Pre-production Diary: Script Breakdown
30 April 2007 in Blog | Comments enabled

Still looking for a location. We need a bookstore. I’m sure we’ll find one.

But that’s not what this post is about. This post is about the fun job of breaking down the script. Now most people may not know what a script breakdown is. Well, let me tell you. Breaking down the script is when you go through the script and figure out scene by scene what is required for that scene including actors, props, set dressing, specific wardrobe, vehicles, special FX, etc…

I think the AD usually does it but I’m not positive about that. For this film, I’m doing it because… well, no one else is going to do it. And I really enjoy organizing things. When I was a kid, I’d collect Star Wars cards (for gaming) but I just had fun organizing them into Rebels/Empire/Bounty Hunters/Jedi… Yeah, I was a BIG nerd. (WAS?)

I’m using a software that helps out a lot. Once I have it completely broken down, I’ll start the specific schedule of when we are shooting stuff. After the script breakdown is complete and the schedule is set, we’ll start working on getting props and specific things for the shoot.

In one scene, we need a picture of two of the actors who are supposed to be married in the film. That’s going to take getting them together, taking the picture, printing or developing the picture, and putting it in a frame. That’s just ONE of the MANY tasks we have to do for this film.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, we now have a title!!!! Read the scene below to find out what it is.

BILL
Hello Jack.

JACK
Hello Bill.

BILL
Have you seen the new Daws Brothers film?

JACK
Oh, you mean Dangerous Calling?

BILL
Yes, that’s the one.

JACK
I saw it last night with my girlfriend. We loved it.