Commercial Script Vs Entertainment Script

Commercial scripts and traditional entertainment scripts work within the same elements of content, structure, and format. However, it is by adapting these elements differently to the needs of the project that enables a writer to compose a story successfully. The content of a commercial follows the same principles as that of storytelling, but it is condensed for time. The information within a commercial is edited for significance, or utilizes a section of events, to show importance and to convince the viewer to purchase the product being advertised. Entertainment based scripts do not have the same time constraints and can therefore develop added details to the content of the story through the course of the script. Commercial scripts are usually based on sales or information, where entertainment scripts are based on entertainment. Although entertainment scripts can also be informative (documentaries) or have a moral message, they rarely are utilized for the sale of a product. Commercial based scripts and entertainment based scripts are …show more content…
A commercial script utilizes a two column script format. All the video direction for the script is located in the left column, and all the audio (music, sound effects, and dialogue) is located in the right. An entertainment based script requires set margins based on scene headings, slug lines, character cues, personal direction, dialogue, and transitions. The length of the commercial script is usually 1 to 2 pages whereas, the length of an entertainment script is considerably longer.
The main factor for the differences between commercial scripts and entertainment scripts is due to the time/length of the project. However, both types of scripts can be skillfully executed by utilizing the same elements of content, structure and formatting, to gain the attention and interest of the audience and/or spur a desire or action from