May 30, 2010

A video production could be categorized into three phases:

• Pre-production (Planning)•Production (Directing)

• Post-production (Editing)

We will chat about:

• Goals and objectives• The script

• Actors and crew• Logistics for the day of shooting

• Shooting script

Video

Pre-production is the first of the three parts you need to consider when producing any type of video

During this stage, you’re organizing everything so that the production phase goes smoothly

Pre-production starts out with identifying:

Goals and objectives of your video

The next phase of pre-production involves preparing an outline of the points you want to make…

After you prepare your outline, it’s time to go to script

The script is a detailed document that identifies what will be seen and what will be heard and in what order they’ll appear

Draw a real or imaginary line down the middle of a piece of paper. On one side of the page, identify the visuals that will be seen, and on the other side, identify the audio that will be heard for each shot

The more specific, the better

Here’s an example of what your script should look like:

Shot# Audio Visual1 Music (name the song) Title (Name it).2 Music continues Dissolve to wide tracking shot of group of people in a meeting. Stop on Lupe3 Lupe says, “I can’t take these boring meetings any more! Wide shot of Lupe jumping up, throwing papers in the air… Others at table are in surprise

And so on… The script should be as detailed as possible. It should include direction about the shot, whether it’s wide, medium, or a close up

The pre-production stage is also when you get your actors and crew

Think about how you will feed everyone on the set as well. Who will get the food? People work much better and happier if they’re fed

What will the set look like? Are there multiple locations? Have you figured out the backgrounds for each and every shot? Have you decided who is in each shot? Do you need props or furniture? Who will bring them? Make sure that you visit every site where you plan to shoot to make sure that there aren’t any surprises

Lighting is another consideration (workshop coming next)

What about audio? (workshop coming next)

The final matter we’ll discuss is the shooting script. The regular script that everyone is familiar with identifies the sequential or chronological order of your production. However, a shooting script groups the shots according to location

For instance, shots 5, 14, 35, and 95 may take place in the park. It would take forever to shoot your video in a different location as it sequentially appears in the script. Therefore, all of the park shots need to be shot at the same time, unless there’s a good reason not to. Grouping your shots will save time and patience

These are the major considerations for your pre-production activities. So once everyone has been contacted, told when and where to appear, and everything else has been planned, you’re ready to enter the production phase

Have we learn about:

• Goals and objectives• The script

• Actors and crew• Logistics for the day of shooting

• Shooting script

QUESTIONS???????