BREAKING DOWN
THE SCRIPT
WHY BREAK DOWN A
SCREENPLAY?
WHY BREAK DOWN A
SCREENPLAY?
• TO DETERMINE ALL THE NEEDS OF
PRODUCTION
WHY BREAK DOWN A
SCREENPLAY?
• TO DETERMINE ALL THE NEEDS OF
PRODUCTION
• TO CREATE A SCHEDULE
WHY BREAK DOWN A
SCREENPLAY?
• TO DETERMINE ALL THE NEEDS OF
PRODUCTION
• TO CREATE A SCHEDULE
• TO CREATE BUDGET
WHY BREAK DOWN A
SCREENPLAY?
• TO DETERMINE ALL THE NEEDS OF
PRODUCTION
• TO CREATE A SCHEDULE
• TO CREATE BUDGET
• TO CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• PRODUCER
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• PRODUCER
– TO DETERMINE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• PRODUCER
– TO DETERMINE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
– TO UNDERSTAND INTIMATELY THE
PROJECT
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• PRODUCER
– TO DETERMINE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
– TO UNDERSTAND INTIMATELY THE
PROJECT
– TO SUPERVISE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• PRODUCER
– TO DETERMINE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
– TO UNDERSTAND INTIMATELY THE
PROJECT
– TO SUPERVISE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
– TO SUPERVISE PRODUCTION MANAGER
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
– TO SCHEDULE PRODUCTION
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
– TO SCHEDULE PRODUCTION
• ACTORS / LOCATIONS / CREW
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
– TO SCHEDULE PRODUCTION
• ACTORS / LOCATIONS / CREW
– TO KEEP TRACK OF SCHEDULE WHILE
IN PRODUCTION
WHO BREAKS DOWN
THE SCRIPT?
• 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
– TO SCHEDULE PRODUCTION
• ACTORS / LOCATIONS / CREW
– TO KEEP TRACK OF SCHEDULE WHILE
IN PRODUCTION
– TO MAKE CHANGES AS SCHEDULE
CHANGES OCCUR
ITEMS NEEDED
• SCRIPT FORMATTED (FINAL DRAFT) 8 INCH PAGE
• 1 Set OF 8 COLOR HIGHLIGHTERS
• 1 RULER
• 1 #2 PENCIL + SHARPENER
• 1 ERASER
• TAPE
BREAKING DOWN THE SCRIPT
• READ SCRIPT AT LEAST ONCE STRAIGHT
THROUGH BEFORE STARTING
BREAKING DOWN THE SCRIPT
• DETERMINE LENGTH OF EACH SCENE IN
THE SCRIPT
– DRAW A LINE ACROSS 1/8” ABOVE THE SCENE
HEADING
– READ THE SCENE UNTIL YOU DETERMINE THE
END OF THE SCENE
– DRAW A LINE ACROSS 1/8” BELOW THE END OF
THE SCENE
BREAKING DOWN THE SCRIPT
• AFTER THE SCRIPT IS LINED FULLY
RETURN TO THE BEGINNIGN IN ORDER TO
DETERMINE TOTAL PAGE COUNT.
BREAKING DOWN THE SCRIPT
• AFTER THE SCRIPT IS LINED FULLY
RETURN TO THE BEGINNIGN IN ORDER TO
DETERMINE TOTAL PAGE COUNT
– EACH EACH PAGE IS MEASURED AS 8 / 8 (8
INCHES)
BREAKING DOWN THE SCRIPT
• AFTER THE SCRIPT IS LINED FULLY
RETURN TO THE BEGINNIGN IN ORDER TO
DETERMINE TOTAL PAGE COUNT
– EACH EACH PAGE IS MEASURED AS 8 / 8 (8
INCHES)
– EACH 1/8 IS APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH
BREAKING DOWN THE SCRIPT
• AFTER THE SCRIPT IS LINED FULLY
RETURN TO THE BEGINNIGN IN ORDER TO
DETERMINE TOTAL PAGE COUNT
– EACH EACH PAGE IS MEASURED AS 8 / 8 (8
INCHES)
– EACH 1/8 IS APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH
– *THE GENERAL RULE IS THAT 1 PAGE (OR 8 / 8)
WILL APPROXIMATELY EQUAL 1 MINUTE OF
SCREEN TIME
BREAKING DOWN THE SCRIPT
• USE HIGHLIGHTERS / PENCIL / RULER TO
MARK EACH ELEMENT IN THE SCENE
THAT SHOULD BE NOTED
• AFTER BREAKING DOWN THE ENTIRE
SCRIPT, ENTER THE INFORMATION INTO
BREAK DOWN SHEETS