Breaking down your script is one of the most important steps in your pre-production process. The BREAKDOWN interface helps you get an up-close view of what you'll need to execute your shoot. Here, you can easily identify elements for each department involved in the project and determine everything that the script calls for. 

Breakdown mode page

Now that you selected the scenes in the first interface, it's time to start breaking down your script scene by scene. To be able to identify every location, prop, set, makeup effect, stunt, and others for every scene, you simply need to access the breakdown mode interface. To do this, click on the BREAKDOWNS on the top of the first interface.

This breakdown mode should look like:

The left part of the page displays the scene information. Here, you can view: 

1. The script of your selection. 
2. By ticking the checkbox, the scene list will be sorted in order of shooting. 
3. To navigate between scenes, you can click on the dropdown menu and select the scene of your choice. Find the one you would like to jump to and click on it.
4.  If you would like to move on to the Previous scene or Next scene, click on the arrow icon to navigate back and forward. 

The right side of the page is divided into three parts.

1. The upper part includes the scene characteristics: unit, sets, sub-sets, list of actors, product placement, estimated and planned timing. It is possible to display the scene summary. You can also modify the hour and day of continuity. 
2. The second part is dedicated to users. Here you can see your name and the name of another collaborator if they have already tagged the same scene. By clicking on the name of the user, you can view their breakdown. In this part of the page, you can select one of the status and choose to apply it to all scenes. 
3. You can breakdown your scenes in the bottom part. First you need to select the right department before adding the element you need.

How to Breakdown your script

Add elements

Luckily, when you import your script, important assets like sets and roles can be automatically identified. However, you'll want to make sure the rest of the elements are tagged manually.

In order to tag scenes with different elements, the following steps must be followed:

1.  Browse the different departments and click on the one you want to add the element to.  Remember that specificity is key when breaking down a script. Make sure the category you select best represents your scene element.
2. By clicking on a department, you can display the different categories: e.g: By clicking on DECORATION department, you can view the related sections: set, props, graphic design and FX (Deco). 
3. Add your element in the "Add your element" box. 
4. Last, press the symbol. The new tagged-element will be added under your department. 

Once you have tagged everything you need in your scene, simply click on the next scene to continue the break-down process. Use the same technique to tag all the elements in the different scenes.

Add new category

You are not just limited to the existing departments and sub-categories. In a few easy steps, you can create your own element categories and add them manually to the list. To do this, please follow the instructions below:

1.Make sure to select the specific department in which you want to add your new category. In the example below, we selected the "Decoration" department.

1. In the new textbox, enter the name of the category. For example, you can see that we added the category "lights".

Add/Edit Details of Elements

After you tag elements, you can add/ modify any necessary changes to the element.  

To edit an asset’s details, simply click on the element's name. 

In the new pop-up window, apply the following modifications:

1. Add/Edit the element's name by clicking on the pencil.
2. Consider how much of the element is needed.  Use the NOMBRE field to specify the quantity and plan ahead.
3. Select a status.
4. Associate an element with an existing role. Do this by selecting that element's role from the concerned roles dropdown menu
5. Specify the color if it's relevant
6. Add a description to your scene elements: In the text box, you can elaborate on scene elements that require special instructions or handling. For example, if you're using a car for the race scene, you might want to specify that it is a fast red car.
7. The necessary changes you make to an element concerning the Title, Status, Roles, Color and description can be applied only to this specific element by clicking on UPDATE.However, you can optionally apply the changes to all linked items in all scenes by hitting UPDATE ALL ENTRIES.
8. You can also pick an image for your element. You can either select one directly from your computer or add images from the continuity shot library.
9. Link elements together: To do this, choose an element to link and validate by clicking on CHECK symbol. 
10. Copy element: Assets can be copied from one scene to another. You don't need to tag the multiple occurences of the same element for each scene. You only need to type the element the first time it appears and then copy it to other scenes where the same element appears. In the dropdown menu of COPY, select the different scenes.  When you're done, confirm the changes by clicking on COPY.

Delete tagged elements

Are you looking to untag an element from a scene? You can easily remove tagged elements at anytime. To do this, follow the steps below: 

1. Click on the trash icon next to the element you would like to remove. 

2. You can also delete linked elements by ticking the checkbox "Delete Linked Elements".
3. Validate by clicking on YES.

Keyboard shortcuts

• Press ENTER to confirm an item
• Multiply an item : Name of the item + * (star) + number. Example : Ball*2
• Assign the element to one or more characters. In the description : @ + ‘name of a character’. For example: @James Bond or : @James Bond @Dr. No
• Assign the element to one or more characters. On PC : ALT + → or ← (right or left arrow), On Mac : Command + → ou ← . Example: ALT + → allows you to go to the following sequence
• Displays more than one department: SHIFT + click on category. Example: SHIFT + Decoration + Costumes + Casting