 Creating a script. When setting out to create a video, the first thing you'll want to do is write a script. A script is a written outline of what you want to say in your video. It can also be used to describe in text what you want to have happening in your video. For example, images or text that will appear on screen. A script is a plan for your video and will save you a lot of time during filming and post-production. Whether you're writing a screenplay, TV show, a movie, or a short video for a class project, a good script makes all the difference. In this video, we will learn about scripting and how using a script will benefit your project and save you time. You may be wondering, what are the benefits of scripting a video project? For starters, they cover all the content you'll be using. Having a script helps to make sure you don't leave anything out. They also save time. Having a plan will make building your video quicker and easier. You'll likely need to reshoot scenes a couple of times before you get it right. If you have a script, it's easy to quickly do a retake. Scripts can also make group work easier. Everyone can see the same final vision of the project and understand how their pieces will fit together. Lastly, they help with accessibility. With content ready, you can easily provide a transcript and or close captioning later on, giving people more access options. No matter what they're for, scripts all contain the same types of information. They tell you who is speaking, what is being said, where it's being said, and other critical information. There are specific ways of formatting a professional script, say if you were submitting a screenplay to a producer, but you can format your video script however it makes sense to you. In general, it's recommended to use caps for character names and for major scene changes. Use italics for all scene directions, like fade from black, words move in from left side, or use a split screen layout. Indent and double space to add as much white space as possible. This makes it easier to read during filming and gives you space to write notations and changes. Estimate the length of your video. It might help to know that one full page typed in 12-point calibrary font, double spaced and indented, is about one minute of video. Number your scenes. This will make it easier to keep track of what you have already recorded, as well as organize your content for a simpler editing process. Write your script the way it will be read. If you read your script out loud, you'll learn it, and you can adjust the wording to make it comfortable for you. Copy and paste text directly. If you have text that will appear on screen, copy and pasting from your script can save time and avoid any errors. It can also be very beneficial to use tables to organize all the script information. This can be especially helpful when creating an animated video. In the first column, write out the text or dialogue. Then in the second column, list whatever images, music, or sound effects you'd like to use for that specific text. Don't forget to include citations for material you are using. Putting in the work to create a complete script at the beginning of the project will greatly reduce the amount of time you spend filming, creating animations or screencasts, editing, and citing later on. So, are you ready to get scripting? There are many examples and storyboard templates you can use to help you get started. You can find these along with a helpful scripting activity on the Learning Portal videos module.