Notes:
How to properly format a script
Videos can be used to change perspective, demonstrate thing, are mobile and re-playable.
Each video should have only one objective. If you have multiple learning objectives, you can create several separate videos for a course, but keep videos simple, concise, and clean.
Videos should not waste people’s time. PRACTICE BLUF!!!
Videos should be short and should offer the path of least resistance- make it applicable and effective.
Plan and prepare your video script:
Include the scene: i.e. exterior, times square at night, or person walking along sidewalk looking into window of office building .
micro video on a shoestring
Pacing
– in a micro learning video- how fast your video moves.
- reduce word count– remove adverbs. read dialogue out loud- record and play it out loud to find more ways to reduce word count. Don’t add details or extraneous information, pull it out and offer it as an exercise .. Get to the point- 20 seconds- don’t do the “tell them what you will say, say it, then tell them what you said- DONT REPEAT.
- Rapidly change the visuals, static photo with slight motion, then another one- the pictures should amplify the words, but keep them engaged.
- Show them, don’t tell them.
- Reduce word count by editing ruthless (remove adverbs) “He is moving quickly” – just show them
- exclude the nitty gritty details
- don’t repeat yourself (did I just say that?)
Characteristics of a well written script
A person says “Hello, and welcome” instead of a 20 second intro.
Develop a character, but still be clear and succinct- get to the point. But there was no point in the first 45 seconds of the video. Re-write: *Actor is getting coffee from machine and fumbling with papers- Man startles her* three lines to setup the problem.
Make sure it is visual! Don’t discuss policy and procedures, instead “click link below to documents”. no point in talking about it.
Edit Ruthlessly
Be succinct, clear and concise.
take advantage of the format
Increase engagement through conflict and contrast:
Write the script with conflict (argument, different viewpoints, two different points of view-busy guy and chatty guy.) Use several camera angles. – don’t fail to give the person character- she looks busy, give her attitude- looks disgusted and rolled her eyes when he came up to talk. ADD DEPTH OF CHARACTER.
- Misdirection is used in film all of the time. internal conflict on the same team. A well-written screenplay has conflict and misdirection in every line. NO- I haven’t finished my compliance training! She fidgets and shuffles paper and is irritated “not now, I have deadline”
- “when will you do it?
- ”when will there be more hours in the day?”
Screenwriters will develop a full character profile often based on interesting people that they know. Maybe don’t go that far for a 3 minute video. But Screenwriting is a craft.
Videos are timestamped. Have the ability to go back and edit the video. Make it last longer so you can avoid doing that- Don’t put anything date sensitive in the audio or video track. No references to movies, recent news, etc. not spoken date “end of the year” Season, weather, titles, organizational positions and names, technology.
Script writing – get good at writing them and editing them. Plan on paper first. Edit the circle- create narration to meet the needs of the script, never the other way around- you don’t want any dead air. Get an external hard drive. Back everything up. NEVER DELETE THE VIDEO
slides are on the app!
Sara Winder 