1 of 25

Script

Editing 101

Writing a script can be intimidating,

but it makes editing MUCH EASIER

and you end up with a MUCH BETTER story.

Also…it’s mandatory!

​

2 of 25

Questions to ask when scripting

  1. Transcribe

Tools…

​

  • Premiere Pro (included in subscription) - export text script as word doc

​

  • Otter.ai (limited free options)

​

  • Microsoft Word “transcribe” tool (included)

​

  • Trint.com (paid)

​

3 of 25

students won’t want to….

Transcribing Video 2 min cut_EHS013018.mp4

​

​

​

​

​

​

4 of 25

  • What is the story about?
  • What is the story NOT about?
  • Return to/rewrite your blurb
  • What facts/context does the viewer need?
  • What soundbites show emotion and reaction?

Questions to ask when scripting

If you are lucky, you got:

  • 80 % what you wanted
  • 20 % that you never anticipated
  • 20 % is missing

5 of 25

Headline + Blurb

Merging his passions for engineering and photography, Soren Goldsmith creates custom camera traps to shine a light on hidden wildlife in endangered salt marsh ecosystems in Massachusetts

Engineering student builds custom cameras to capture photos of endangered wildlife

6 of 25

Questions to ask when scripting

2. Highlight “best bites”

  • Read/listen to your transcript

  • Don’t get highlighter happy! <20% transcript

​

​

7 of 25

​

What do I highlight?

  1. What can the subject say that no one else can?

​

    • Look for keywords: “I think…I feel…”
    • Emotion! Laughs, smiles, tears
    • Soundbites that excite you!
  • Bites that answer those “who, what where when why” questions

​

    • We need essential info in our final project
    • VO can cover some of this, but not all
  • Discuss choices as a team

8 of 25

​

What do I highlight?

9 of 25

Questions to ask when scripting

3. Print, highlight, & cut up your transcript

  • Print out your transcript

  • Cut out your highlights

​

  • Now you have a pile of gold “best sound bites”

​

10 of 25

11 of 25

Questions to ask when scripting

3. Arrange your “best bites” aka “your gold”

  • Start and end with strongest bites
    • Did we get “the perfect bite?”

  • Start with something surprising, unique

​

  • Think about beginning, middle, end

​

  • Write in where VO can go

12 of 25

Questions to ask when scripting

Lay a “path of gold”

  • Take your “pile of gold” (aka your best soundbites)
  • Keep your audience interested by laying a path of gold to tell your story
  • Finally, fill in key details/context in between your gold.

​

Note: this is the opposite of writing a research paper or an article, where you’d first write information and then insert quotes. Start with your best sound bites/quotes as the backbone of the story, and then fill in the rest!

​

13 of 25

Writing voice over (if needed)

  1. Lay out all your bites in the best order
  2. Figure out what is missing and absolutely must be said by VO
    1. Doesn’t make sense for the characters to say it
    2. Too complicated (bite needs to be shortened)
  3. Write “fake” VO to show yourself what needs to be said between your bites/broll
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 until you feel the story makes sense
  5. Read it out loud and make edits

​

14 of 25

Just a few more tips …

  • Clarity > creativity
  • Make sure to note who is speaking in each bite
  • Keep timecodes intact
  • Identify repetitive sound bites → don’t throw them out
  • Read script out loud as you go

​

​

​

15 of 25

16 of 25

Questions to ask when scripting

17 of 25

Writing vo (voice over) - You are the Narrator

VO is connective tissue that weaves it all together

VO is a way to fill in holes, move story along

VO is written by you, so it should sound like you

Write to the bite that’s coming. Explain terms.

SHOW me, don’t tell me (unless you have to)

Try NOT to start your story with VO (if possible)

​

18 of 25

Keep in mind...

VO sets up sound bite and DOES NOT repeat it

Always be intentional

When in doubt, cut it (kill your …)(make air, not art)

VO narration should be third person

Lay a path of gold coins to keep your audience engaged

​

19 of 25

QUESTIONS TO ASK IF YOU ARE AIMING FOR PBS NEWS

​

  • Do we see and hear young people?
  • Are there different perspectives?
  • Does every part advance the story?
  • Does it meet NewsHour and SRL journalism standards (accurate, fair, creates empathy and/or curiosity)?

20 of 25

Don’t forget …

  • Accept others’ ideas → you can always change it back
  • Take a step away when you need to

​

​

​

21 of 25

Think of it as a wonderful, maddening puzzle!

​

22 of 25

23 of 25

It’s going to be ok!

​

24 of 25

Logging B-roll

Description of footage

Timecode

File name

(Do not rename it)

CAM source

25 of 25