Kodak EKTAGRAPHIC 470 - Manual (Page 10)

PREPARING NEW
SOUND-SLIDE
PROGRAMS
(Models 270, 470, and 570AF)
Writing the Outline, Writing the
Script, and Planning the Visuals
The following information applies
only to recording models of the
AudioViewerI Projector: Models
270, 470, and 570AF.
Preparing a new sound-slide pro­
gram with the KODAK
EKTAGRAPHIC AudioViewer/
Projector is challenging—and fun! If
you’ve never done much writing be­
fore, the prospect of turning out an
entire script may make you nervous.
If so, relax. Writing is easier if you
tackle he job in stages and allow
enough time.
We suggest novice producers write
the narration first, before they consid­
er the visuals to illustrate it.
Gathering and Organizing
Your Ideas
Hold a brainstorming session and
write down as many ideas for your
script as you can think of. Use a
3 X 5-inch card for each idea. Review
all of the cards and determine five or
six major subject headings that cover
all your ideas.
Writing the Outline
Next, organize the cards under the
major headings and discard redun­
dant cards. Add new ones as you
think of new ideas. Now put the cards
in order. This will give you a good
start on the first draft of the outline.
Number the cards so they can be
easily rearranged in correct order if
they are dropped. Writing the outline
should be easy if you follow the order
of the cards. Leave five or six blank
lines between each major heading (to
be filled in later with more detailed
information).
When you’re satisfied with the out­
line, you may want to give your super­
visor, co-workers, or sponsors a copy
to make sure that they agree with the
creative approach and the content
that you plan to cover.
On-the-Job-Safety
Visual Narration
1. Watch It! MUSIC FADES UNDER AS NARRATION
CHARCOAL FIRE
BEGINS
2. Person with charcoal grill. It was a hot Sunday afternoon and we
decided to barbecue some steaks.
3. Two people talking. My son was in a rush to go out on a date
and asked me to start the fire.
4. CU—Hands/electric 1 plugged in the electric fire starter and
fire starter. slipped it under the charcoal.
5. CU—Charcoal/starter. Usually we wait 15 to 20 minutes for the
fire to start.
6. Two people dressed My neighbor came over and we started
in shorts. talking—it was a hot day; perfect for
bermuda shorts and no shoes or socks.
7. CU—Son at door. Then my son came to the door, asked
how the fire was coming, and said that
he was in a hurry and had to get going. 1
told him to shower and the fire would be
ready.
8. LS—Father at charcoal. But when 1 looked, the charcoal didn’t
seem to be lit.
9. CU—Father picking up. ... so 1 decided to hurry things up a bit. 1
got the gasoline can out and ... 1 have
to admit this was a real dumb thing to
do.
10. CU—Pouring gas on. I’ve preached to my kids . . . never put
gasoline on a fire—but of course, 1
wasn’t thinking, just hurrying, and holy
mackerel . . .
11. MS—Gas explosion in grill. Phoom! The whole thing exploded.
There was fire under the charcoal after
all. It shook me up so badly that 1 just
threw the gas can and . . .
12. LS—Burning gas can ... hit a nearby evergreen, setting it on
and bushes. fire. Then the flames headed toward my
garage.
13. LS—Man extinguishing fire. My neighbor came over and beat the
flames with some burlap while 1 ran for
the hose.
14. LS—Foot kicking gas can. The can was kicked into the driveway
where it started.
Writing the Script
Now add as much relevant detail as
you can in the space under each head­
ing and then turn the points you’ve
listed into sentences. If you have trou­
ble finding the right words, ask your­
self, what am I really trying to say?
When you can answer that question
in a simple sentence, write it down.
When you’ve finished the first
draft, put it away for a few days.
When you pick it up again, you may
be surprised by how little effort is
needed to complete it.
Remember that the audience watch­
ing your slide show will not be able to
see your paragraphs and punctuation.
You have to write for their ears. Use
short, easily-understood sentences.
Avoid unusual words, technical
terms, and jargon. Remember; clarity
comes from little words.
When you’re satisfied with your
script, record a "test tape” of the
script with the AudioViewer/Projec-
tor and play it back to hear how it
sounds. This serves as a double check.
If you can read the narration aloud
with no difficulty, you or the narrator
you choose should be able to read it
easily too. If the people you ask to
listen to the tape understand it,
chances are your audience will
understand the final production tape
as well.