I'd be interested to hear the answer as well. I have sort of an adhoc method I developed myself. Basically list the scene locations followed by a very brief action note and important beats. Just enough to let me know what's going on. It generally fits on one page.

I tend to do the outline second though. It is more of a rewrite tool for e. The first go through I just have scene and character notes and determination to see me through.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Everybody outlines in a different manner, but I do a much shorter version the first time through. I simply state what the characters do. One line after another. No dialog, no scene description. Vince runs across the street. Vince grabs the gasoline can. Vince runs back. Vince runs inside. Vince pours gas on the floor and lights it. Vince runs for it. Vince sits on the hill watching the fire.

Then I keep adding more and more information. I'll add in the emotions the characters are feeling also so that I can see how the roller coster is going.

A typical general workflow is;

1. Single page synopsis outlining whole story
2. 10-20 page treatment with a paragraph for each scene and maybe a few technical notes, literally "the film without the dialogue"
3. Full script drafts.

Whatver notes you make for yourself varies from writer to writer but these are the documents you need to work with most producers.

Steve Piper
Coffee Films
www.coffeefilms.com
www.myspace.com/coffeefilms

I outline as "Kess" described in an earlier post - just writing down the basic action

Vince runs across the street.
Vince grabs the gasoline can

I do this from start to finish so I end up with the story for the complete movie. This can take a REALLY long time, but once it's done - writing the script is a breeze.

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