Lesson 1: Script Breakdown

• Film
• Higher Education (non-degree)

Script Breakdown

Madi Whiteside

Learning Outcome's

You will learn what a Script Breakdown is and how it relate to a film production. 

You will engage in a script breakdown activity on the script you are going to make.

What usually creates the biggest costs when you are making a film?

1. Equipment Hire
2. Art Department
3. Human costs
4. legal fees

Human Costs

Making films is expensive — not just because of equipment or locations, but because of people. The largest part of almost every film budget goes into human costs:

Cast & Crew Fees – wages, salaries, day rates.

Production & Post Fees – editors, designers, technicians.

Craft Services & Catering – keeping everyone fed on set.

Transport & Accommodation – moving people and housing them near set.

Insurance – protecting cast, crew, and equipment.

Overtime – the most expensive cost of all if planning fails.

 Key idea: Before the cameras roll, you’re already paying for experts to be in one place at the same time. Careful script breakdowns and clear communication ensure their time is used efficiently.

What is Script Breakdown? 

Script breakdown is a crucial pre-production process in filmmaking that involves analysing and dissecting a film or television script to identify and create a comprehensive list of all the elements and requirements needed to produce the project. The primary goal of a script breakdown is to organise and categorise every detail mentioned in the script, helping the production team plan and execute the project efficiently. 

Why do we do Scene Breakdowns? 

1. to understand Budget needs 

2. Scheduling needs

3. Production Planning

All of the above are interrelated - as you know 'Time is money'.  

Case Study: Waterworld

Originally budgeted at $100 million. Ended up costing around $175 million (making it the most expensive film ever at the time). Why? The floating set built on the ocean was destroyed by a hurricane → had to be rebuilt. Constant logistical problems of filming at sea (transport, safety, weather delays). Lack of contingency planning meant delays quickly turned into spiralling costs.

Lesson for students: Poor planning and underestimating production challenges made the project balloon in cost. A stronger pre-production breakdown (locations, risks, weather contingency) might have helped avoid so many overruns.

“Justice League” (2017 reshoots) – ballooned costs because of late script changes and reshoots.

“The Hobbit Trilogy” – expanded from two films to three mid-production, massively increasing budget.

www.bing.com

How to Make Good Student Films

• Ideally 'lock' (finish) your script before production starts.
• Give yourself plenty of time to break down your script and plan well. 
• Keep everyone well informed of any developments & changes
• keep researching your role and responsibilities
• Ask lots of questions!

It's all about giving yourself and other people adequate time to prepare and do the best job they can. 

If you put people under pressure to do things fast with little resources it wont be good!!!!

 Script Reading

• Day/Night
• Location (INT/EXT)
• Slug line/ Scene Heading
• Character(s)
• Action

 Initial Breakdown

This script needs many questions answered about: 

Casting, costume, set design, VFX, character blocking & camera movement. 

 

  Breakdown Fundamentals

Colour code the different department areas that it relates to eg: 

Props: Red 

Sound: Blue

Costume: Yellow

 

'John Walks in with a muddy Coat'
How might this impact production department?

'A chase scene runs through three different locations'
How might this impact production?

 Prospect, 2018

Budget: Around $4 million (tiny for a sci-fi feature). 

Long development time (expanded from a short film into a feature). 

Detailed pre-production: (meticulous script breakdowns allowed them to plan every element) 

World-building on a budget: Costumes and props hand-crafted with a DIY aesthetic. 

Locations in Washington forests: stood in for alien worlds. Practical effects and clever sound design replaced expensive CGI. Efficient scheduling – filming completed in 40 days.   

💡 Lesson for students: Careful script breakdown + creative solutions can make an ambitious sci-fi achievable without blockbuster money.

www.bing.com

What department do you think usually clashes the most with others and why?

Write down something you have learned about script break down

Write down something you would like to know more about.

Your Script Breakdown

Step 1: Work individually for 15 minutes to highlight/categorise the script overall (making notes and lists).

Step 2: Split into production department groups (art, camera, sound, etc.). Share findings and agree on what your dept would need.

Step 3: Prepare a short presentation (3 minutes per group) covering:

What elements relate to your department area/ any questions that arise.

What challenges/risks you foresee.

What extra resources or planning time you might need.

Step 4: Present to the class → creates the effect of a “production meeting.”

Show students Studio Binder & Adobe acrobat, Doc sign or Microsoft word,  making a simple spreadsheet to organise plans if there is time. 

Human Costs

• Crew Salaries/Wages
• Key creative Fees
• Production and Post production fees
• Craft Services (Food) 
• Transport & Accommodation 
• Insurance
• Overtime