A strong video script should be written for how it will sound when spoken and should give the production team enough direction to understand what viewers should see while the narration is being delivered.
Use the following guidance when preparing a script for visual media.
Write for the Ear
Read your script aloud several times before submitting it.
Written text can sound different when spoken, and reading the script aloud can help identify wording, pacing, or phrasing that should be adjusted before production. script-guide-for-visual-media (…
Estimate Your Video Length
The source guide uses an average reading speed of approximately 130 words per minute as a starting point for estimating script length.
For example:
130 words is approximately 1 minute
260 words is approximately 2 minutes
390 words is approximately 3 minutes
520 words is approximately 4 minutes
650 words is approximately 5 minutes
Actual runtime may vary depending on the speaker, visual content, and overall pacing of the video. The sample provided in the source contains 246 words and resulted in a finished video of approximately 1 minute and 54 seconds.
Pair Narration with Visual Direction
When a video includes graphics, animation, or other supporting visuals, organize the script so the production team can see what should appear on screen alongside the narration.
The supplied examples use a two-column format:
Graphics
Describe the visual, action, graphic, or on-screen content.
Narrator
Provide the spoken narration that accompanies the visual.
This structure helps connect the spoken script to the visual storytelling needed for production.
The sample script (Section 9 Script) has 246 words. Using the conversion link shows that it works out to almost 2 minutes (1.9 min). The ECN-220 sample worked out to 01:54 minutes when it was finished. This might vary a little, depending on the needed imagery and pacing, etc.
Final Product:
ECN-220 Section 9 Script:
ECN-220 Section 9 Script:
(246 words: 01:54 Min.)
GRAPHICS
NARRATOR
A customer deposits $1,000 at Bank A.
Bank A takes 10% of the money and places it in reserves.
Imagine a customer deposits $1,000 at a particular bank.
To comply with regulations, the bank holds a percentage of that money, called a reserve ratio, in case of withdrawals. This percentage is typically 10%. In this case, the bank would hold $100, leaving $900 for other transactions.
(47 words = 0.4 min.)
In order for the bank to make a profit, it must loan the money it has (minus the bank reserves) to others. One customer borrows $500 and another customer borrows $400.
(31 words = 0.2 min.)
One customer spends the $500 on a laptop.
The other customer is at a different bank (show that this bank is different from the original bank, by changing its name; the original can be Bank A and the second can be Bank B) making a deposit for $400.
One customer spends the $500 at the store on a laptop.
The other customer deposits the $400 at another bank, Bank B.
(22 words = 0.2 min.)
The laptop store deposits the $500 with its own bank (Bank C, different from the original bank, which is Bank A).
Once the store receives the $500, it deposits the money into its own bank, which is Bank C.
(18 words = 0.1 min.)
Bank B takes 10% from the $400, which is $40, leaving a total of $360.
In order to comply with bank regulations, Bank B must take 10% off the deposit and put it in reserves. That is $400 minus 10%, or $40, which equals $360.
(30 words = 0.2 min.)
Bank C takes 10% from the $500 deposit, which is $50, leaving a total of $450.
The same happens with Bank C, which takes 10% off the $500, leaving a total of $450, which can be loaned to another customer.
(24 words = 0.2 min.)
Bank B then loans the $360 to another customer.
For Bank B to make a profit, it must now loan the $360 to another customer, and this customer will in turn spend it or deposit the amount in a different bank.
(32 words = 0.2 min.)
Now:
Bank A has $1,000
Bank B has $400
Bank C has $500
At this point, the original $1,000 has become $1,900, distributed in three banks and among different customers. See how the money starts multiplying? One bank originally had $1,000, and now it has become $1,900 across three banks. The money has almost doubled.
(42 words = 0.3 min.)
Consider Visual Pacing
Script length is only one factor in determining the final runtime.
The source documentation notes that timing may vary depending on the imagery and pacing required for the video.
When developing your script, consider whether the viewer will need time to:
Follow an animation
Read information on screen
Observe a demonstration
Transition between visual ideas
The submitted example demonstrates this by pairing individual narration segments with corresponding graphics and estimated narration times.
Use Storyboards When Helpful
The source material also demonstrates the use of simple storyboard sketches to plan the visual sequence of a video before production.
For the ECN-220 example, storyboard panels were used to map visual changes alongside the scripted explanation.
Image recommendation
Placement: After this section.
Recommended image: The storyboard examples from the submitted guide.
Image status: Already available.
Need Help Developing Your Script?
If you need help developing a new script or refining an existing draft, use StoryForge: Script Writing Assistant.
StoryForge can help you brainstorm your video idea, select a script style, develop an outline, refine narration and visual direction, or improve an existing script before submitting your video request.
Button: Open StoryForge
Before You Submit Your Script
Before sending your script for video production:
Read the full script aloud.
Review the estimated runtime.
Confirm that narration sounds natural when spoken.
Include visual or graphics direction where needed.
Review whether the visual pacing supports the narration.
These recommendations reflect the workflow and examples provided in the submitted script-writing guide.
