When planning video content for your marketing campaigns, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is “Should I script my videos?” Here’s a quick breakdown on what to consider when making the decision between a scripted and non scripted video.
Scripted
Where scripted videos make sense:
- Commercials
- Animated video
- Explainer videos
- How-to videos
Benefits and key considerations with scripted video:
- Pre-production is a must!
One of the most important aspects in scripted videos are the amount of pre-production needs to be done beforehand. Creative meetings with key stakeholders, writing the script, hiring cast, planning the production shoot day, etc.
- Limited time during the shoot day – timelines are necessary
With that being said, there is so much planning in advance that when the shoot day comes everything is locked-in. There’s little to no wiggle room in gathering extra shots, everything is planned down to the minute. Have a last minute change? It will be difficult to rework everything you already created.
- You’re in control of the message
One significant advantage with a pre-scripted video is that you have more control over the message you want to convey to your audience. Since everything is done ahead of time in the pre-production meetings, the messaging, timeline and all other details are already laid out.
- What is the key takeaway you want your audience to feel after watching the video?
Are you looking to get a certain emotion from your audience? Let’s say you want to make viewers laugh – scripted video is the way to go. In interview style videos, you can’t really achieve humor as well as you can with planning a script, going over jokes, etc.
Non-Scripted
Where unscripted videos make sense:
- Storytelling
- Corporate overview
- Brand story
- Company culture
Benefits and key considerations with unscripted videos:
- Authenticity
Non scripted videos brings authenticity. When going into an interview and the production crew begins asking questions, there becomes a genuine conversation captured. Other emotions and a variety of answers to questions could arise that never would have otherwise. The story unfolds naturally in the case of a non scripted video.
- Allot for extra time
Give yourself extra time, aside from the interview, to capture the b-roll. The b-roll supports the interview and plays over the sound.
- Be clear of the direction you want to go – or let the video production team lead the creative
When it comes to non scripted, the creative direction falls more on the video production crew and video editors. Unlike scripted videos, the video crew is the one getting the interviews, capturing b-roll, and then ultimately going through the hours of content to create the video. Have a clear vision of the direction you want your video to go, the more the editors know, the easier it is for them to craft the perfect story for you.
- Extra Content
With non scripted content, there will be many questions asked in the interview and the video will probably use just ¼ of what was said. This creates a ton of extra video content that could be used in the future.
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