviews  and  select  best  interview  
clips  -­‐  maximum  20  seconds  long.  Pick  more  clips  than  you  need,  but  make  sure  the  
clips  speak  to  the  topic  you  are  focusing  on.    Make  a  note  on  the  video  file  name,  the  
time  in  the  file  that  the  desired  clip  starts  and  stops  what  information  the  clips  
contains.  This  will  make  it  easier  to  find  the  clip  when  you  are  editing.  You  may  also  
want  to  list  great  shots  that  you  got  during  the  day  so  they  are  easier  to  find  when  
you  need  them.    
 
Keep  notes  in  a  document  in  your  computer  or  PDA/Smartphone  or  notebook  
throughout  the  week  on  concepts  you  may  want  to  include  in  your  final  script.  This  
will  make  it  easier  to  remember  these  ideas  when  they  are  needed.  
 
Once  you  have  all  your  ideas  and  possible  video  clips  listed  in  front  of  you  pick  the  
concepts  that  fit  best  within  your  videos  focus.  Take  each  concept  and  expand  on  it  
by  writing  a  10  or  15-­‐second  script  that  will  be  accompanied  by  one  or  more  of  your  
clips.  Write  the  script  to  introduce  the  interviewees  answers,  but  not  to  repeat  what  
they  I    say  and  do  not  include  your  on  camera  question  from  the  interview  clip.    
 
Here  is  an  example  
Narration
Shots of turtles The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a non-profit
charitable organization dedicated to fostering
awareness and appreciation of our natural world.
By developing and delivering educational
programs, sponsoring research, promoting the
Shots of participants at the seaside adjunct at sustainable use of natural resources and
Keji Park recommending policy changes CWF encourages a
future in which Canadians can live in harmony
with nature. In 2008 we created the Learning
Institute to help teachers across the country be
more effective environmental and conservation
educators
Graphic: Wade Luzny Tape 2 2:02:55
Wade Luzny   The Canadian Wildlife Federation developed the
Executive Vice President, Learning institute to provide 2 objectives. One is
Canadian Wildlife Federation to allow teachers from different parts of the
  country to get together and experience an
environment the wouldn't normally get to do, The
second part of that is to take conservation
education to the next level.
Graphic: Leo Elsof Tape 4 7:27:03
Leo Elshof Ph.D The real challenge is, … they are across the
Learning Institute Fellow country.
Canadian Wildlife Federation
 Narration
Shots of participants at Keji Park in canoes That challenge is answered by one of our new
initiatives, the Summer Institute. This wildlife
conservation course will be hosted at universities
Shots of participants talking to researchers at across Canada by professors that are part of the
Keji Park CWF’s Learning Institute. The professional
development is available as a credit or non-credit
course depending on participant needs – it is a
personalized learning experience.
Graphic: Luba Mycio-Mommers 7:35:37
Luba Mycio-Mommers Ph.D These summer institutes provided teachers with an
Learning Institute Fellow opportunity in the summer for a period of a week
Canadian Wildlife Federation or ten days to get together and look at a topic and
really get to know wildlife, habitat and
conservation issues in a very deep way.
 
This  2  column  format  I  created  the  script  in  has  video  on  the  left  and  audio  on  the  
right.  It  lays  everything  out  so  you  know:  
• what  video  we  will  use,    
• what  the  narrator  is  saying    
• who  is  being  interviewed,    
• what  tape  or  video  file  it  is  on  
• where  on  the  tape  or  file  the  interview  is  found  
• what  graphic  will  accompany  them.      
 
In  the  Wade  Luzny  clip  I  have  also  transcribed  the  interviewees  answer,  which  helps  
me  know  what  the  video  will  sound  like  later  but  it  is  a  time  consuming  process.  An  
easier  way  is  to  use  the  first  and  final  few  words  of  each  clip  as  I  did  in  the  Leo  Elsof  
clip.    
 
When  you  are  writing,  grammar  isn’t  as  important  as  being  conversational.  Read  it  
out  loud,  and  if  you  sound  like  a  pretentious  professor,  people  won’t  listen.  Tell  you  
audience  the  story  in  a  way  they  can  relate  to.  Use  words  that  are  easy  to  pronounce  
and  understand,  and  don’t  speak  over  your  audiences  heads.  Remember  to  select  
the  audience  you  want  to  reach  and  write  to  them.  If  you  are  writing  to  a  grade  2  
class  your  script  will  look  and  sound  very  different  than  if  you  are  going  for  a  
general  audience  where  you  should  write  to  a  grade  8  or  9  level.  
 
Once  you  have  a  series  of  narrations  and  clips  put  them  in  the  order  that  will  best  
tell  the  story.  Try  to  lead  the  video  with  strong  video,  shots  and  sound  that  will  get  
peoples  attention  and  will  keep  them  interested  enough  to  watch  you  entire  video.    
 
Your  script  should  be  4  to  6  pages  long  in  the  2-­‐column  format  to  get  a  3  to  4  minute  
video.    
 
This  is  a  very  brief  introduction  to  writing  for  video.  There  is  a  wealth  of  
information  on  the  subject  available  online  and  in  your  local  library,  but  for  the  
purposes  of  the  Summer  Institute  this  will  get  you  started.