Taking into account the example posted on writing a short video script, I wanted try and emulate the same format, but the final version does, of course, have my own personal spin on it. It should be noted that while the example is split into separate visual and audio section, I've tried to combine the two. The reason being that, audio wise, there would simply be some type of music playing throughout the piece. No dialogue, no narration. That said, enjoy this script for a ski season trailer which I'll hope make sometime this winter!
Open
Fade in from black to panoramic shot of popular ski resort (Whistler, Lake Louise, etc). Sweep from left to right, duration of 3-5 seconds. Fade out to black. Accompanying audio = one resting heart beat during initial fade in.
Fade in from black to POV shot (from either helmet or ski. same accompanying audio). Video should be subtle action... skiing to the lift or being scooped up by it. Fade out to black. Duration: 3-5 seconds
Body
Black background. All that is present is a quote that gradually gets larger on screen before fading out to black; something that invokes a sense of adventure. (i.e. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all). Duration: 5 seconds.
Immediately cut to video. Opening shot should be fast, preferably sped up. This section should include arriving at the base lodge, buying the tickets, getting geared up, getting on the lift, and getting off at the top of the mountain. This should all be sped up to fit within a 15 second time frame. Accompanying audio - Gimme Love by The Vines from the moment we cut to the sped up video. Duration: 15 seconds
Dissolve to POV Helmet shot. Camera should be inverted so we can see the face of the skier or snowboarder going down the trail. Duration: 15 Seconds
Jump cut to POV ski shot. The viewer should feel like they are directly on the ground Duration: 10 Seconds
Jump cut to secondary camera shot. Should be as if we're behind the skier following him, mimicking his movements. Duration: 10 Seconds
Dissolve to stunts. A mix of Terrain park, jumps, and glade skiing slowed down to half speed with lens glare. The skier should be backlit by the sun if shooting from a downward angle. Fade out to black. Duration: 30 Seconds.
Cut to POV Helmet shot once more. Same as above; camera should be inverted so we can see the face of the skier or snowboarder going down the trail. Duration: 20 Seconds.
Final Shot
Dissolve to downward angle shot. Camera should be placed at base of the trail, tracking the skier as he comes down. Skier should stop right before the camera, spraying it with snow, big smile on his face as he comes back into focus. Music should be ending at the point. As the music fades out, video fades out to black, skier still smiling. Duration: 10 seconds.
Very cool. In my envisioning of the assignment I thought the script had to have words and a narration but I like how you made it something in your subject area. I don't suppose people do much talking when they're zipping down slopes.
ReplyDeleteI guess one question I have is what the purpose of the script would be. is it so the viewer can experience the thrill of skiing or did you have a different message in mind?
All of the crazy camera shots reminded me of Jump City parkour.
You seem to have a real idea of what you want this trailer to be from an experience perspective but I think your script leaves too much open to interpretation. You give a lot of options within the script as to what the scene could include. I think a script should be more commanding and specific. The director might change it but let them decide that later.
ReplyDeleteGreat start!
I like your passion Skier. I like your command of the pacing. This isn’t your typical script format, but you still get your ideas across to me.
ReplyDeleteYou structure your script like an essay, with an opening, body and close. That is how I want you to think of a script, a scene, or a commercial. Video and audio, images and sounds, are just other ways to express words in a sentence. You have information you want to get across, a thesis and argument, and you can use whatever media is available to you. Your experience with ski videos gives you some good insight into these possibilities.
I appreciate your leaving some of your options and shot choices open. A script is a blueprint and we can’t really judge a final draft until we have the visual, edited and burned on a DVD. I will suggest that while it is more work to script every choice in advance, it is also more enriching. The more choices that you imagine and consider in advance, the more options you create in your mind and the more prepared you are on arrival. I’m all for improvisation, but a highly detailed and specific script, even one eventually thrown away, prepares you more than just saying I’ll figure it out later.
The best thing for a round of improvisation is a tremendous amount of preparation. Ask any stand-up comic.
Lastly, you mention Warren Miller in your social media post. Warren gave the world ski movies and to some extent extreme sports filmmaking. You respect his work to the point you want to emulate him. But to paraphrase a former professor of mine: the world already has a Warren Miller. What does a Vermont Skier film look like?
Don’t be afraid to veer away from your idols as much as you learn from them.
Good work.