Pre-Production can be overwhelming even for the seasoned producer. It requires knowledge of many facets of production, as well as an ability to prevent potential crises down the line. It’s not always easy but if you stay organized, it’s pretty simple. So what is Pre-Production in film? When does it start and when does it… Continue reading What is Pre-Production in Film — A Blueprint for Success
Whether you are a producer, 1st AD, or script supervisor, breaking down a script is an incredibly daunting and tedious task. Overtime, the process of breaking down a script by color has become the only organized and efficient way of tackling the task. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to breakdown a… Continue reading Script Breakdown Colors — How Colors Work in a Breakdown
Cast. Props. Animal Trainers. Child Actor Trainers. They’re all production elements that make up a scene breakdown sheet. Now we’re going to dive into the details and guide you through the complex process of sorting and categorizing your script breakdown elements. Is sound the same as music? Where does set dressing end and props begin?… Continue reading The Complete Guide to Mastering Script Breakdown Elements
A Filmmaker’s Guide to Script Breakdowns (Free Ebook)Learn how to create script breakdowns, categorize elements, and generate production reports. Download Now How to Create a Script Breakdown ExplainedThe script breakdown process explained, start to finishBeing able to execute proper camera exposure in photography and video requires fundamental knowledge of what’s known as The Exposure Triangle.… Continue reading A Filmmaker’s Guide to Script Breakdowns
One of the most crucial elements to a scene can be a prop. Props are important for a film’s plot, characters, and overall story. Ensuring that every prop in a screenplay is accounted for and brought on set can be overwhelming. However, creating a props list by breaking down a screenplay is a sure fire… Continue reading Props Breakdown — How to Make a List of All Props in a Script
If you’ve used StudioBinder’s project management tools before, you know the value of managing a project collaboratively under one roof. However, for those of us who work in commercial television production using AV scripts, we’re left on the outside looking in, right? Not necessarily. The way I see it is, StudioBinder is a tool which… Continue reading TV Commercial Production Process — From Script to Schedule
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
We’ve talked quite a bit about script breakdowns. We’ve shown you how to break down a script, and how to do it with free script breakdown software. Now, we’re going to take a look at Bong Joon-ho’s script for Parasite and do a deep dive into how you would tag its characteristic set dressing in a… Continue reading Set Dressing Guide: How Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite Creates Meaning
Diversity in the entertainment industry is very important. You can test the level of diversity in your own content, and we’re going to show you how. Continue reading The Bechdel Test Using a Script Breakdown | Diversity in Film
Jordan Peele’s Get Out is already one of the most iconic films of the 21st century. Its simple elegance is a perfect example of how much can be conveyed with so little. In this post, we’ll take a look at The Sunken Place sequence and learn how to maximize storytelling with a minimal budget. A lot… Continue reading The Sunken Place: How to Break Down a VFX Scene
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
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
Y ou’ve got the green light. Your shoot is coming up. Your next task? Create a script breakdown. The script breakdown sheets are used to determine the shooting requirements of every scene and also inform the budget. But do you know how to break down a script like a seasoned pro? In this post, we’ll… Continue reading How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet)
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
Think you’d agree with me if I said production scheduling is a tedious process. Most production scheduling software like Movie Magic Scheduling is antiquated (and that’s putting it lightly). It’s confusing, expensive, and often time is not worth the trouble.Continue reading Production Scheduling Explained: How to Make a Scene Breakdown
Script breakdown sheets are the bane of a PA’s life. Nearly all screenwriting programs offer script breakdown software–allowing you to generate reports on characters, props, VFX, locations, you name it.Continue reading Breakdown Sheets: How to Mark a Script with Final Draft Tagger
FREE Script Breakdown Sheet Template & Online BuilderLooking for a script breakdown sheet template ? We have two options for you! Either download the breakdown template below, or use StudioBinder to tag your elements and generate breakdown reports online. CREATE SCRIPT BREAKDOWN ONLINE NOW Peek Inside the Script Breakdown Sheet TemplateDownload an industry-standard breakdown sheet template with cast & element legends. What’s included in… Continue reading Download a Script Breakdown Sheet Template, FREE | StudioBinder
Download Your Free, Daily Production Report TemplateThis production report template is fully customizable and can be expanded to fit any production. TEMPLATE INCLUDES: Timesheets for talent & crew. Track time in/out and OTMedia usage details and technical notesTalent and Location Releases LogsPO Log to document additional day-to-day expensesTrack meal counts, plates, and substantials, and more Get your free daily… Continue reading Download a Daily Production Report Template, FREE
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
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
