What is a script? A script is the road map by which a video is successfully navigated. It is the absolute, single source of success in any production. Attempting to produce a video without a script is like trying to sail around the world in a boat without a rudder.

The script helps you to organize your ideas and to see the natural flow and relation of your scenes as they are connected together. To create a successful, award winning script, you should begin with an outline. A good way to outline your script is by utilizing a storyboard template. With a storyboard, you don’t have to be a professional artist, have a degree in English literature or know anything at all about film and video production. All you need to know is what you want to do and be able to demonstrate that in a clear, organized form.

To begin, come up with a title, at least a working title, that describes your program. Don’t concern yourself with the pressures of being clever and creative here (hey, that’s what you’re paying the production company for!), just come up with a title that helps you get started.

Start by making about 20 copies of the storyboard template in this report and save at least one page as a "copy master" to make more pages. Begin by writing down the things you know you want in your video. Do you want music to begin when the title first appears? If so, on the "Video" side of the storyboard, write down your title. On the "Audio" side of the storyboard, write down "music begins". If you know you want a certain type of music, write that down as well.

Again, don’t worry about being a Disney animation artist when it comes to illustrating the video content in your storyboard. Stick figures work fine. Just be careful if you have to draw your boss and he or she is very sensitive about their appearance.

Anything you know you want in your video should be written down on the storyboard. Some people like to number the scenes in the margins so if and when (more likely when) scene changes are made, you can jot down the new order of the scenes by their numbers and re-do the storyboard. This is especially helpful during meetings where other decision makers begin making changes to your storyboard’s rough draft at the speed of light and you want to be organized for your re-write.

Yes, there will probably be a few re-writes. Look at a re-write as a wonderful opportunity to reestablish the quality of your video from a higher point of reference.

Of course, the most important aspect of preparing some form of storyboard before speaking with a production company is ... it will save you money!