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Basic Steps in Video Production
- Get a binder to store all your materials.
- Prepare a treatment for your production.
- Write or get a script. (If you're planning an interview, develop your intro,
background, and interview questions. For a documentary, write as much of
a structure as you can.)
- Develop storyboards.
- Prepare a budget. (For this class, you won't have to budget money, but
you will have to carefully budget your time!)
- Generate a scene report and or scene cards.
- Prepare a list of all necessary production elements and materials. These
may include:
production staff
talent
props
wardrobe
locations
sets
equipment (cameras, tripods, lights, mics, film, batteries, power
cords, etc.)
time (including editing time)
editing hardware and software
soundtrack music (Make sure to use music
in the public domain, original music, or get appropriate releases.)
- Scout locations.
- "Hire" production people and actors. (Make sure to get signed
releases from anyone appearing in your film. )
- Hold a "table reading."
- Create a shooting schedule. This can be organized by location and time
of day or sequentially. Most directors do not shoot sequentially but consider
locations and actors. A non-sequential schedule is useful when time and money
are considerations. It can also be more convenient to take advantage of locations
because of the work that goes into getting permissions where required and
setting up. Your schedule should include
scene numbers
locations
shooting times
actors involved
production staff involved
wardrobe needed
props needed
- Provide scripts and schedules to everyone who needs them.
- Rehearse. Unless you're doing an interview or documentary, you'll probably
want to run the actors through the scenes to establish the blocking. Give
the actors "marks" when necessary. Marks are parameters of the
blocking and you can create them using chalk or tape or by just relying on
landmarks or furniture (i.e."Walk from the sidewalk to that tree," or "Go
from the chair to the door.").
- Shoot. You'll be shooting with one camera so make sure to get a couple
of takes of each scene when necessary. You'll want some choices during editing:
During
shooting, someone--probably an AD or line producer--needs to make sure that
all unnecessary elements are out of the way and that
the set is quiet. Avoid unwanted ambient noise during your shoot
"
Slating" (clapping a slate together at the beginning of
each shot) is used to synchronize sound and picture during editing.
You will not have to worry about synchronization when editing your
DV tape. However, you can "slate" by holding up a card
with the scene number and announcing the Scene and Take numbers
so that
you can easily find the segments of film you want when you edit
later.
When the director calls "Speed," the camera starts
filming. When the directors calls "Action," the actors
start acting. When the director calls "Cut," the actors
stop and the filming stops.
If you're filming an interview, make
sure your subject is comfortable; indicate whether you will begin
filming, and DON'T CUT too soon
after your interview subject stops speaking. You can eliminate
gaps during editing. - Organize your tapes (or film).
- Create credits and titles.
- Edit.
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