Write right
Every video script has two equal parts – audio and video. They coexist in a delicate balance, like strips of Velcro.
For clarity’s sake, the video side describes the various shots, images and on-screen text while the audio side describes music, sound effects and narration. They are two parts of the same whole, neither more important than the other.
We’ve worked on a few projects recently where the customer provided the script. However, in each of these cases, the script we were given only dealt with narration. In two examples, the narration was copied and pasted from print material.
If you are ever in a position to develop a script for video, it is essential, nay critical, to develop what we see alongside what we hear and to fully recognize that the viewer is watching a video, not listening to a podcast. A terrific example is anything Sir David Attenborough is part of. Sir David will not only tell you what you are seeing, he will direct your eyes to what is important. “These are African tiger snails and if look closely, you will see two racing stripes.” Notice how the narration doesn’t work without the picture, but if you could see the African tiger snail speeding along, you would have the full video experience.
In another of the aforementioned projects, we were asked to rewrite an existing safety video. We did exactly as Sir David would have done. We directed the viewer to look at what was important. “This is an electrostatic monitoring device.” We rewrote most of the script this way, edited the copy heavily, and added in the visuals. When it came time to shoot, everyone knew how the video would come out.
Writing a proper video script is an art form. One must be able to see what the finished video will look like, be able to describe it, and write narration that enhances the visual experience – filling in the blanks and directing the viewer. If you find yourself adapting print material, this will always be a challenge.
The key points in adapting any material into a video script are to:
· Think about the visuals, first. It’s video, after all.
· Reduce the audio copy, often by more than half.
· Simplify the grammar and sentence structure. Shorter is better.
· Visualize the person delivering the copy, whether they are a narrator or a CEO. Write for that person’s voice.
· Let it breathe! Wall to wall copy is boring and tiresome for the viewer. Give them pauses to absorb and refocus.
These tips will help you write better video scripts. You can also let us do it. When it comes to video and audio, we don’t play favorites.
