TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW: Filming an Online Class on Script Coordinating

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm a great Script Coordinator and I do the job very well.

It bothers me when people think that anyone who can type a script can do the job, without taking time to learn it, and yet it isn't rocket science, or should I say, biochemistry, which is where I started my working life. Nevertheless, it isn't like someone who wants to be script coordinator can take classes in how to do it, because as far as I know, there aren't any classes out there to take. The best one can do is what I did, which is start out as a writers assistant and bug the script coordinator with a zillion questions. While you are volunteering to help them of course!

Hopefully, that changes today. An opportunity fell into my lap to teach an online class on the nitty gritty of script coordinating through the Learning Annex. I've been very excited about it. And nervous. Haven't done a lot in front of the camera yet, although my experience is growing as I continue to be the 'try new things' girl.

So today I went down to a studio in Santa Monica to film me talking about the ins and outs, the details and the nitty gritty of Script Coordinating -- all the things I've learned in my years of doing it on various shows. Studio time was booked from 2pm to 4:30 pm. I think I finally got out of there at 6pm after doing 30-60 sec promos for their site. I felt a kinship with all those actors I've seen doing on air promos for their TV shows.

The director wanted me to do one starting off with my name and then going into the hook and a second one with the hook first and ending with my name. Luckily on the latter one, the director agreed with my humor because I signed off with my name and "I'm a script coordinator and I approved this message." Been watching too much election coverage.

Honestly, these promos were the hardest part because nobody from the Learning Annex told us ahead of time we were doing them. I didn't mind doing them, but I would have preferred to have prepared them in advance rather than trying to get my brain, tired after filming a solid two hour class, to think of something nifty to say on the spot. You'll have to let me know if I did okay on them.

The class itself was great fun to do. The fact that I know the subject inside and out from working as a script coordinator for so long helped make it easy and undaunting. In addition, I had prepared a detailed outline of everything I wanted to say, so that kept me focused. I think that anyone who listens to my class will get a lot out of it. At least the director was kind enough to say he found it interesting because he was learning a lot of new stuff.

There's one thing I do have to work on improving... that is being always aware of what I look like, because the camera sees everything. I'm used to putting on makeup in the morning and then going off to do whatever. Although I try to remember to touch up makeup during the day, I don't worry about it when I'm really busy.

So it never occurred to me to carry all my makeup with me. The room was hot until they turned on the air conditioning and the next thing I knew, the camera man was saying, "Got something to take the shine off your face?" And I was like, me? duh...

Luckily I did have something I could use, but it was just pure luck, not preparation. As I improvised, I reminded myself that if I'm going to continue to do things in front of the camera, I need to think like a performer and carry all the tools of the trade with me.

So stay tuned and I'll let you know when the big unveiling is.