Final draft notes and tips for production

Today's workshop revolved around how to sufficiently produce a script and included tips on organising production. 

Scripting:

• Number scenes
• Divide scripts into 8ths of a page as this helps you to figure out how long a scene will take in terms of filming (i.e. 1 and 3/8ths of a page may take 3 days to film)
• Highlight words/tag (as it is referred to on Final Draft) and use script breakdown sheets to make notes. i.e. writing the cast for particular scenes, a description, the scene number and page, whether the setting is interior/exterior, day/night, any special props or equipment needed in the scene, stunts/backgrounds, and general production notes etc.) You can use the tagging device on Final Draft called "Smart Type" to highlight all of these aspects of the script, and can then transfer them into scheduling and budgeting programmes to speed up these processes.
• Final Draft is also especially useful for ordering the layout of a script.

Strip board/Schedule:

• Each strip is a different colour and represents a factor which you can move around the schedule. (i.e. ext day = blue, int day = purple, ext night = red, int night = green etc)
• Allows you to work out your actors availability and locations especially. 
• Days = black and white strips

                     

Types of pay:

• Below the line: Daily/Weekly/Monthly pay (i.e. extra's)
• Above the line: Flat rates of pay (i.e. Director, Producer, DOP, main cast [maybe])