If you're interested in becoming an animation writer, then pursuing a Script Coordinator role might be the path for you. A Script Coordinator is an entry-level position that puts you in the writer's room and depending on the show, the story editor could give you an episode to write. However, these positions come far and few as there is only one Script Coordinator per show, and everyone who wants to be a writer is gunning for the job. You have a 3x better chance of securing a Production Assistant (PA) position as there are usually three PA's to a show. This is not to discourage you, but to inform you. In this video, I will be going over what is a Script Coordinator, what do they do, and what qualities you'll need to become one. So without further ado, let's get to learning!

Hi guys, and welcome back to my blog. If you're new here, my name is Eric Bravo, and this is The Storyboard Room, a place where I talk about the business of animation and how to get in. I made the Nickelodeon cartoon short, The Outsiders, and wrote the book, “How To Get an Animation Internship.” I'm currently a Script Coordinator/Production Assistant on the show Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

What is a Script Coordinator?

In animation, a Script Coordinator helps the writing team with administrative work, such as conforming scripts after each draft, sending scripts to executives for review, or scheduling meetings and taking notes during a writing session. I like to think of the Script Coordinator as being the liaison between the production department and the writing team. They are essentially part-production, part-writer and a lot of their work are done independently from the rest of the production. Depending on the show, a Script Coordinator could have an opportunity to write an episode! If you want to become an animation writer, this is the entry-level position you'd want to get.

What Does a Script Coordinator Do & What Are Their Tasks?

A Script Coordinator's role can vary depending on the show they're on. Like I mentioned earlier, a Script Coordinator handles the administrative tasks for the writers. You'll be working closely with the Line Producer, Writers, Casting, and Talent Relations and will need working knowledge of Final Draft, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

Script Coordinator's tasks include:

Conforming scripts to the edited dialogue of locked animatic and shipping animatic
Generating physical scripts for recording sessions (record drafts)
Responsible for proofreading, filing, cataloging, and distributing all premises, outlines, script drafts, and revisions
Tracking pickups and ADR lines
Handling and preparing ABS
Updating the writing schedule, creating loglines, and writing episode synopsis'
Attending records and logging circle takes.

Conforming Scripts

One of the main tasks for a Script Coordinator is to conform scripts to the edited dialogue of locked animatic and shipping animatic. This means with the most up-to-date script in hand, we'll watch the animatic and when we notice a change of dialogue, we'll update the script to match what is said in the animatic.

Generating Scripts for Recording Sessions

A Script Coordinator is in charge of preparing the script the voice actors will use. They have to make sure the actors have the most up-to-date script when they record.

Pickups

Pickups is the process of tracking all-new dialogue in the latest script and recording it in a document. They will send this document to casting so the voice actors can record the new pickup lines.

ADR

ADR stands for Additional Dialogue Recording and only happens during post-production. With ADR, we are recording additional lines that were last-minute adds before the episode is sent to air. We are also adding walla or reactions from a character. Walla can include grunts, moans, chewing, exasperation, whatever action the character is doing.

ABS

ABS stands for As Broadcast Script. This is a script without any action lines and only includes dialogue. This script is used by post-production for subtitles for the episode.

Duties of a Script Coordinator - The Storyboard Room

Administrative Work

A script coordinator keeps the schedule updated with script due dates. They update the writer's room's whiteboard to reflect the schedule as well.

They also prepare for writing meetings by making sure they have the most up-to-date draft of the script with all the correct changes made. During a writing meeting, the Script Coordinator takes notes, makes live edits to the script, and after the meeting, updates the script and sends it to the appropriate people.

Write an Episode

Depending on the crew and TV show you're on, sometimes you're thrown an episode to write!

Tools

As a Script Coordinator, you'll need to be familiar with Final Draft. Final Draft is an industry-standard writing program. The program itself is pretty straight forward and you'll get the hang of it in a few hours. Below, I've compiled a few useful hotkeys for you.

Hotkeys:

•⌘+SHIFT+J – Edit Scene Number

•⌘+] – Mark Revised

•⌘+[ - Clear Revised

•⌘+E – Elements

•⌘+A – Select All

•⌘+K – Make Uppercase

I hope this helps you have a better understanding of what a Script Coordinator is and what their day-to-day looks like. If you have any questions, leave them down in the comment section below and I'll be sure to answer them. Also, let me know do you want to be an animation writer. If so, what show would you love to write for? Let me know down in the comments below! Until next time, stay tooned and stay safe!