Writing for Visual Media

by Friedmann

• ISBN13: 9780240803876
• ISBN10: 0240803876
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-23
• Publisher: Elsevier Science

Summary

Writing for Visual Media focuses on the fundamental problems faced by writers beginning to create content for media that is to be seen rather than read. This book takes the student from basic concepts to a first level of practice through an explicit method that trains students to consistently identify a communications problem, think it through, and find a resolution before beginning to write. Through successive exercises, it helps them acquire the skill and confidence they need to write effective films, corporate and training videos, documentary, ads, PSAs, tv series and other types of visual narrative. Writing for Visual Media also has a chapter on writing for interactive media, including promotions, instructional programs, and games. the book makes the student aware of current electronic writing tools and scriptwriting software through a companion CD-ROM, which offers links to demos and enriches the content of the printed book with video, audio, and sample scripts.

Table of Contents

CD-ROM to Accompany Printed Book	xv
Acknowledgments	xvii
Introduction	xix
PART I Defining the Problem	1	(60)
Describing One Medium Through Another	3	(12)
Writing Not to Be Read But to Be Made	3	(1)
Writing, Producing, and Directing	3	(2)
Moving from Being a Viewer to Being a Creator	5	(1)
The Producer Cannot Read Your Mind	5	(1)
Instructions to the Production Crew	6	(1)
What Is the Role of a Scriptwriter?	6	(1)
The ``Script'' Writer Is a New Kind of Writer	6	(1)
What Is Visual Writing?	7	(2)
Where Do We Go from Here?	9	(1)
Differences Compared to Stage Plays	10	(1)
Writing with Dialogue	10	(1)
Writing without Dialogue	11	(2)
Conclusion	13	(1)
Exercises	13	(1)
Endnotes	14	(1)
Describing Sight and Sound	15	(14)
Describing Time and Place	15	(1)
Describing Action	16	(2)
Describing the Camera Frame or the Shot	18	(1)
Camera Shots	18	(1)
Describing Camera Movement	19	(1)
Describing Graphics and Effects	20	(1)
Describing Transitions between Shots	21	(2)
Describing Sound	23	(1)
Shot, Scene, and Sequence	24	(1)
Finding a Format for the Page	25	(1)
Master Scene Script	25	(1)
Dual-Column Format	25	(1)
Storyboarding	26	(1)
Conclusion	26	(1)
Exercises	27	(2)
The Stages of Script Development	29	(12)
Background Research and Investigation	29	(3)
Brainstorming and Freeing Your Imagination	32	(1)
Concept	32	(1)
A Concept for a PSA: Smoked to Death	33	(1)
Pitching	33	(1)
Treatment	34	(1)
A Treatment for a PSA: Smoked to Death	34	(1)
First Draft Script	34	(3)
A First Draft Script for a PSA: Smoked to Death	35	(2)
Voice Narration and Dialogue	37	(1)
Revision	38	(1)
Final Draft	39	(1)
Shooting Script	39	(1)
Conclusion	39	(1)
Exercises	40	(1)
Endnotes	40	(1)
A Seven-Step Method for Developing a Creative Concept	41	(20)
Define the Communication Problem	42	(3)
Ivy College: An Admissions Video	42	(1)
American Express: American Travel in Europe	43	(1)
PSA for Battered Women	44	(1)
Shell Gas International	44	(1)
Define the Target Audience	45	(6)
Demographics	46	(1)
Psychographics	47	(4)
Define the Objective	51	(1)
Define the Strategy	52	(1)
Define the Content	53	(1)
Define the Appropriate Medium	54	(1)
Define the Concept	55	(3)
A Concept for an Anti-Smoking PSA	57	(1)
Conclusion	58	(1)
Exercises	59	(2)
PART II Solving Communication Problems with Visual Media	61	(60)
ADS and PSAS	63	(16)
Copywriting versus Scriptwriting	63	(1)
Client Needs and Priorities	64	(1)
The 20-, 30-, and 60-Second Playlets	65	(1)
Devices to Capture Audience Attention	65	(11)
Humor	72	(1)
Shock	73	(1)
Suspense	73	(1)
Drama	73	(1)
Kids	74	(1)
Testimonial	74	(1)
Special Effects	75	(1)
Sexuality	75	(1)
Recruiting the Audience as a Character	76	(1)
Mixing Devices and Techniques	76	(1)
Infomercials	76	(1)
Video News Releases	77	(1)
Formats	77	(1)
Conclusion	77	(1)
Exercises	78	(1)
Corporate Video	79	(22)
Typical Corporate Communication Problems	80	(2)
Meetings with a Visual Focus	82	(1)
Getting Background and Product Knowledge	83	(1)
Using Subject Matter Experts	84	(1)
Video versus Print Media or Interactive Media	84	(1)
Video as a Corporate Communications Tool	85	(1)
Corporate Television	86	(1)
Script Formats for Corporate Videos	86	(1)
Developing the Script with Client Input	87	(1)
Length, Pacing, and Corporate Style	87	(1)
Devices That Work for Corporate Messages	87	(10)
Dramatization	88	(1)
Humor	88	(1)
Visual Metaphor	89	(3)
Narrators/Anchors on Camera	92	(1)
Television Formats	93	(1)
Documentary	93	(1)
Vox Pops	94	(1)
Logical Argument in Documentary Narrative	95	(1)
Graphics	95	(1)
Visual Seduction	96	(1)
Interviews	96	(1)
Case Histories	96	(1)
The Story of the Day	97	(1)
Selling Creative Ideas	97	(1)
Working with Budget Limitations	98	(1)
Conclusion	98	(1)
Exercises	98	(1)
Endnotes	99	(2)
Training and Educational Video	101	(8)
Formative Evaluation	102	(1)
Summative Evaluation	102	(1)
Focus Groups	102	(1)
Questionnaires	103	(1)
Traditional Devices for Training Videos	103	(1)
Show and Tell	103	(1)
Job and Task Description	104	(1)
Devices That Teach and Entertain	104	(2)
Dramatization	104	(1)
Educational/Instructional Use of Video	105	(1)
How-to-Do-It Videos	106	(1)
Interactive Applications	106	(1)
Conclusion	107	(1)
Exercises	107	(2)
Documentaries and Nonfictional Narratives	109	(12)
Documentary Comes First	109	(3)
What Is the Role of the Writer?	110	(1)
Scripted and Unscripted Approaches	111	(1)
Research and Formulating a Theme	111	(1)
Types of Documentary Technique	112	(4)
Reportage	112	(1)
Observation	112	(1)
Interviews	113	(1)
Investigative Documentary	113	(1)
Narrative Documentary	113	(1)
Dramatized Documentary	114	(1)
Expository Documentary	114	(1)
Propaganda	115	(1)
Other Documentary Applications	116	(1)
Expedition Documentary	116	(1)
Travel Documentary	116	(1)
Documentary about the Making of Feature Films	116	(1)
Wildlife Documentary	116	(1)
Current Affairs Features	116	(1)
Writing Commentaries	116	(3)
Narrative Voice-Over and Postproduction	116	(1)
Wall-to-Wall Commentary	117	(1)
Commentary Counterpoint	117	(1)
Commentary Anchors	117	(1)
Dual Commentators	117	(1)
Commentary Cliches	118	(1)
On-Camera/Off-Camera Combinations	118	(1)
Conclusion	119	(1)
Exercises	120	(1)
Endnotes	120	(1)
PART III Entertaining with Visual Media	121	(62)
Dramatic Structure and Form	123	(18)
Origins of Drama	123	(1)
Conflict	123	(2)
Three Act Structures for Film and Television	125	(3)
Other Narrative Structures	128	(5)
The Flashback	129	(1)
Genres	130	(3)
Script Development	133	(6)
The Premise	134	(1)
Concept or Synopsis	134	(1)
Writing a Movie Treatment	135	(1)
Screenplay	136	(2)
Master Scene Script Format	138	(1)
Scripting Software	138	(1)
Conclusion	139	(1)
Exercises	139	(1)
Endnotes	140	(1)
Writing Techniques for Long-Form Scripts	141	(24)
Characters and Character	141	(1)
Dialogue and Action	142	(3)
Plot or Storyline	145	(1)
Comedy	145	(1)
Drama	146	(1)
Story Engines	146	(1)
Adaptation	147	(1)
Length	148	(1)
Point of View	148	(1)
Setting and Period	149	(1)
Dialogue versus Action	150	(1)
Descriptive Detail and the Camera Frame	151	(1)
Implied Action	152	(1)
New Characters	152	(5)
Bartleby	157	(5)
Conclusion	162	(1)
Exercises	162	(1)
Endnotes	163	(2)
Television Series, Sitcoms, and Soaps	165	(18)
The Premise for Series, Sitcoms, and Soaps	166	(1)
Three-Act Structure and the TV Time Slot	167	(2)
Using Commercial Breaks	169	(1)
Visualizing for the Small Screen	169	(1)
TV Dialogue	170	(2)
Realism	170	(1)
Breaking Up Dialogue	170	(2)
Pacing	172	(1)
Hook	172	(1)
Team Writing	172	(1)
The Series Bible	172	(1)
Condensing Action and Plot	173	(1)
Target Audience	173	(1)
Script Formats for Television	173	(1)
Comedy and Its Devices	174	(6)
Running Gags	174	(5)
Visual Gags	179	(1)
Double Takes	180	(1)
One-Liners	180	(1)
New Techniques and Innovations	180	(3)
Spec Scripts	181	(1)
Conclusion	181	(1)
Exercises	182	(1)
Endnotes	182	(1)
PART IV Writing for Interactive Multimedia	183	(20)
Nonlinear Programs for New Media	185	(18)
Instructional and Utilitarian Programs	185	(1)
Defining Interactive	185	(1)
Linear and Nonlinear Paradigms	186	(1)
Combining Media for Interactive Use	187	(3)
Breakdown of Script Formats	190	(3)
Branching	191	(1)
Flowcharts	192	(1)
Storyboards	193	(1)
Authoring Tools and Interactive Concepts	193	(1)
Education and Training	194	(1)
Interactive Reference Works	195	(1)
Interactive Books	195	(1)
Writing for Web Sites	196	(1)
Games, Narrative, and Entertainment	197	(2)
Interactive Television	197	(1)
Video Games	198	(1)
Graphics versus Live Action	199	(1)
Computer Platforms and Capabilities	199	(1)
Multimedia Components	199	(1)
Finding a Script Format	200	(1)
Conclusion	200	(1)
Exercises	201	(1)
Endnotes	201	(2)
PART V Anticipating Professional Issues	203	(18)
You Can Get Paid to do This	205	(16)
Writing for the Entertainment World	205	(9)
Writing Contracts	206	(1)
Pitching	207	(2)
Ideology, Morality, and Content	209	(2)
Emotional Honesty and Sentimentality	211	(3)
Writing for the Corporate World	214	(2)
Client Relationships	214	(1)
Corporate Contracts	215	(1)
Marketing Yourself and Your Work	216	(4)
Copyright	216	(2)
Agents and Submissions	218	(1)
Networking, Conventions, and Seminars	218	(1)
Surfing the Web	219	(1)
Hybrid Careers	219	(1)
Conclusion	220	(1)
Exercises	220	(1)
Endnotes	220	(1)
Appendix: Script Formats	221	(8)
Dual Column: PSA, Documentary, Corporate	221	(1)
Master Scene Script: Feature Film for Cinema and Television	222	(1)
Scene Script, Version 1: Television Sitcoms and Series	223	(1)
Scene Script, Version 2: Television Sitcoms and Series	224	(1)
Interactive Game Script	224	(5)
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations	229	(8)
Bibliography	237	(6)
Index	243