Script/Board breakdown

[Yenaphe]

Using the app, I stumbled upon an unexpected issue. On a shot, I drew a few boards, but I wanted to add extra info for my co-director.

I had only 2 ways to do that: write it on the boards, or write it in the screenplay itself, but that wasn't optimal. That's where the technical/breakdown sheet idea came from.

When I have a director, or a supervisor reviewing my boards, I need them (or I need to give them) more info on the shot, such as props, location information (for scouting), vfx, practical effects, list of cast/character, needs for extras, music cues, review notes, camera infos, etc...

Part of this info could be done automatically, as location/characters info are already in the script/logline, but part of it needs to be done by hand. I could see these info in a table under the boards (along with the scene/board synopsis).

This breakdown could be exported to pdf/csv/whatever for further analysis by the AD.

[setpixel]

Can you give us an example of what the best breakdown would look like?

[Yenaphe]

Here is the actual Breakdown template I'm using on Mythomen: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8669904/MythomenBreakdown.pdf

[ericalba]

hi, if you're not using software to generate the breakdown automatically (movie magic), the old school way is to hand write into blank forms as you as a producer or AD reads and breaks down each scene/shot.

here is a traditional example that has a box for almost every major department

http://www.illclan.com/ScriptBreakdownFilm.jpg

note that this is a very basic template and most people would adjust those boxes if certain films or scenes are heavy in one department (eg "visual effects, wardrobe, extras).

Stu/ProLost does use a markup within fountain to create "shot notes" and thus a "shot list" that's invisible to the screenplay format but can print or be viewed. link http://slugline.co/blog/shotlists

you could theoretically, add onto that markup by adding an abbreviation code to note departmental items: MX (music), VFX (Visual Effects), SFX (Special Effects), WRD (Wardrobe), PRP (Props), etc.

babbling now, hope that makes sense.

[setpixel]

@ericalba Do you have an example of a movie magic script breakdown?

[ericalba]

i don't and haven't used that software personally for many years. but the output is not too different than traditional breakdown sheets. but it can be customized output as well. as long as it's readable.

[Yenaphe]

Awesome @ericalba ! I completely forgot about Stu shotlist.

[setpixel]

Well - sweet, I've watched videos on youtube of MM and Final Draft Tagger.

First, storyboards can be thought of as a shot list. The only difference is that you could actually have many boards per one shot for the action. So there should be a way to say "This is one shot" so a shot list can easily be exported. Also, for DP notes, board specific information about camera/lighting can be added in the metadata. (This isn't in yet, but soon)

Let me paint the picture of how I think a breakdown tool should work (would love feedback):

Breakdowns are scene specific. So on the left side would be a list of all your scenes (an outline). Next pane would be the scene's breakdown information. Next would be a narrow pane of all the storyboards in that scene. The next pane would be the raw script text for that scene.

In the pane for the breakdown:

In a virgin scene (no breakdown yet), as much information that can be automatically extracted from the scene will be auto populated: Title, synopsis, script pages, location, int/ext, day/night, cast (speaking and present), props (reoccuring proper nouns), number of shots, which lenses, which lighting equipment.

Any of other metadata can be added for the fields:

Notes Cast Members Background Actors Extra Actors Stunts Vehicles Props Camera Special Effects Wardrobe Makeup/Hair Animals Sound Art Department Set Dressing Greenery Special Equipment Security Additional Labor Visual Effects Mechanical Effects Miscellaneous Costumes Livestock Animal Handler Optical Effects

Once you edit a field value, the data will be inserted into the script in the form of notes metadata:

[[type: breakdown, costumes: ['necklace','baseball hat (red)'], specialEffects: 'need to matchmove the shot and paint a new sky', .. ]]

In "Stats" there will be a tab for breakdown, to show you how complete your breakdown is.

When you are done, you can "Export breakdown". This will generate a pdf, and a mini website. You can save this to a shared Dropbox, so your crew will have a pdf, or an interactive breakdown link they can open in their browser that allows them to filter what they need to see.

What do you think?

[Yenaphe]

I think its awesome. One thing that could be great would be the ability to template the breakdown.

Either through a template editor, or just by automatically adding the fields added in previous scene/shot.

Also I'd love to have the ability to see both boards & breakdown in the player (if I choose so), making the technical review simpler, even more in a distant relationship. For instance, my co-director is in Poland, thus making it complicated to review together on the same location.