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Speaker 2: Film production at any level is a complicated process. When working on your own, or even with a small team, there is a lot on your plate. The script breakdown, daunting as it may seem, is an integral part to keeping all of your ducks in a row. The organization a script breakdown brings will assist you in scheduling and budgeting, and it'll also help on the set in terms of giving your actors directions. Once you're done, you'll know the script inside and out. You'll have been forced to think through multiple ways you want a scene to play out, so you'll be able to handle any questions your actors have during filming. The first job is to get an idea of how many scenes you have and the projected run time and shoot time for each. To get started, you'll need to divide your properly formatted script into eights. This entails literally drawing straight lines across each page of your script, cutting the page into eight parts and numbering the scenes as you go. This process gives you a more accurate idea of how long individual scenes will be, how many you have, and approximately how long it will take to film each one. If you have a scene that runs into a second page, it's tempting to call it a page and a half. Measured out, however, it may be only one and two eighths. If there are only a couple lines of dialogue, then timing is shortened even more, so your page and a half realistically becomes one page in terms of set scheduling. When you're done measuring the eighths, it's time to figure out the different elements you're looking for within the script. These are the things you're breaking down. Think of these five. Number one, location and set dressing. It's important to know where you are going to be shooting and what kind of sets you'll need. Old-timey Western bars, for instance, will need specific props and set dressing. Number two, characters and extras. Knowing how many characters appeal in each scene and roughly how long they'll be on screen will aid in scheduling your actors. This part of the breakdown also forces you to think ahead about when you might need extras. Restaurants will likely have other patrons aside from your main cast, and party scenes aren't very convincing without guests. Number three, wardrobe and makeup. Where there's a cast, there'll be need for makeup and costuming. Keeping track of when characters need specific wardrobe or makeup eliminates on-set frustrations. Number four, special effects. If you know a scene will require special effects, practical, makeup, or computer-generated, mark it down. If you need blood packs or green screens, it's important to know beforehand. Number five, stunts and special equipment. If part of your scene requires stunt work or special tools, camera cranes, pulleys, and underwater rig, that's important to notate which scenes require them. Every script comes with its own requirements, changing the elements you're keeping track of. Different projects have different needs, and it's something to keep in mind when you're starting. That said, the list we provided includes fairly standard things to look out for every time. Now that you know what to look for, it's time to find them. Assign each element a specific color. Then, all you have to do is highlight the key words associated with those elements as you go through the script. Whether it's using actual highlighters or the highlight function on your screenwriting software, it's time to get colorful. Go through your entire script eighth by eighth and highlight all of the elements with the colors you've selected. Some parts may use multiple elements, in which case you'll use several colors to highlight. For instance, a single action may include stunts, makeup, and special equipment. Once the keywords are highlighted, log everything on your breakdown sheet. These don't have to be complicated, and there are plenty of templates out there to fit your needs. You need at least one sheet per scene, with text boxes for each element you're keeping track of. All you do is input the highlighted elements into the correct box on your sheet. Breakdown sheets are the accumulation of the work you've put into your script breakdown. They're a quick visual reminder of everything you'll need for a given scene within your script, giving you a better idea of the schedule and budget you'll need to account for. It's a lot of work, but there's no time to pat yourself on the back. After you're done, take everything you've gathered from your breakdown and put it to good use. Use the breakdown sheets to develop your scene strips and production board in order to earnestly begin working out your shooting schedule and budget. Once production begins, keep that colorful breakdown script handy. In the hustle and bustle on set, it's easy to forget elements and ideas from specific scenes. Keeping your breakdown close provides excellent reminders throughout the process in just about every phase of production. The work you put into the script breakdown will pay dividends.

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