Step-by-step Professional Video Preparation Series: Script writing for a short video

We are living in a time when it’s never been easier to write a script; from free online software such as Arc Studio, Casualty, and DramaQueen, to more advanced software like Final Draft, to watching screenwriting classes from online sources such as Masterclass and YouTube, to using new AI programs such as ChatGPT to create a script for you! Although ChatGPT is not fool-proof… 

Filming anything is never just about the film itself. It is important to think linearly, and we know from experience that a well-written video script will not only make the post-production process a lot easier, but more importantly, it will uphold the essence of what you actually want to say. 

Whether you’re promoting your business, creating a music video, teaching people how to cook or something else; scriptwriting seems like a step you can easily skip. But bear in mind that a script is a tool which will help the other people working on your project to keep on-track, and will also help your audience understand the message you are delivering.

Here are some tips to guide you through the scriptwriting process:

1. Create your purpose. 

As in previous blog posts, it is worth your time to focus for a moment on your content brief by clarifying your goals. Are you offering a service or education? Are you promoting a call to action or creating a piece of art? Reflecting on your purpose from the start is the most important and time-saving preparation you can do to establish the mission of your video.

2. Identify your audience.

Even if your goal is to reach as many people as possible, it is important to consider who you are talking to and how they might receive your message. In this case, it is helpful to have an example by looking at what is already out there. If market research seems out of reach, even something like social media can help you identify who is buying what you are selling or why they are not. You don’t need to have every detail figured out, but coming to the table ready with examples helps identify your goal and describe who it’s for.

3. Show the problem, then the solution.

You can frame your whole script on presenting a problem, and then its answer. This is especially useful if you’re experiencing writer’s block. For example:

• “Are you lacking social media engagement? We can show you how to increase your followers.”
• “Would you like to know more about the performing arts? Here is why our performances are different from others.”
• “Would you like to be involved in educating young people? Our program offers teaching methodologies that will change future generations.”

See if you can create your own problem to solve, and then use it to flesh out the rest of your script. 

4. Tell a story.

This is where viewers will connect with your brand, your product, or your message.

You’re attempting to gain trust through the personalisation of your goals. You might add information about your own journey and why you yourself got involved with your topic. That said, the goal of being relatable should remain concise and focused on the take-aways, so once you have expanded on your own experience, try to leave out long-winded explanations and identify what is essential.

5. Stay on point.

The internet is full of content and distractions! Whether you’re making a how-to video or trying to persuade your viewers to think differently about a topic, the point is to make it easy for viewers to stay focused on the topic at hand rather than tackling too many things at once. The benefit of writing a video script is that you can carefully craft the exact language to deliver a single, powerful message. Keep your message streamlined so the people watching the video get what they came for, and don’t go looking elsewhere to find it. As a rule of thumb, one minute of video is around 160 to 180 words.

6. Edit your script.

Every single word in your script must hold meaning. Staying critical about your writing will help pair things down and make the output flow better. We always find it helpful to read everything we write out loud, by ourselves or to trusted colleagues, friends and family. If you are in a space that doesn’t allow noise, you can pop in an earbud and use the speech function on your computer to listen back to your content. Identify any awkward wording or run-on sentences, or where dialogue should be stronger in the parts of the script that need it. 

Despite our iPhones making video production look simple, professional video is a layered  process which offers more detailed results. Our goal is to help your project succeed by foreseeing the pitfalls of being unprepared. DMV productions would be happy to help you  create a script that makes your message shine when it comes time to film, edit and hit send to your viewers! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for any of your script writing questions.