Every editor needs an organization system, whether you’re working on a feature film or a documentary project or even a music video. For many film editors, using wall cards is the difference between a good film and a giant mess.
At the most basic level, wall cards are simply index cards that help visually organize a films scenes. Key information such as where the scene takes place, characters involved, and any director’s notes are enough to get you started.
Then throughout the editing process, you can move the cards around as you begin to visualize a better flow for the plot, continuity, and overall story direction.
1. Write the text in Google docs that you want to transform to superscript or subscript.
2. Select the text that you want to turn to one of these formats.
3. Click on the format menu.
4. A drop-down menu will appear. Select the option “Text” and then further click on “superscript” or the option “subscript” as per the requirement.
Keep it short. Maximum seven words per card.
A card represents a story point, be it a scene or a sequence. You don’t need a card for every little thing.
Keep cards general enough that they can be rearranged. (“Battle in swamp” rather than “Final showdown”)
Horizontal (a table or counter) often works better than a vertical (a corkboard).
Post-It notes make good alternative index cards.
Consider a letter code for which characters are featured in the sequence. Helpful for figuring out who’s missing.
Most movies can be summarized in less than 50 cards.
Cards are cheap. Don’t hesitate to rework them.
Consider a second color for action sequences. Helps show the pacing.
Write big. You want to be able to read them from a distance.
