Breakdowns

What are Story Days and How They Work in a Script Breakdown

Time equals change, and unless your entire script takes place over a single day or in some alternate universe where time doesn’t exist, you’re going to have multiple days, months, or even years to account for. Storylines are not always written in chronological order, and rarely are they shot in order. So how are you… Continue reading What are Story Days and How They Work in a Script Breakdown

Brandon Night

Breaking Down the Wedding Scene from Crazy Rich Asians

Every production starts with the script breakdown. Whether you’re working on an effects-heavy mega-budget project like Age of Ultron or a micro-budget indie like Paranormal Activity, you won’t really know what bringing that story to life is going to require until you get into the script and take it apart element by element. So, let’s… Continue reading Breaking Down the Wedding Scene from Crazy Rich Asians

Kim Leonard

Breaking Down the Contemporary Western: Westworld

As the lovechild of the Costume Drama and the Fantasy Adventure, the Western might have more considerations that go into producing it than any other genre. When shooting a western, you’ve got costumes, animals, and stunt work to contend with. You’ve got locations and dirt and weather…And that’s just on an ordinary shoot day.  In… Continue reading Breaking Down the Contemporary Western: Westworld

Kim Leonard

A Tale of Two Script Breakdowns: Titanic vs. Brooklyn

A script breakdown is one of the most important phases of pre-production. It’s usually the first time you start to develop a clear picture of the size, scope, and cost of a production. Breakdowns allow filmmakers to find the balance between telling the strongest story for the lowest budget. Easier said than done, but in today’s article… Continue reading A Tale of Two Script Breakdowns: Titanic vs. Brooklyn

Herman Wilkins

How to Format a Script Before Starting the Script Breakdown

So your script is done, and you are about to begin the script breakdown process. In order for the script to import correctly into scheduling software, you must review the script for formatting errors. In this article, we’ll review some of the most common culprits.Continue reading How to Format a Script Before Starting the Script… Continue reading How to Format a Script Before Starting the Script Breakdown

Darya Danesh

“Hidden Elements” in a Script Breakdown: How to Read Between the Lines

The screenplay is a black and white blueprint for what you’ll see on screen. Every single element of the film must first be on the page. But the long journey from script to screen is a road paved with many decisions. Those decisions start in the script breakdown. The process of breaking down a script is… Continue reading “Hidden Elements” in a Script Breakdown: How to Read Between the Lines

Herman Wilkins

How to Break Down A Music Video Treatment When Short on Details

Music videos aren’t always easy to plan. It can be a challenge to translate the poetry in the music to screen. But music videos are like mini films, and they all start with a treatment.A producer’s or director’s experience in writing a treatment is invaluable. Treatments can plan and plot the visuals in detail needed… Continue reading How to Break Down A Music Video Treatment When Short on Details

Herman Wilkins

How to Properly Identify Cast When Breaking Down a Script

In every script, there are elements that can go unseen. Sometimes even hiding in plain sight. If overlooked for too long, this misstep could affect your scheduling and budget. Hidden elements can make a huge impact on your bottom line and schedule. It is the producer’s job to find these elements before they become a surprise… Continue reading How to Properly Identify Cast When Breaking Down a Script

Herman Wilkins