Writing Samples

Learning Objective:

To write audio/visual scripts for TV spots and web-based promotional videos that will fit the needs of the client and time allotted while being creative/interesting, upbeat, and sharing the most important information.

Title:  Invisible Glass Headlight Restoration Kit Length: 1:40

Type:  web video Date: 6-12

VIDEO	AUDIO
Image of package-Headlight Restoration Kit	From the makers of the number one automotive glass cleaner, Stoner incorporated brings you the invisible glass headlight restoration kit.  Everything you need to restore two headlights are in this easy, one-step kit.
C/u - Foggy headlight	Forget the sandpaper and power tools, this kit will transform headlights that look like this
C/u - Clear headlight	to ones that look like new in minutes.
Medium - Cleaning headlight	Now you can clean, polish, and restore weathered and damaged headlight lenses and plastic windows with one simple solution.  This invisible glass headlight restoration kit contains two separately sealed cleaning cloths that have been saturated with a unique headlight lens polishing compound.
C/u - Cleaning headlight to c/u - Dirty cloth	The micro polishing compound loosen and remove dirt, haze, oxidation, discoloration, and more from plastics without scratching.
C/u - Almost clean headlight "After only 2 minutes of wiping"	Unlike other multi-step products, the invisible glass headlight restoration kit renews headlights simply and easily. Gently rub headlight until soil or compound is depleted.  Flip cloth or refold to repeat as needed to progressively clean, polish, and restore the headlights surface. Repeat with the second cloth on the other headlight. As you can see with this easy one step kit, you can improve light transmission in minutes.
Medium - Car, one headlight dirty, one clean	The invisible glass headlight restoration kit is great for use on
C/u - Foggy headlight (second car)	Cars, trucks, RVs, and boats.
C/u - Clear headlight (second car)	For more information on this and other Invisible Glass products, please be sure to visit
Medium - Third car, one headlight dirty, one clean	invisible glass dot com.

Stoner Invisible Glass is a script that I wrote out and then shot and edited.  This was sent as a gift to a client to replace a low-quality youtube video that was on their page.

Title:  Advanced Vein & Laser Center Length: 30 seconds

Type:  TV Commercial Date:   6-12

VIDEO	AUDIO
client	Client testimonial: “I didn’t know that varicose veins could be dangerous – I thought it just came with aging!”
	Varicose veins can be unsightly and painful. But did you know that painless treatment options are now available?
	Advanced Vein and Laser utilizes cutting-edge technology to treat the entire spectrum of venous diseases as well as minimal skin conditions.
Dr. Heird working with a client	Dr. Stephen Heird is a vein specialist: He's a vascular surgeon with over twenty years' experience.
	So don’t let varicose veins become problematic!
Titles: Advanced Vein & Laser Center 717.268.4001 Veinsbegone.com	Call today or visit us online at veins be gone dot com.  Advanced Vein and Laser Center. Exceptional care.

Advanced Vein and Laser was a 30-second TV spot that I wrote from scratch based on information from the website.  There are two versions which are switched out for each doctor featured.




Cintas was a recruitment video that I wrote.  I researched the company, took notes on what they were looking for, and closely examined other recruitment videos to craft this.



Forrer Dodge is a 30-second TV spot which I wrote.  I tried to keep the emphasis on family.

Reflections

     As a student at Messiah College, I studied Film and Digital Media.  This meant that I was usually working in narrative film.  I got to be creative and do what I wanted with my work within the media that I was working.  Writing audio/visual scripts for promotional videos is an entirely different world.  I had to learn to hone my skills to think within the given parameters.  I got a lot of practice very quickly, since I wrote so many scripts that I could not possibly include them all in this portfolio.  Writing a script is, of course, the basis for any video, so it is an extremely important stage.  If a script is bad, the whole video will not be that great, but if a script shines, then a professional production company can do great things with it.  I had to be able to work within deadlines and get the scripts written very quickly, as well as be able to revise them based on input from my internship supervisor and the clients' comments.  Both editing video and writing scripts require several drafts, but I also learned that I cannot get too hung up on making everything perfect, or what my idea of perfect might be.  A good script communicates what the client needs, with nothing more or nothing less.  As just the writer, it doesn't matter to the client who is writing the script.  They don't care if an industry professional is writing it or if it's the new intern at the production company.  They just need quality, and I was able to produce that even without all the experience copywriting that I felt like I needed.  I came into this internship without thinking that writing scripts meant writing promotional pieces: I'm so used to being totally creative and making things up that working in the actual commercial industry was a bit of a wake-up call.  This is where many of the needs in the broadcast industry fall.
     I definitely want to continue working on a/v scripts and writing copy, since I have a good chance of finding an entry-level job in the broadcast media industry through writing.  No matter what, videos always need a writer, whether it's in the budget or not.  Quality writing can make or break a good concept, and I want to deliver quality constantly as I continue in my career.