Selene's Script Supervisors Course for Commercials

Are you tired of working consecutive days, weeks, and months on movies and TV? Would you like to work less for the same amount of money? Are you ready for a balance that prioritizes life before work? Script Supervising in Commercials is your path to achieving a better balance.

 "A career is wonderful, but you can't curl up with it on a cold night."– Marilyn Monroe

Script Supervising in Commercials is a niche position. It differs in significant ways to longform. Commercials come together fast, and the headcount on set is tightly controlled. Consequently, it's difficult or impossible to bring someone on set to shadow. This course will provide the knowledge that you'll need to transition from longform to commercials, and for those who have taken a Script Supervisor's course and would like to start their career in commercials.

In this online course, based on my 30 years of industry experience, you'll learn how to be the best Script Supervisor on all types of commercials. I'll take you from prep to wrap, with webinars, interactive zoom talks, and AMA sessions. I'll share what I've learned, show you various styles of commercials that I've worked on, discuss the practical aspects and details, address the challenges, provide the accompanying paperwork, and give you tips for best professional practices. 


What you can expect to learn:


√     the similarities and differences between commercials and longform

√     how to get the gig and juggle overlapping calls for work

√     the politics of set

√     how to support an advertising director

√     how to be helpful to actors

√     the politics surrounding the agency and client the specific language of commercials

√     our unique relationship with all departments

√     prep, production, and wrap 

√     breaking down schedules, scripts, storyboards, and previsualizations

√     responsibilities for VFX

√     editorial variations for multiple spots and different platforms

√     how to troubleshoot in prep and on the day

√     setting up to work remotely


One of the many reasons I’m doing this course is to standardize and elevate our position. I want us all to do the same job. I want transparency and an open dialogue of support.


Prerequisites

Previous experience as a Script Supervisor or for those who have taken a Script Supervisor's Course.

 

Thinkific

For technical issues, please visit Thinkific Support.

 

Course Questions

For any course-related questions, please email me at [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

Testimonials

Philip Earnshaw - Cinematographer | Director

Selene is remarkable.

I first met her back in the early 80s on 2 different TV series when I was a DP and she was starting out as a Script Supervisor. She was a quick learner and an independent thinker. Her grasp of the nuances of directing often made me think about the potential of a person who sits so close to the creative centre of so many sets. She gets the coverage,she gets the actors and performance, she gets set politics, and she gets people.

When I worked with her again recently, I was directing. It all came flooding back. She is generous, insightful, and helpful in making sure things don’t slip through the cracks in the heat of the moment.

A director’s best friend.

Bravo to Selene for now wanting to help others learn.

Take her course, you won’t be disappointed.

Kathi Prosser - Director | Writer | Producer

I cut my teeth with Selene as my script supervisor. Now after 15 years of directing all over the world I have yet to work with anyone better. I’m primarily a commercial director but when I wrote my first feature and shot my first short film Selene was there adding her incredible expertise in long format. She broke down the script for me and aided in countless grants I received over the years for personal long format work. I cannot say enough great things about this calm, strong and talented woman with ceaseless energy.

Mike Maguire - Director

Whenever I shoot in Toronto, Selene is my Script Supervisor. Period. Not simply because of her exceptional attention to detail, matching eye lines, coverage, etc. No, Selene is much more than that. She is my sounding board, my safety net, my creative barometer & the proverbial saver of my ass.

Whenever I’m struggling to block out a scene, Selene is there to offer suggestions. Whenever I’m wondering whether a particular take or delivery is or isn’t working, I look to Selene to see her reaction. It is no exaggeration when I say there are more times than I can remember when Selene has looked over to me and given me that subtle nod that not only said, "I knew you could do it", but perhaps more importantly, "you knew you could do it." It is that bit of confidence, production after production, that has not merely helped, but proven crucial when the clock was ticking on a jam-packed shoot day.

Nisha Ganatra - Director | Writer | Producer

Beyond excelling as a respected Script Supervisor, Selene has the filmmaking acumen to work with Directors, Actors, Editors, and Producers to strive for the highest-quality production.

By bringing her along on your film journey, you and your actors will have a caring and creative traveling companion that sets her apart from the rest.

When directing, I turn to Selene for so much more than continuity. I turn to her for performance discussion, for story telling honesty, and to make sure the overall journey of each character is where we intend it to be according to our prep work.

Selene has saved me hours upon hours that would have otherwise been spent fixing issues in post… because of Selene and her work, I could spend that time honing the best version of the movie in post instead.

Jeremy Podeswa - Director | Writer

Selene has been in the industry for three decades, and I have known her since the earliest days of her career. I had the pleasure of working with her on Eclipse (my first feature film and her second) and on the TV series Traders).

She is a dedicated, hardworking team member that I relied on with confidence to collaborate on shot planning, actor blocking, camera coverage… all the things that help a director enormously. I could always trust her to do a stellar job, and to be a supportive, loyal and good-natured colleague.

Robin Nishio - Director | Graphic Artist

I’ve had the privilege of working with Selene as a script supervisor for the entirety of my commercial career. Selene has always been mathematically precise and knowledgeable. She’s always an absolute pleasure to collaborate with and most importantly, learn from.

Eric Makala - Director

Having worked with Selene for many years, her film and VFX knowledge enables her to step in with great suggestions and be my smart sounding board in the production process. She has a sharp eye for detail and is a fast troubleshooter.

Teresa Hannigan - Editor

Selene was the Script Supervisor on a TV Movie and Miniseries that I Edited. She’s always available to keep communication flowing between set and the editing room. Her notes are detailed and extensive, and her lined script was easy to follow. She kept our editing room organized.

About Selene

Filmmaking has been a lifelong passion for me. From the beginning of my career, being a Script Supervisor provided the perfect vantage point to learn directing, cinematography, and performance.

For over three decades, I've worked on feature films, TV movies, mini-series, episodic television, and commercials in Canada, India, Europe, SE Asia, and North Africa. 

While living in Bangkok, I wrote, directed, filmed, and edited two documentary films for Lady Lea Laarakker's silk weaving project in Ban Ren Khai, Thailand. I also wrote an outline for a 13-part documentary series titled Women Homeworkers of SE Asia from my office at the ILO (International Labour Organization) at the United Nations in Bangkok.

Recently, I co-directed OMFYP (Old Movies For Young People), a YouTube series by acclaimed playwright Brad Fraser which will be out in 2021

For the past decade,  I've worked exclusively in commercials. According to Google, I’ve shot with some of the best Commercial Directors in the world, to name a few: Tim Godsall, Nicolai Fugslig, Jeff Low, Oliver Gondry, Andreas Nilsson, Eric Lynne, Dante Ariola, Grady Hall, David Shane, Casey Storm, Benjamin Weinstein, Kathi Prosser, Mike Maguire, Vadim Perlman, Ric Cantor, Mark Zibert, Luis Gerard. It's been challenging and fun.


Selene