The process of ordering – Animation, commercial film production step by step – Part 2

The next step is to write the script.It is important to note that script writing is considered a service, so unfortunately we neither are able to provide creative ideas along with our quote, nor compete with other potential contractors with a script proposal. We are happy to provide our free opinion on your product or how it could be better advertised, but script writing requires a full day of work from our team. That is why we only write scripts for our clients after a signed contract.

The scripts for business animation films are in a format called “split page”. We create two columns, one for audio events (in most cases, this is mainly narration), and the other for visual events (shots, captions, scenes, etc.). We always attach a document with explanations to the scripts. During writing, we take into account all relevant professional considerations to ensure the most effective film possible. It is also important to consider timelessness and adaptability. We aim to create a film that can still be used well in years to come and can be easily modified or adapted later on. Language variables are almost always requested for films, so we create the film in a way that it can be quickly and easily produced in other languages as well.

The first version of the script is not always suitable. This is because it is quite difficult to come up with a final plan from scratch, as we do not know the client well enough. However, experience shows that we must initiate here, as clients are usually not willing to write plans from scratch, but are happy to quickly and easily correct our mistakes. Script writing is a dynamic, dialogical process between the client company and the animation studio.

It is often asked whether we create a storyboard. The answer is yes, we can create one, but it is not always advisable. To give a simple example: animating a scene in a simple, flat design made up of icons in an explanatory animation often costs the same in final quality as drawing the same thing in a storyboard. A logo animation is sometimes actually cheaper than a storyboard. Storyboards, animatics, and other types of previsualization are very useful tools, but only in cases where the final cuts, usually due to their complexity and cost, are not repeatable and cannot be corrected. However, in the majority of cases, a written description of a scene perfectly conveys the message and if the client does not like the given cut, it is easier to correct it in a modification round than to draw a storyboard for it. If the scene requires previsualization, we will always indicate it.