Debating the pros and cons of scripting videos, with insights from video producers at TechSmith. They discuss the benefits of having a writer in the recording studio and the challenges of speaking without a script. The trade-offs between scripting and not scripting videos are explored, including the importance of continuity and clarity. Personal experiences and advice for scripting are shared.
Scripting videos provides clarity, succinctness, and helps to stay on track.
Unscripted videos in technical fields can lead to confusion, repetition, and difficulties in recording and editing.
Deep dives
The Value of Scripting in Video Production
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the advantages of using scripts in video production. They emphasize that scripts allow video editors to follow along, fill in gaps, and ensure a smooth editing process. On the other hand, as performers, they acknowledge that scripts can sometimes hinder authenticity and natural delivery. However, they conclude that the trade-off is not worth it. They recommend scripting videos for clarity, succinctness, and the ability to stay on track. The hosts advise starting scripts with personal greetings to maintain a conversational tone and suggest doing table reads or dress rehearsals to familiarize oneself with the content. They also acknowledge that scripted videos are more suitable for professional and instructional content, while shorter, more casual formats may be more flexible with improvisation.
Challenges of Unscripted Videos
The hosts share their experiences and challenges with unscripted videos. They discuss how unscripted videos, particularly in technical fields like software tutorials, require a clear and planned path, making it difficult to maintain coherence and avoid repetition without a script. They note that unscripted videos can lead to rambling, over-explanation, and confusion, which ultimately affects the viewer's time and understanding. The hosts highlight the need for continuity and the importance of knowing the demo content, as unscripted videos can sometimes lead to uncertainty about what on-screen elements should be shown. They conclude that unscripted videos in this context create more challenges and complexities in both the recording and editing process.
The Importance of Scripts in Professional Videos
The hosts stress the significance of scripted videos for professional and more formal contexts. They challenge the misconception that scripted content needs to sound stiff or overly professional, encouraging writers to use conversational language to maintain authenticity. They suggest practicing and becoming familiar with the script through reading it aloud, ensuring that the words flow naturally and are well-suited for spoken delivery. While they acknowledge that short and informal videos like TikToks or Instagram Reels may not necessitate scripting, they emphasize the value of scripts for YouTube tutorial or instructional videos to maintain clarity and coherence.
Advice and Conclusion
The hosts give their final advice on video scripting. They emphasize that everyone's approach may vary, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. If scripting hinders someone from making a video, then going without a script may be the better choice. However, if not using a script causes unease and affects the quality or clarity of the content, then sticking to a script is recommended. They suggest experimenting with a balance, such as scripting introductions and conclusions while allowing for more improvisation in other sections. They remind listeners to focus on making videos, finding what works best for them, and continually improving their skills.
Script or no script – which side are you on when creating videos?
It’s one of the top debates in the video creation world, and there’s no clear-cut answer. After some recent experiments where we tossed out the script, we weigh up the pros and cons of scripting your videos in this episode.
Joining the debate are TechSmith’s Ryan Knott, Marketing Content Strategist, and Andy Owen, Video Producer, to share their thoughts on whether scripts are necessary and the best times to use one.
As a video producer, Andy shares his experience of editing videos without a script, and Ryan explains why sitting in on recordings as a writer can help you reshape your scripts to sound more natural. While Andy and Ryan are firmly team script, they explain that it depends on the type of video you want to make, how much time you want to spend on it, and why you should always consider your viewer when deciding.
Key Moments:
00:00 – 02:18 Introduction
02:18 – 03:41 Ryan and Andy describe their roles in making videos for TechSmith
03:41 – 05:10 Why Ryan and Andy started experimenting with the no-script approach
05:10 – 06:55 The benefits of having a writer in the recording studio
06:55 – 09:30 Andy describes the transition from working with scripts to working without
09:30 – 10:25 How scripting helps to keep you on track
10:25 – 14:35 Striking a balance between having a script vs. no script
14:35 – 18:56 Why saving time by not writing a script could take longer overall
18:56 – 20:40 The challenges of editing unscripted videos
20:40 – 28:30 Scripted videos vs. unscripted – Andy and Ryan share their votes and advice
