Directions: Pre-Production- Script Breakdown

Now I have a completed the script writing process, I can begin to breakdown the script into sections to help with the pre-production process.

Scene 1-

LOCATION/SETTING:

• Inside Walt's Car/Outside Gus Fring's House.
• Late Afternoon

CHARACTER(S):

• Walter White

ACTION:

• Walter arrives outside Gus Fring's house. He hides his gun, puts his hat on, and prepares to kill Gus. After exiting his car, he heads towards Gus's house. Moments before reaching the house he is stopped by his ringing phone. He answers it. It's Gus, who tells him to go home. Walt stands there, wondering what he did wrong.

THEME (LIGHTING/COLOUR/MOOD):

• Sunsetting.
• Lots of yellow.
• Dark mood. Walt is preparing to kill someone.
• Natural lighting.
• Sun lights the road.

FRAMING:

• Tight frame. Walter is trying to stay hidden so we stay close to him at all times.
• Handheld.
• Camera inside the car with Walt.
• Camera follows Walt towards the house.
• Told from Walt's perspective.

SOUND DESIGN:

• Sounds of the breeze in the air.
• Not much ambience. It's a quiet, empty street.
• Natural sound.
• Car engine. Seatbelt click. Car door. Phone ringing.
• Maybe the slight sound of birds chirping away in the fields.
• Tense music that builds as the scene builds.

COSTUME:

• Walt is dressed in dark colours.
• He is wearing a black jacket, black shirt, black trousers and black shoes.
• He wants to blend into the shadows.
• Black could also represent death.

PROPS:

• Walt's glasses.
• Gun.
• Heisenberg hat.
• Walt's phone.

QUESTIONS:

• How does Gus know Walt is coming to kill him?
• Why does Walter feel he has to wear the hat before killing Gus?
• How does Walter feel after Gus stops him?
• Why is Walter trying to kill Gus?
• Why is Walter being very sneaky?

Scene 2-

LOCATION/SETTING:

• Industrial Site.
• Day.

CHARACTERS:

• Walter White
• Gus Fring

ACTION:

• Walter spies on Gus as he approaches a car rigged with explosives. Unfortunately, Gus foils Walter's plans by deciding not to get into the car. Walt fails to kill Gus for a second time.

THEME (LIGHTING/COLOUR/MOOD):

• Natural lighting.
• Sun lights the area.
• Lots of grey. Concrete.
• Hints of yellow.
• Dark mood. Walt is trying to kill someone.
• Lots of shadows.

FRAMING:

• Many wide shots to show the distance between the two characters. Audience feel like they're spying with Walt.
• Tight shots on Gus to show how tense the atmosphere around him is. Show how close he is too the car and, if he decides to get into the car, his death.
• Handheld.
• Camera follows Gus as he gets closer to the car.
• Long shots of Gus. Audience feel like their looking through the binoculars.

SOUND DESIGN:

• Tense music that builds as the scene builds.
• City ambience.
• Maybe some industrial noises.
• Walkie talkie sound. Gus's footsteps on the concrete.
• Planes flying. Helicopters flying.
• Natural sound.

COSTUME:

• Walt dressed in the same dark clothes as in Scene 1. Black jacket, black trousers, black shirt, black shoes. He is hiding. Black could also represent death.
• Gus is wearing one of his many suits. Also quite dark (grey) to represent his sinister demeanor. 

PROPS:

• Gus's glasses.
• Walt's glasses.
• Walkie Talkie.
• Binoculars.
• Los Pollos Hermanos air freshener.

QUESTIONS:

• Why is Walter trying to kill Gus?
• How does Gus know that something is wrong?
• How does Walter feel after Gus spoils his plans?
• Why does Gus wait a while before suddenly leaving the site?
• If Gus knows he is trying to kill him, why doesn't he kill Walt?

I will now use this script breakdown to start working on my shot lists and 'camera scripts'. I have already sorted out my costumes and props, so I don't need to worry about them. I will also think about how I can use my storytelling skills to answer the questions that the scenes leave behind.