[FAQ] Electronic Prompt Copies

[ericjames]

I fall somewhere in the middle of the discussion.  I scan all of my scripts using the simple OCR program that came with my scanner software.  Depending on the quality of the script I am working from, I probably get somewhere between 60-95% accuracy.     I then go through the electronic version to correct errors and reformat it to resemble the script.  I don't get really picky, but I like it to be close enough that at a glance, it looks the same as the original.  I ALWAYS make sure that pages line up with the original.  I then print out the script and use it the old fashioned way with paper/pencil.   The reason I like to start from electronic is so that I know I am always starting from a completely clean script.  (none of the photo-copy lines or smudges, etc).   I also like to set up my book with the script on the left side and blocking notes on the right, so the cues end up on the left hand margin of the script.  Using word, I can also adjust the margins to give me extra space.  Its time consuming, but I don't think it takes too much longer than standing at a copy machine for a few hours.  Plus, if I ever do the show again, the major part of the work is already done!

[BeckyGG]

I don't know if this would be better served with it's own thread but...

I just upgraded my Microsoft (and am now using Microsoft Office 2011...).  While in general I think it's pretty sexy, I'm still learning the new ins-and-outs as I upgraded from Office 2004.  I have a typed up version of the script that I'm trying to put cues into for a long-term calling script.  In the past I have always just dropped in a thin line (which was the default) and written the cues in the a text box.

With the new Office the default line is thick and weird and I am having a hard time figuring out how to adjust it ... and when I try callouts it seems hard to put exact placement.  Am I just not figuring out an easy way to do it as I'm new to this version of software and tired from my tech/preview period?  Any suggestions on an easy way to type this sucker up?

Thanks much in advance for any advice/suggestions/etc!

[MatthewShiner]

After hours on the phone with mirco-soft, my answer, keep the old version of word on your computer.

[BeckyGG]

Yea...

I updated my version because I got a new computer.  Since I still have the old computer I am tempted to just do the script on that version.

Thanks for the advice ... I was sort of thinking that might be the answer.   

[Delbert]

We are going to start using electronic prompts scripts in the fall (2011).  Our plan is to save the script as a PDF file and use PDF Expert on an iPad to add annotations and notes.

-Delbert

[MatthewShiner]

One of the main advantages of using a digital version of the script to lay our your calling script is the mobility of the text.

You have a huge cue sequence between two lines, you can spread those lines apart, insert a page break, reorder text - whatever.  Once you PDF the document, you loose that ability, right?  I love being able to restructure the script to make it work for cues - as opposed to try to scribble the cues in tight corners around the text.

If you are just doing an Electronic Prompt Copy of the script to make it look neat or have a digital copy, I doubt it's worth the work - unless like me, you have really crappy hand writing.

I also still wonder about TECHING directly to an electronic script - I think if you are taking the time to put into the e-copy you are going to slow down tech . . . I still think you can, in the heat of the moment, tech faster with pencil (or pen) and paper.

[BayAreaSM]

With the new Office the default line is thick and weird and I am having a hard time figuring out how to adjust it ... and when I try callouts it seems hard to put exact placement.  Am I just not figuring out an easy way to do it as I'm new to this version of software and tired from my tech/preview period?  Any suggestions on an easy way to type this sucker up?

Personally, I used lines when I teched in pencil. When I tried the electronic script, I switched to color codes. I have a legend in the front of my book that explains each color (Yellow = Electrics, Blue = Sound, Green = Electrics & Sound Together, etc). I put my cues in text boxes on the side of the page, then put the highlight the text in the appropriate color code where the cue belongs. Granted, I'm still using the old version of Office, but it's worked out really well for me.

When using the electronic prompt during tech, I actually revert to pencil and paper. I prepare my script as much as possible, then I print it all out. During tech I use my color codes again, but with see through dots, and after tech is over, I update whatever pages need it, then reprint those pages for the next day. I do not call off my computer, for fear of power loss, computer crashing, etc. So it's not a waste to print the pages, at least for me.

[spencersm]

Personally I like to use footnotes for my blocking notes and comments for my cues. This works very well for me because if I take blocking by hand I use a blank page on the right, script on the left and numbers circled by the moment of action in the script correspond to a number with the blocking note at the right. All of the comments containing cues are not obstructed by any blocking as I am reading through while calling the show.

[Kristine]

I called my second show from an electronic prompt book. Everything was on my computer and I'm using Word 2011 for mac. I had my Blocking in Comments then hid those and put my cues in to the right with text using underlines off to the right then typing in my cues. It worked very well for me. I wasn't worried about losing my script because my laptop was plugged into a surge protector, I had a flashdrive with my current script, my ASMs had a key to a locker with another flashdrive and it was also backed up to my campus' drive and my computer backup. I also had it open on my iPhone and another laptop very close to me.

[Tony Godders]

I discovered this annotation application for MAC OSX that has been around a while I think and it looks quite promising so far. Searching the board I didnt see it mentioned before so thought I'd bring it to the attention of the group.  Its called "SKIM" and its found at the following site  New Member Link: http://skim-app.sourceforge.net/ [nonactive]. As well as annotating a pdf quite freely with text,  lines,  boxes and ellipses you can export these notes as a list in text format which potentially could be imported to your favourite spread sheet or word processing tool.
 

[RBSchaf94]

I called my first show two months ago, and had the script and all cue sheets electronically formatted. My handwriting is awful, and I found it easier to email notes. It's probably worth noting that our program isn't professional (high school), so the director kept deciding to add new cues up to two days before the performance...

However, I'm a complete worrywart when it comes to my important info, especially as the only laptop available to me was a five-year-old Mac named Martha with no Internet availability and only able to manage Word and Excel. So, in an attempt to be completely prepared, I had a printed copy with me at all times (black and white, even though my call book as color-coded), a USB with the updated sheet, a backup on my home computer, and a copy-pasted version saved to Google Docs.
Luckily, good 'ol Martha got me through without a hitch, and I didn't need a single backup.