“Which Windows Did You Open Today?” is a PSA for healthy internet usage during lockdown, written and produced by me during my first semester in the Broadcasting – Television program at Seneca College.
This is a standard dual column television commercial script created in the pre-production process of the video.
| VIDEO | AUDIO |
| INT. Balcony. M.S.: It is a beautiful, sunny day out of the window in the morning. | SFX: Birds chirping, sea waves crashing at shore (continuous) V.O.: Every day… |
| INT. Bedroom. High angle M.S.: A young adult wakes up bathed in sunlight, stretches and picks up their phone. | V.O.: …you wake up… |
| C.U.: Looking at the phone’s screen, the content makes them… | SFX: Phone unlocking sound. V.O.: …open the window… SFX: Birds chirping, sea waves crashing at shore (ends) |
| E.C.U.: …Frown down at it. | SFX: Heart beating fast, short breath (continuous) V.O.: …and look outside. |
| INT. Balcony. W.S.: Wrapped in a blanket and staring at the phone’s screen, they walk right by the window’s beautiful view… | SFX: Clock ticking fast (continuous). V.O.: When witnessing… |
| INT. Living room. W.S.: …through a very messy room… | V.O.: …a tragedy… |
| INT. Kitchen. W.S.: …and by a pile of dirty dishes. They stop and lean against the sink, gaze fixated on the phone. | SFX: Clock ticking faster. V.O.: …you just can’t… |
| Night. W.S.: Still in the same exact position, their face is now lit only by the cold light of the phone’s screen. The young adult walks back the way they came: By the dirty dishes… | V.O.: …stop looking. |
| INT. Living room. W.S.: …through the messy room… | |
| INT. Balcony. W.S.: …and by the window’s night sky view. | |
| INT. Bedroom. M.S.: They fall asleep with the phone in their hand, screen on. Fade to black. | SFX: Heart beating fast, short breath (ends). SFX: Clock ticking fast (ends). V.O.: Technology is… not the problem. |
| INT. Balcony. Morning. M.S.: Window’s beautiful view. | SFX: Birds chirping, waves crashing (continuous). V.O.: Every day you… |
| INT. Bedroom. C.U.: They wake up, look at the phone, and frown. | V.O.: …wake up, open the window… |
| Low angle C.U.: Their frown slowly dissolves as a choice is made. They press a button on the phone’s screen and music starts playing. A timid smile blooms. | V.O.: …and look inside. SFX: Music with energetic, happy rhythm (continuous). |
| INT. Living room. Low angle W.S.: As the phone blasts music in the foreground, they dance while tidying up the room in the background. | |
| INT. Kitchen. High angle M.S.: They wash the dishes while watching a French lesson on the phone. | SFX: Scrubbing dishes. YOUNG ADULT: Je suis inquiet. |
| INT. Balcony. Sunset. W.S.: They practice yoga, following instructions from the phone. | SFX: Music with energetic, happy rhythm (ends). YOGA TEACHER: -and slowly settling into the tree pose. |
| INT. Bedroom. Night. M.S.: Lying down, they talk on the phone, laughing and smiling. As they fall asleep, SUPER (in white): Which windows did you open today? | SFX: Birds chirping, waves crashing (ends). YOUNG ADULT: I’ve been feeling just like that! Yesterday I read an article- V.O.: Which windows did you open today? |
| Fade to white. SUPER: Recognize the bad, focus on the good. | V.O.: Recognize the bad, focus on the good. |
Gionni Blas 