Advertising and Public Relations · TEE · read

Worked draft 3: video script and storyboard

Unit 3.6 · Comparing media

M2 notes pp34–35; course-policy production exercises

An audio-visual answer must describe what the viewer sees and hears at each stage. A paragraph of narration alone is not a complete television/video script.

Practice question. Prepare a 20-second video advertisement for fictional CycleCare using a storyboard and timed visual/audio script. Demonstrate its estimate-before-repair policy and include a booking action. [10 practice marks]

Answer

Given

A 20-second video for fictional CycleCare. The benefit and response point are the same as in the print and radio exercises. The video must also remain understandable when viewed without sound.

To create

A storyboard and timed two-column visual/audio script. A shot is one continuous camera view; the storyboard arranges the planned shots in order.

Step 1. Show the process rather than merely naming it

Swipe across the diagram to read its labels ↔
Video storyboard: show the promise being carried out
Diagram: Video storyboard: show the promise being carried out. Labels: Video storyboard: show the promise being carried out | Video storyboard: show the promise being carried out | 0–4 seconds · Problem | A loose chain. Student stops safely. | Cycle trouble before class? | 4–9 seconds · Estimate | Mechanic inspects and writes the proposed | work and cost. | Understand the work and cost. | 9–14 seconds · Approval | Student reads and approves. Repair begins after | approval. | You decide before repair. | 14–20 seconds · Action | Brand and booking desk; inspection charges | explained. | CycleCare: book an inspection. | Pictures, captions and speech must communicate the same sequence.
Each frame has a job: establish the problem, demonstrate the process, show customer approval, then state the next step.

Step 2. Write the complete script

TimeVisual action and on-screen textAudio
0–4 sClose view of a loose cycle chain. Student stops safely beside the cycle. Text: “Cycle trouble before class?”Short chain sound. VO: “Cycle trouble before class?”
4–9 sMechanic inspects the chain and writes the proposed work on an estimate. Text: “Inspection. Explanation. Estimate.”VO: “At CycleCare, understand the proposed work and cost.”
9–14 sStudent reads the estimate and approves; only then does repair begin. Text: “Repair starts after your approval.”VO: “You approve the estimate before repairs begin.”
14–20 sBrand and a clearly labelled service desk. Text: “CycleCare. Book at the campus cycle desk. Ask about inspection charges.”VO: “CycleCare. Book at the campus cycle desk. Ask about inspection charges.”

Step 3. Explain the link between picture and promise

The estimate is shown before the repair action. This order demonstrates the promised process. Reversing those two scenes would weaken or contradict the message. The final frame provides the brand and booking instruction; it should remain on screen long enough to read.

Step 4. Prepare for viewing and production

  1. Captions: provide legible speech captions and concise on-screen messages, so meaning does not depend solely on audio.
  2. Framing: keep the estimate and action text visible in the chosen aspect ratio; check a small phone screen.
  3. Sound: avoid music masking the voice-over.
  4. Timing: rehearse and edit to the stated duration. The storyboard is a plan, not a claim that a real repair takes 20 seconds.

Yaad rakho: Video = kya dikhega + kya sunai dega + kitne seconds; dono columns ka message same.