Video Scriptwriting For Success & Profit

Television and video veteran writer Stewart Jacoby hosts what is basically a talking-head production on the subject of video scriptwriting. After opening with some good tips about working with prospective clients, Jacoby touches briefly on the subjects of script development, the treatment, and writing the screenplay (ostensibly the meat and potatoes of the subject) before the program abruptly stops to show four complete short videos. Unfortunately, the scripts aren't broken down or discussed, and three of the four shorts are on nature topics (programs emphasizing different types of video scripts would have been more helpful). Viewers are shown--using visuals that are a little difficult to see--standard script formats, and are advised to write to the Register of Copyrights for copyright information. There's a maddening exercise near the end of the tape, which most will see as an incredible waste of time for a point which is overstated. For budding writers, any kind of direction can seem like manna from heaven, but this nuts & bolts guide--while offering some good, useful information--doesn't begin to go deep enough into the subject. Not a necessary purchase. (R. Pitman)