Should I write a script?
Short Answer:
It depends on the type of video. Scripted pieces — explainers, ads, presenter-led films — benefit from a full script so every word and shot is planned. Interview or documentary-style videos work better with prepared questions and a loose structure, letting real, natural answers carry the story.
Overview
A script is a tool, not a requirement. The real question is whether your video needs tightly controlled messaging (script it) or authentic, spontaneous content (guide it with questions instead).
Detailed Explanation
When to script, and when not to
Script it: explainers, adverts, product videos, and anything with a voiceover or presenter, where precise messaging and timing matter.
Guide it instead: testimonials, interviews, and documentary-style films, where a rehearsed script sounds stiff and real answers are more compelling.
Hybrid: many films combine a scripted voiceover or intro with unscripted interview footage.
Even unscripted shoots need preparation — a clear structure and strong questions — so "no script" never means "no plan".
Example
A customer testimonial reads as fake if scripted word-for-word; a set of thoughtful questions instead produces genuine answers that an editor can shape into a persuasive, natural-sounding story.