Students studying film and television at Full Sail are encouraged to explore a variety of industry jobs they can pursue after graduation. One of those roles is a script supervisor, and a quarterly, on-campus workshop called Script Supervising in the Deep End provides a detailed look at this role.

Script supervisors serve as a liaison between a production’s director and editor. For each day of shooting, they take detailed production notes, keep tabs on which scenes were shot, and oversee continuity from one take to the next, among other responsibilities.

Script Supervising in the Deep End is taught by Deb Walters, a lab specialist in Full Sail’s film curriculum. Deb has years of experience in script supervision and has worked on projects like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and The Walking Dead. Her workshop offers a closer look at script supervision, with lots of information about what to expect in a professional setting, and is open to all Full Sail students, not just those studying film.

“It's practical information to help them [look for script supervising] jobs and network and know what to do on the job,” says Deb.

Some of the areas covered in the workshop include:

• Production Formats: What to expect in terms of daily responsibilities, pay, and work schedules when working on different types of productions, including feature-length films, short films, episodic television, documentaries, commercials, and more
• Working with Directors: Advice for navigating professional relationships with directors
• The Professional World: Information about the equipment needed for script supervision, tips on negotiating contracts, details about unions, avenues for finding jobs, and more
• Technology: Recommendations for different apps and programs to help with on-set responsibilities

Deb has also occasionally brought in special guests for greater insight into the day-to-day work of a script supervisor and a look at the technology being used in the industry.

“One time I brought in script supervisors from across the country via a Zoom meeting, and we did a panel discussion with them,” she shares. “Another time, we sat in on a training session for a digital script supervisor program.”

Script Supervising in the Deep End is an opportunity for students from a variety of Full Sail areas of study to come together and learn more about this industry role. However, students who already have an understanding of script supervision will probably get the most out of the workshop.

“Everyone's welcome to come, but it is focused. If people haven't already had my other script supervisor classes [in the undergraduate film curriculum], they probably will be lost,” Deb says. “[Ideally], you've been script supervising, or at least know something about script supervising, because we're not going over the basics in this one. We're going over more high-end details.”