How To Make A Lined Script

A line script can be both a lifesaver on set and in the editing room. It's usually created by a script supervisor during production, but if you're shooting with a small crew doing a line script before production can help you make sure you're getting all the coverage you need.

A lined script is a copy of the script with various lines drawn down it to represent each shot and what's covered in it. A label for the shot name is placed at the top. This can also include a number for the amount of takes and an abbreviation for the shot type such as CU for close up and so on. Solid lines represent action and dialogue on camera during the shot. While squiggly lines indicate off-screen action and dialogue. Arrows indicate whether a shot started or continues on the previous or next page. While lines at the bottom indicate the end of a shot.

When a line script is finished, a director can look at it and visually see if there's any areas that are missing coverage. And in post production and editor can look at the line script and quickly see which shots cover specific sections of dialogue or action, so they don't have to wade through all of the footage to find what they need.

And here's a pro tip to really help your line script draw the eye. Take the time to color code your line script to match your storyboard. This way you can easily identify shots visually based on their color.

To do this, I like to draw a line of color under the shot name in a storyboard and then use the same color to represent that shot in the line script. This way when I want to quickly reference what that shot looks like, I can just visually match the colors.

Taking the extra time to do a line script before you shoot will help give you peace of mind so that you know you won't miss a shot.

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