These “tips” are designed for those of you who need to interact with talent; either on-camera or voice over.
When preparing a script, avoid any formats like PDF or Excel and instead stick to MS Word if at all possible or a txt file. If using MS Word, save as Word 97-2003 compatibility. This allows talent to more easily open their scripts and to change fonts or font size, if needed to whatever they are most comfortable working with. And since very often, the agents, or talent will read off screen or simply print out your script as is, when you put the script together, use double spacing or at least line and half and make the font at least 12 point. Avoid having lines break in the middle of a sentence, parenthetical
phrase etc., unless that part would represent a natural place where one might pause. Also, avoid using the highlighter function, because when you print the script out on a laser printer it will show up as a heavy gray and makes the words underneath more difficult to read. Also, make sure your script is clean. If it has been marked up by committees, make sure to cut and paste a clean copy.
Many of us leave MS Word on track changes and you probably don’t want all of that information out there for the world to see. One script I had recently had all of the charges to the client in the marked-up version.
Before you send the script out, read it out loud and record yourself. Even if it’s just a cheap mic built into a webcam or a recording made on your I-Phone. It’s important that you get an understanding for how the piece flows and times out. It’s not good enough to time out the script reading it to yourself. If this is something you can’t do, then use the features in Windows or Macs to do text-to-speech. It ain’t the best, but it will give you an idea as to if your script is over or under written, pick out alliteration and so forth. Nobody but you needs to hear these “scratch tracks”.
Standard timing for radio/ tv is 15 lines for 60 second spots or around 160 words and 7.5 lines or around 78 words for 30 second spots. (12 point Times Roman on 8 1/2 X 11” paper) Obviously this is a guideline and Medical/ Hospital reads tend to have 120 -130 words or less for 60 seconds, while retail and automotive may have 180 – 200 words per minute.
I’m always happy to offer suggestions and support at no charge. If anyone wants to bounce something off of me, email
jsgilbert@pacbell.net
Coming Soon: Tips for directing on-camera and voice-over commercial, corporate and interactive projects.
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Hey this is great advice … didn’t know this. I don’t work in the industry but do support it so it’s great to know this stuff. Thanks.
SJ