What is an A/V script?

An A/V (audio-video) script is a two-column format where the visuals are described in the left column and the corresponding audio — dialogue, voiceover, music, sound effects — runs in the right column. It's standard for commercials, promos, explainers, and corporate video.

When do you use A/V format instead of screenplay format?

Use A/V two-column format for short-form and non-narrative video where visuals and audio need to be matched line by line — ads, corporate videos, training, and promos. Use standard screenplay format for narrative film and TV.

What goes in each column of an A/V script?

The left (video) column describes what's on screen — shots, text, graphics, action. The right (audio) column contains everything heard — voiceover, dialogue, music cues, and sound effects — aligned with the matching visual.

The Ultimate Guide to the A/V (Two-Column) Script Format for Commercials

How to write an A/V script in two-column format for commercials, promos, and corporate video. What goes in each column and when to use it instead of screenplay format.

Not every script is a screenplay. If you're writing a commercial, a promo, an explainer, or corporate video, the standard screenplay format is the wrong tool — you want the A/V (audio-video) two-column format, where picture and sound sit side by side. Here's how it works.

Why two columns?

Short-form video is built on tight sync between what's seen and what's heard. A voiceover line has to land on a specific shot; a graphic has to appear on a specific word. Two columns let you line them up literally, row by row — which a single-column screenplay can't do cleanly.

The layout

VIDEO	AUDIO
Wide shot: a runner laces up at dawn, empty street.	MUSIC: soft piano builds.
Close on worn shoes hitting pavement.	VO: "Every season starts with a single step."
Logo animates onto screen.	VO: "Northline. Made for the distance." SFX: gentle whoosh.

Left (VIDEO) — everything on screen: shots, on-screen text, graphics, action.
Right (AUDIO) — everything heard: voiceover (VO), dialogue, music, and sound effects (SFX), aligned to its visual.

What goes where

Video column:

Shot descriptions and framing
On-screen text and lower thirds
Graphics, animation, and transitions
Product beauty shots

Audio column:

VO — narration
Dialogue — on-camera speech
MUSIC — cues and mood
SFX — sound effects

Keep each row's video and audio aligned so anyone reading knows exactly what plays over what.

When to use A/V vs. screenplay format

Use A/V two-column for…	Use screenplay format for…
Commercials & ads	Feature films
Corporate & explainer video	TV episodes
Promos & trailers	Short narrative films
Training & how-to video	Anything story-driven

The rule of thumb: narrative → screenplay format; message-driven short-form → A/V.

Keep the columns aligned

The practical challenge of A/V scripts is keeping the two columns synced as you edit — add a line on one side and the alignment can drift. A tool that supports the two-column format keeps video and audio locked together row by row. Scriptease handles A/V alongside standard screenplay format, so you can write both kinds of project in one place.

Related: the screenplay format guide and V.O. vs. O.S..