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? Don’t fret. We’ve broken down how to identify the most common production elements below. How to break down a script for film production scheduling starts with a thorough understanding of production elements.Continue reading The Complete Guide to Mastering Script Breakdown Elements
Representation and diversity in art and film are incredibly important and the Bechdel Test has emerged as a simple, yet important tool to evaluate the presence and significance of female characters in movies. Named after American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who introduced the concept in her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For in 1985, the test has since been used as a measure of gender bias in films.Continue reading What Is the Bechdel Test — Origins & Examples Explained
Did you know that the Back to the Future script was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 1986 Academy Awards? Back to the Future may be most famous for its incredible production design and visual effects, but the script is excellent as well. We’re going to break down the Back to the Future screenplay by looking at its characters, quotes and iconic ending. By the end, you’ll know why the original Back to the Future script is such an iconic example of effective screenwriting. Doc, rev up the DeLorean, we’re going back – back to the future! Continue…
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 to prep more efficiently. Let’s breakdown the treatment for Eminem’s, “River,” to see how that production team did it.Continue reading How to Break Down A Music Video Treatment When Short on Details
Amovie montage can accomplish many things, from interweaving multiple storylines to delivering jokes. But accounting for a montage in your production schedule is no laughing matter. What can be summed up in two or three lines in a script, translates to many more minutes on screen. So how does the savvy producer or 1st AD go about making heads or tails of scheduling a montage? We'll examine a montage scene, and see how to format it in such a way that the new version lends itself to the shooting schedule nearly perfectly. And we'll do it all in StudioBinder! Let's…
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 end? This post will answer those questions and will give a quick rundown.Continue reading What is Pre-Production in Film — A Blueprint for Success
Nobody likes doing paperwork, but sometimes it’s just part of your job. On a film shoot, production reports are how the production office communicates with each department, and vice-versa. Fortunately, StudioBinder makes creating reports easy so you have more time to rest and recharge before the next shooting day. Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Production Reports
If you are looking for the definitive science-fiction/horror screenplay, then look no further than the Alien script (1979). Writers Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett seamlessly blend the two genres into a story that excels at building tension and inciting fear. As we break down the screenplay, we will provide an Alien summary, plot points and an analysis of characters and the infamous double ending. Continue reading Alien Script PDF Download: Plot, Characters and Ending
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 this post, take a look at a few of the many considerations that go into shooting a western by breaking down a scene from HBO’s Westworld. Continue reading Breaking Down the Contemporary Western: Westworld
If you’ve seen one commercial, you've seen 'em all, right? Not exactly. Each commercial is a unique production and requires everything a short film does. Scripts, shot lists, script breakdowns, shooting schedules, and more. In this post, we break down the TV commercial production process and everything you need to do before the cameras roll.Continue reading TV Commercial Production Prep — From Script to Schedule
