MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SCRIPT SUPERVISING

Disclaimer: This information is based on Eve Butterly's own two decades+ of experience in the film business. You are free to disagree with her.

Digital video doesn't require a script supervisor.

If a project requires that certain scenes be covered, that they edit together well, and you wish to avoid wasted time in post production—hire a Script Supervisor. He or she can be especially helpful on these projects by noting the time code of each take.

My commercials last only thirty seconds; I can keep track of a script for that long!

But do you remember which of the forty-one takes of the rotating hamburger the agency people absolutely loved? I didn't think so. The script supervisor doesn't necessarily keep track of the script, per se, but everything that was shot— scripted or not.

My project is too low budget—I can't afford a Script Supervisor.

Repeat after me: TIME IS MONEY. If producers had all the time and money in the world, they could afford to hunt through hours and hours of footage to find a particular scene. It's those of us who have limited budgets that need a Script Supervisor most! An organized account of what was shot and where to find it can save you hours of frustration. Edit suites and Editors cost hundreds of dollars AN HOUR. If script notes save you only one hour of wasted time per day, your Script Supervisor has more than earned their day rate. This myth is also known as the old "I'll just get a PA/Someone from my office/an intern to do script notes" trick. Good luck, God bless, and remember: you get what you pay for, sucker. (I probably didn't want to work for these people anyway.)

Matching is for wimps.

(Often another, more offensive word is used in place of "wimps.") Nobody likes to stop after every take to tediously reset the levels of beverage in glasses. But if you don't, your scene may look pretty silly when the glasses start out empty and end up full! It's all about professionalism: the Script Supervisor's, and the other crew members that are too impatient to do the correct thing.

My project doesn't have any dialogue, so I don't need a Script Supervisor.

It's a misconception that Script Supers only deal with a quote "script" unquote. Again, if you don't want to spend hours looking for that scene of the guy with the thing and the whatsit on the dealie, while the post-production clock is ticking, and your editor is picking his teeth, hire one.

Only women are "Script Girls."

Script Supervising and Continuity was traditionally a woman's position, because in the "olden days" (before copy machines, computers and white-out), script notes were often written in shorthand, transcribed and then typed. Of course, only women had those skills back then. Since shorthand and typing skills are not a requirement these days (although they are still helpful), anyone with a sharp mind and legible penmanship can be a Script Supervisor. And by the way, "Script Girl" is a demeaning title. I prefer "Script Goddess," or "Script Chick." Scripty will do, in a pinch.

Script Supervisors are always sitting down, so they can't be working that hard.

Script Supers often bring a small folding chair to the set. The reason is simple: it's very difficult to write in a notebook or on a clipboard while standing up, especially if one hand is holding a stopwatch! And the Script Supervisor is ALWAYS working. Before the shot, they watch and make notes on the rehearsal. During the shot, they keep track of each take. After the shot, they transcribe that information into several logs. And often they are called away to confer with the Director between shots, or to run lines with the actors. Everybody wants to ask them a question. Rule of thumb: if I'm writing, don't ask me anything. Wait till I'm finished.

Script Supervisors are in charge of ALL the continuity.

Well... yes and no. Script Supers are the net that should catch any errors made by other departments. HOWEVER, in my humble opinion, each department head should have their own system for ensuring that all the elements in their responsibility are correct, and the Script Supervisor should be used as a double-check.