Introduction 3
What is a Script Supervisor, and how do you become one? First, take a quick quiz to see how much you know about this department. Then I'll introduce the job, and what to expect from this course.
- Script Supervisor Pre-Quiz 3 questionsQuiz1.1
- Welcome to Script Supervising 04 minLecture1.1
- What to Expect From this Course 02 minLecture1.2
Pre-Production 4
Find out what types of projects a script supervisor can work on, tips on interviewing with a director, and what to expect at an All Hands meeting. Then take a quiz to see what you learned.
- Type of projects 06 minLecture2.1
- Interviewing with the Director 05 minLecture2.2
- All Hands Meeting 04 minLecture2.3
- Pre-production quiz 3 questionsQuiz2.1
Breaking down the script 8
Everything you need to do to prep for a shoot.
- DOWNLOAD: Breakdown TemplateLecture3.1
- Reading then Re-Reading 09 minLecture3.2
- Breakdown Categories, Eighths, and ERT 06 minLecture3.3
- Timing (ERT) – Narrative Scripts 03 minLecture3.4
- Timing (ERT) – Commercials 03 minLecture3.5
- Distro Formatting (Google Drive/Dropbox Setup) 03 minLecture3.6
- Table Reads 03 minLecture3.7
- Breaking down the script quiz 4 questionsQuiz3.1
Kit and Supplies 3
Let's talk about what supplies you'll need in your kit.
- Essentials for the Handwritten Script Supervisor 06 minLecture4.1
- Essentials for the Digital Script Supervisor 10 minLecture4.2
- What Production Supplies 02 minLecture4.3
Continuity 11
How much is covered under continuity, and what you need to watch for.
- Dialogue 06 minLecture5.1
- Line! Corrections, Off Camera, and Readings 05 minLecture5.2
- Match Action 04 minLecture5.3
- Prop Continuity 03 minLecture5.4
- Hand Gestures 02 minLecture5.5
- Block Shooting 04 minLecture5.6
- Frame Matching 05 minLecture5.7
- The 180 Line 02 minLecture5.8
- Timing Takes 04 minLecture5.9
- Shorthand 02 minLecture5.10
- Continuity quiz 5 questionsQuiz5.1
Reports 10
These are in the order you'll be running them. and need to be uploaded every night after wrap.
- DOWNLOADS: Reports TemplatesLecture6.1
- Lunch Report 02 minLecture6.2
- Progress Report 02 minLecture6.3
- Editors Log 02 minLecture6.4
- Facing Pages 02 minLecture6.5
- Lined Script Pages 02 minLecture6.6
- Full Report/Photo Log 02 minLecture6.7
- Wild Track Log 01 minLecture6.8
- Secondary Reports 02 minLecture6.9
- Reports quiz 2 questionsQuiz6.1
A Day in the Life 15
From arriving at call time, to running your wrap reports, this is a day in the life of a script supervisor.
- Getting Materials 02 minLecture7.1
- Where to Set Up 02 minLecture7.2
- Prepping Materials 03 minLecture7.3
- Rehearsals & Blocking 03 minLecture7.4
- First Shot + Shot List 02 minLecture7.5
- Flipping the World 02 minLecture7.6
- Scene Complete & Owed Shots List 02 minLecture7.7
- Line Reading with Talent 02 minLecture7.8
- Circle Prints 03 minLecture7.9
- How to Take a Break 02 minLecture7.10
- Matching to Previous Scenes 02 minLecture7.11
- Dialogue, Alts, and Adlibs 04 minLecture7.12
- Lunch Report & First Shot After 02 minLecture7.13
- Daily Wrap Reports 02 minLecture7.14
- A Day in the Life Quiz 4 questionsQuiz7.1
Slating 5
- Slating basics (narrative) 03 minLecture8.1
- Advanced Slating 03 minLecture8.2
- Commercial Slating 02 minLecture8.3
- Time Code 02 minLecture8.4
- Slating Quiz 2 questionsQuiz8.1
Floor plans 1
Get ready to draw some bird's eye view layouts of the scene you're shooting. It's a lot of fun!
- Drawing a Floor Plan 02 minLecture9.1
Contracts and Forms 3
How to manage your freelance income.
- What Should Be in Your Contract 02 minLecture10.1
- Payroll vs Invoice Jobs 03 minLecture10.2
- Kit Rental Forms 05 minLecture10.3
Pay Rate 4
Daily vs Hourly, Union vs Non, Project type
- Guaranteed Hours 02 minLecture11.1
- Meal Penalties & Overtime 02 minLecture11.2
- Union jobs vs Non-Union jobs 01 minLecture11.3
- Flat Rate vs Hourly 02 minLecture11.4
Networking and landing a job 2
It's all about who you know, your reputation, and how to keep the momentum going when you're a freelancer.
- Tips to Landing the Next Job 02 minLecture12.1
- How to juggle more than one job opportunity at a time 02 minLecture12.2
Communication 1
Some guidelines I like to use on set to effective get my continuity point across, without losing my cool.
- How to Effectively Communicate Continuity Errors 02 minLecture13.1
Workshops 10
- Welcome! 01 minLecture14.1
- Breakdown 20 minLecture14.2
- Lunch Report 07 minLecture14.3
- Progress Report 10 minLecture14.4
- Editors Log 04 minLecture14.5
- Facing Pages 06 minLecture14.6
- Lined Script Pages 06 minLecture14.7
- Full Report (+ Photo Log) 02 minLecture14.8
- Wild Track Log 04 minLecture14.9
- Secondary ReportsLecture14.10
Congrats! 1
- You’re finished with the course! Now what?Lecture15.1
OPTIONAL: Tell me how you enjoyed the course 1
- Feedback on the course 6 questionsQuiz16.1
Match Action
The second most important thing to watch for is match action. This is where you make notes of how the actor walked, stood, used a prop, exited/entered, and other ways they moved their body. I suggest getting a short hand of symbols you can write in your notes/sides for this. I use a multi colored pen for this exact reason.
Whenever an actor stands, I’ll make an arrow pointing up. If an actor turns, I’ll make a circular arrow going either clockwise or counter clockwise. If they exit, I’ll write down “XOCR” for crossed out camera right. These are all symbols and abbreviations that I have in my legend, which I have in my shared Google Drive folder that the editors can access any time.
Feel free to use my shorthand (attached as a downloadable PDF) to get you started. You’ll also probably start making up your own shorthand/symbols too, which I encourage you to do. Add them to the legend, and send your editor a copy.
My multicolored pens are also vital to making sense of these symbols. I dedicate specific colors to certain takes. For example:
BLUE: take one
GREEN: take two
RED: take three
PINK: take four
LIGHT BLUE: take five
PURPLE: take six
LIGHT GREEN: take seven
BLACK: take eight and beyond
After a few takes of the same action, I start to circle my match action notes with the correct take color instead of writing them again and again. It’s faster, and keeps you available to watch for other moments that are different than the last.
The multi colored pens brand I use are HERE. My legend is available HERE.
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