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Planning ahead is very important in television.
That doesn't mean making the facts fit your imagined story: It just means knowing as much as you can about the story before you start to shoot.
The basic structure for a TV news item is below. A blank version is also attached; you can print as many as you like, and use them for planning your stories.
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FOCUS STATEMENT: (x is doing y because…. )
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INTRO
(host on camera – no visuals)
tape:
runtime:
outcue: …“(your last three words)”
Super list:
1. NAME/ Job title time: xx:xx
2.
3.
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technical notes and cues, clip notes
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script
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HOOK
hook the viewer here so s/he’ll stay for more: include strongest (?) pictures and engaging clip/soundup.
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WRITE YOUR SCRIPT IN CAPS AND
DOUBLE-SPACE, LIKE THIS.
START A NEW LINE FOR EVERY
SENTENCE…
THAT WAY, YOUR SCRIPT IS EASIER
TO READ.
…AND BY THE WAY…
DON’T FORGET TO WRITE THE WAY
YOU TALK!
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BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
as in print – what led up to this; who/what the major players are and why they matter, etc.
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UNFOLDING
the story continues… more on the hook; intro other ‘sides’, other players.
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WRAP
end: what the future holds; how the story ends. As in print, there’s a difference between ending and just…stopping. Don’t stop – wrap.
a good spot for your ‘second-best’ pictures, for standup if necessary – but not necessarily a standup.
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blank template
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FOCUS STATEMENT:
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INTRO
(host on camera – no visuals)
tape:
runtime:
outcue: …“(your last three words)”
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technical notes and cues, clip notes
|
script
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HOOK
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BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
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UNFOLDING
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WRAP
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