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Video. Initial Planning and Preparation

© Wolfgang Schmidt

This is crucial. You must know what you want to film, where, and when. Most videos will require:

A script, showing in written form what filming is required including camera angles and shot sizes

and/or

	A storyboard, showing the intended shots in the form of drawings.
	A recce of each location to check that it is suitable.

• Is there enough light?


• Is it quiet enough?


• Is there enough space?


• Do you need permission to film there?

A checklist of equipment you will need.

• Do you need anything else (eg props and costumes for an acted scene)?


• Will you need transport?

A shooting schedule indicating what will be filmed, where, and when.

• Will the people, equipment and facilities you need will be available when you want to film?


• Will you have enough time for scenes that need several takes?

Handout: Equipment Checklist

Filming checklist

Before you start recording

	Check your camera isn’t displaying the date and time
	Check colour balance if necessary. Avoid mixing light sources (eg daylight + fluorescent light)
	Set exposure and focus to manual or automatic as required
	Check for background sound and other distractions
	Check sound levels if possible
	Check there’s enough light but not too much contrast
	Record a short section and play it back to check everything’s working (including sound)
	Film with the camera pointing away from the light source
	Check the background – is it distracting, too light, too dark?
	Check your framing
	Make sure your shots don’t ‘cross the line’
	Check focus and exposure
	Rememer to record cutaways

When you’re filming

	Check that the ‘REC’ symbol appears in the viewfinder when you start filming, and that PAUSE or
	STANDBY appears when you have stopped filming
	Record more than you need: start the camera running several seconds before things start happening, and keep it running for a couple of seconds after things stop

After filming

Label each tape and make supporting notes of what you have filmed

Filming an acted scene or interview

Team

	Director
	Production assistant
	Camera operator
	Sound recordist

(You could have one or two people filling all these functions)

1. When everything is set up and everyone is ready to do a ‘take’, the Director asks for quiet and says Stand by.


2. The Director asks the Camera Operator to start recording by saying Turn over.


3. The Camera Operator presses the button to start recording. Once she can see the symbol REC in the viewfinder, she signals that the recording has started.


4. The Director counts the actors/participants in silently using 3, 2, 1, fingers and a wave of the hand.


5. Once the action has finished, the Director silently counts to five and then calls out CUT.


6. The Camera Operator presses the button to stop filming and checks that the REC symbol has been replaced by PAUSE


7. The Production Assistant ticks off the scene on the list.

	When the shot includes a camera movement, hold on the still image for a couple of seconds before
	and after the movement
	Try to include a complete movement
	Don’t cut while the camera/zoom is still moving
	Zooms should only be used rarely if at all
	Allow shots to run until a natural break occurs

Author: Media Education Wales. © Media Education Wales 2000. With kind permission of MediaEd.