How to use the documentary format

[Sarvasri]

I am not able to figure out how to use the documentary format.
The Sample script is not functional so I can’t see how it was created.

When I press return from a binder page in the Script, I get a new page. But the cursor is not placed anywhere. I can change the name of the scene page and then I’m stuck there. If I tab, I enter the search box instead of the document. If I press return from the binder page I get a new page and again no way to enter the text on the page, especially the first column of the table which might be where I want to go next. Actually, I would naturally want to go to the audio column because that’s usually the best starting point for my scriptwriting process, do the audio text first. It seems I’m going to have to reach for the mouse over and over.

The Sample looks like it consists of four table rows, two of which are used to enter audio text, broken up by double returns. How can you drag to reorder these rows to organize your script contents? If not, you lose the benefit of outlines and Scrivener in general. You can only reorder entire scenes.

I get that a tab creates a new row in the table.

How do I bounce back and forth between the binder and the scene table? The only way I can do it is by clicking. That is cumbersome and breaks the flow. Is there a key command to bounce between them?

I would like to be able to write my narration, then go back and time it as I read it (and insert times into the center column). Then I want to insert graphic ideas into the video column. Later, I may want to reorder the narration text along with associated graphics and time counts. I don’t see any way to do that.

Can Scrivener make writing scripts a malleable process?

So far the process of writing scripts appears horribly unfluid.
Can someone suggest a workflow? Are there any video tutorials on documentary scriptwriting in Scrivener?

I need help or maybe some other program that lets me write fluidly and allows me to reorder my narration with associated graphics and times without having to cut and past awkward table data.

Any suggestions?

[AmberV]

I can change the name of the scene page and then I’m stuck there. If I tab, I enter the search box instead of the document.

Use Ctrl-Tab to rotate between the Binder and the text editors (if you use splits, you’ll cycle through three views). Additionally, Scrivener is loaded with UI navigation shortcuts. Check out the View/Move Focus To/ and View/Inspect/ sub-menus for the major navigation features—but there are others scattered about, such as Ctrl-Cmd-F to jump to the Project Search toolbar.

How can you drag to reorder these rows to organize your script contents? If not, you lose the benefit of outlines and Scrivener in general. You can only reorder entire scenes.

The help file for this particular project (at the very top of the Binder) explains how it is meant to be used. Briefly, the way Scrivener works here is that when you compile all of the individual tables will be stitched together into one table. This means you can break down your script as small as you desire (even down to one row if you want). The tables themselves are fairly simplistic, so don’t expect a lot of sophisticated stuff like dragging rows around. This ain’t Excel.

Like I say, give that help file a read through however. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the assumptions a template will be making, so that you can either work with them, or know where to go to tweak the environment to better serve your purposes.