Issue 13: Refining my scripts in Obsidian
Reporting the results from a change in my creative workflow
In this issue, I’d like to talk about a small change to my video making process that had some outsized results on my efficiency.
Setting context
When I make my videos, I had a system that looked like the following:
Write an outline that lays out all the structure of the video and all the basic points I’d like
Use the outline to construct a script that I’ll read in voice over. This is where I’d add transitions, unfunny jokes, etc.
Then I edit until the video is finished.
This process has worked for almost a year, but I reached my breaking point with it. The major pain point was converting my written script into an appropriate visual for the video. I do little to no planning when it comes to visuals, and it kills me.
My current solution
The obvious solution is to plan out your visuals beforehand. I had written about this before but I had not taken concrete steps to implement anything.
My first thought was to use a shot list, like I had learned in film class long, long ago. A shot list is just a simple table that has two columns:
The first column contains your script, where you’d read for voiceover.
The second column contains your planned visual, which you’d reference in the edit
The problem is that these sorts of tables are unwieldy in Obisidian, my chosen app for implementing my second brain. Once they get too long, the formatting starts to get wonky. And I’m not willing to use another app.
My solution: Bulleted lists.
Some points:
I try to associate each line with a concrete visual. For it to be concrete, I have to either link it (Storyblocks, GIF, etc.) or describe where I’ll make it (Figma, manim).
Whenever there’s a visual change, the script will separate into a new section, and the corresponding visual will appear under it
This has been useful for sections which require continuity across a large span of text, like a walkthrough of an equation. This is another time sink that has been easily handled by this script format.
It takes much more time to finish a script if I force myself to think of a concrete visual for everything. But it was so worth it. Before, my average speed was about a minute of edited footage per hour, but here, I was able to output about 2-2.5 minutes of edited footage per hour. Even if that’s just one data point, that’s a massive time save.
It’s not perfect and sometimes I change my mind. But having my old visual recorded tells me my mindset at the time, so it saves me time when I’m looking for an alternative.
I enjoy talking about these small details, but if there’s something you want me to talk about specifically, let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you in the next one.
Christian
Current State of The Channel
😵💫 What am I working on right now?
Working out a video for an alternative approach to sample size calculation
🧐 What am I enjoying right now?
Book — I’ve recently returned to Matthew Dicks’ Storyworthy. This story has been immensely helpful for my Youtube script writing. Matthew is an incredible storyteller and the exercises he teaches in these books are great for developing your eye and ability for stories.
Thing — I just realized that there’s a Snickers protein bar. Holy shit.
📺 What are my recent videos?
Edutainment — The better way to do statistics: a video explaining how Bayes’ Theorem is used in statistics. Bayesian statistics are not the usual in coursework, so lots of students don’t get exposed to these ideas.
Explainer — Explaining Power: a video explaining what power is and the different factors that influence it. My take on a prevalent power visualization in many statistical textbooks.
📦 My other products
I started a store and uploaded my first product! My first product is a guided solution manual I personally wrote, along with accompanying code. It’s frustrating to try to approach a problem and be stuck. I wrote this guide to give advanced self-learners the insight to develop their statistical problem solving and implement some of these solutions in R.
Heads up! Some of the links on my issues are affiliate links, so I may get a small amount of money if you choose to buy something from these links. I only put links for stuff I actually use and consume.